Education Commons^™

The Overture! Then Is Here-And-Now: Hindsight Is Twenty, Twenty?, Elena Kydd

Music Therapy Theses

My existence and presence as a Black woman and graduate scholar in music therapy have allowed me to share my experience of racial trauma and oppression in the hallways of GCSU’s music therapy program. Autoethnography is the method I use to write my thesis on the relationships between Blackness, pedagogy, and music therapy. Thus, I perform an evocative autoethnographic study that allows me to share my personal experience of racial trauma and oppression within the culture of music therapy and to critique the larger social structures of whiteness that disenfranchise and dominate me and other Black student music therapists (SMTs). …

Resistencia Indocumentada: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Higher Education Undocumented Students In The San Diego-Tijuana Border Region, Adan Escobedo Sanchez

Dissertations

Undocumented students face myriad obstacles while attending higher education institutions that would deter them from completing their academic journeys. Furthermore, they are placed with a dual narrative that labels them as either dangerous or exceptional. This study explored the lived experiences of undocumented students in college in the San Diego-Tijuana border region to consider what factors have led to resilience and resistance in their academic journey. By understanding these factors, the research aimed to tackle the dual narrative that burdens undocumented students from the illegality as a master status they possess.

This study used narrative inquiry and a literature review …

Indoctrination Into Hate: The Development Of Racial Neuroses Resulting From Racist Socialization Under White Supremacy, Aliya Kathryn Benabderrazak

Haslam Scholars Projects

Racial-ethnic socialization is critical to our unique and individual conceptualization of reality. This socialization occurs explicitly and implicitly across the lifespan and has significant implications for one’s behavior, social relationships, and ideological beliefs. Two of the most notable and impactful spheres in which racial-ethnic socialization occurs are within the family unit and schooling contexts. The treatment and teachings within these two spaces shape our social and psychological development. The first part of my project considers the neurosis of Whiteness as a psychological consequence of racist socialization within school settings and primarily White communities—as a macro example of the family unit—to …

Advancing Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In Older Adult Health Care, University Of Maine Center On Aging

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Flyer advertising registration opportunities for the 16th Annual University of Maine Center on Aging Clinical Geriatrics Colloquium scheduled for October 25, 2021.

The Mcgillicuddy Fellowship Showcase: An Annual Opportunity For Enlightenment, Stella Tirone

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Michael Socolow, director of the Clement and Linda McGillicuddy Humanities Center, and Karen Sieber, a humanities specialist at the center, were excited to introduce this year’s four McGillicuddy’s students. While their research differed in topics, students Hailey Cedor, Nola Prevost, Nolan Altvater and Katherine Reardon all had the same idea of sharing the truth in mind. The truths that these four students have spent the past year chasing range from the retelling of family history to reparations for the Holocaust from the influence of men in fairytales to the treatment of Wabanaki people — both in the past and present.

Legalizing Marijuana Is The Only Just Path Forward, Leah Savage

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Tuesday was April 20, or 4/20, so here’s a friendly reminder in light of the holiday; Barack Obama smoked marijuana, and he isn’t a degenerate, he was the 44th president of the United States. Marijuana has been legalized in 16 states as well as Washington, D.C., and there are numerous studies showing that marijuana is, at the very least, just as safe as alcohol. So why are over 40,000 Americans still incarcerate for marijuana-related charges?

Indigenous Stewardship Should Be Central To Conservation Efforts, International Study Finds, Beth Staples

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Darren Ranco says Indigenous peoples should be part of land use decisions, including whether to expand the quarantine zone for the emerald ash borer in northern Maine. "We have to be at the table because proof is in the pudding," says the University of Maine associate professor of anthropology, chair of Native American Programs, and citizen of Penobscot Nation. "When Indigenous people are on the land and making decisions about land management, biodiversity increases."

Umaine Holds Vigil In Support Of Asian Americans, Madeline .

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On Monday, March 26 [2021], the University of Maine held a vigil to honor the lives lost in the Atlanta shooting on March 15. A group of students and Orono locals gathered inthe Martin Luther King Plaza outside the North Pod of the Union at 4 p.m. in remembrance of the victims, and to show solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

Women In Leadership And Social Justice' Talk Contextualizes Strides Toward Gender Equity At Umaine, Abigail Martin

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy hosted "The Women in Leadership and Social Justice: The Importance of Diversity. Equity and Inclusion" talk on March 15 [2021], at 4 p.m. This talk was a part of Women's History Month and focused on discussing women's issues and the importance of diversity.

Umaine Collaborates With College Of The Atlantic To Host Black Studies Discussion, Madeline .

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The University of Maine philosophy department in collaboration with the College of the Atlantic hosted a discussion on “Black Studies and Questions of Institutional and Structural Change” on Monday, March 8 [2021]. Professor Kirsten Jacobsen from UMaine’s philosophy department and professor Netta Van Vliet from the College of the Atlantic’s department of cultural anthropology organized the event.

Take Part In Black History Month By Stepping Up To Fogler’S Racial Justice Challenge, Abigail Martin

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Jen Bonnet, Madelyn Woods and Anila Karunakar co-designed Fogler Library’s Racial Justice Challenge, one resource of many for celebrating Black History Month at the University of Maine. Bonnet is a social sciences and humanities librarian at the Fogler Library on campus, Woods is a Ph.D. student in earth and climate sciences and Karunakar serves as the director of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion. The Racial Justice Challenge first launched in August of this past summer. “With the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Rayshard Brooks and other BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) at the …

Confronting Microaggressions: It’S Not Just What You Say, It’S The Way You Say It, Nate Poole

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Kamala Harris, the first female, Black and Asian American to serve as the vice president of the United States, has been a near constant presence across media sourcesover the course of a primary and general election cycle, and yet the correct pronunciation of her first name remains a mystery to many. To be clear, it’s pronounced comma-la. It’s not long, not immensely diffocult to remember, and certainly not hard to Google. However, the phonetic complexity of the vice-president’s first name has overwhelmed pundits and politicians alike, including Tucker Carlson, former Georgia Sen. David Perdue, and former President Donald Trump. Colorful …

Diversity And Its Discontents: Deepening The Discourse, Ragnhild Utheim

Race and Pedagogy Journal: Teaching and Learning for Justice

This article explores the shifting meanings of diversity discourse from the classical demarcations associated with demographic groups to the individualized applicability the concept has assumed in recent years. The trend toward attenuated understandings of diversity comes at the risk of slighting historic hardship that groups of people have long endured. The analysis weaves student testimonies and teaching experience from the classroom together with existing research and critical theory on diversity. In emphasizing the need to honor legacies of oppression among particular groups, while animating the possibilities that shared experiences across expansive human variation provide, the author includes feedback from classes …

Kamala Harris Breaks Barriers As First Female Vp, Megan Ashe

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Last week, Americans finally got some answers as to who their new president-elect and vice president-elect would be. With 306 electoral votes, Joe Biden will be the next president and Kamala Harris will be the next vice president when they are inaugurated on Jan. 21, 2021. Kamala Harris is a powerful woman in politics and she will be the first woman in the role of vice president, as well as the first person of South Asian heritage and the first Black person as vice president. This accomplishment has inspired many women, Black people and people of South Asian heritage, and …

Racial Justice Challenge Promotes Anti-Racism In The Umaine Community, Megan Ashe

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The spring of 2020 sparked a resurgence of racial justice movements on a national level as a result of police officers publicly killing a number of unarmed Black people, including George Floyd and Breanna Taylor, which brought national attention to the issue of police brutality. Public opinions surged in favor of social justice movements including the Black Lives Matter movement, after reports of unwarranted brutal force used by police officers surfaced and highlighted the biases that affect many Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC). The dialogue surrounding disenfranchisement of BIPOC provided a glimpse into the broader issues of police …

Supporting Biracial Students Through An Equity Lens: Multicultural Literature And Advocacy In School Libraries, Jacqueline Ahlborn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biracial students make up a substantial allocation of the school population, and their demographics are only expected to increase within the coming years. With this emergence of a larger Biracial community, schools need to consider how they will implement equitable resources and practices to meet the needs for this unique population. School librarians, serving as instructional leaders, can provide the necessary materials and strategies to support their students who are Biracial in order to foster positive racial identity. The purpose of this study is to explore school librarians’ perspectives on the influence of multicultural literature on students’ acceptance and understanding …

Racial Considerations In The Language Used Around Mass Shootings Are Vital, Liz Theriault

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The Gun Violence Archive has logged 385 mass shootings across the U.S. as of Dec. 1, 2019. Just ��ve days later, on the morning of Dec. 6, another shooting was added to that list, when three were fatally shot and eight injured in the shooting at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida.

End Racism Protest' Is Held On The Umaine Mall, Charles Cramer

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Students, faculty and community members from across the Orono area gathered on Monday to protest online comments made three weeks earlier about Columbus Day and Indigenous American peoples by members of the University of Maine College Republicans (UMCR). The comments in question were initially uploaded to the UMCR’s Facebook page on Oct. 5 and were addressed in an email on Oct. 7 by both UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Robert Dana. The email from Ferrini-Mundy and Dana denied that the posts were representative of UMaine’s values, but chose to maintain their …

What Have We Learned From Critical Qualitative Inquiry About Race Equity And Social Justice? An Interview With Pioneering Scholar Yvonna Lincoln, Christine Stanley, Chayla Haynes

The Qualitative Report

In this article, two Black women scholars in higher education share a conversation with our distinguished senior colleague, Yvonna Lincoln, a pioneering scholar of qualitative research methodology about what we have learned from her, and more specifically, how this research paradigm has been used to advance racial equity and social justice in higher education. The readers will learn, through her lens, about issues that emerged over the years and what she envisions for the future of higher education and qualitative research. This article presents implications for higher education, including faculty, students, and administrators working in higher education institutions.

Muslim Women In From Bangor Share Experiences, Ali Tobey

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On Wednesday, Feb. 6, the Maine Multicultural Center hosted an event called “Unveiling the Veil: Truths About Muslim Women in Maine.” Dina Yacoubagha and Marwa Elkelani shared their experiences as Muslim women in Maine and discussed common misconceptions surrounding women in their religion.

Reshaping What Emerges: Empowering Student Employees To Be Authentic, Amber Williams

M.A. in Higher Education Leadership: Action Research Projects

The purpose of my study was to understand who my students are authentically and discover what keeps them from being authentic within the workplace. I focused on culturally minoritized students in the context of professional expectations and intersecting identities. The research questions that guided my study are: How do I help students be authentic in their role as culturally minoritized employees at a multicultural center? What does authenticity look like for the students I work with, and where do they find it most difficult to express their most authentic selves within the United Front Multicultural Center? What interventions and/or practices …

How To Be The Perfect Asian Wife!, Sophia Hill

Art and Art History Honors Projects

“How to be the Perfect Asian Wife” critiques exploitative power systems that assault female bodies of color in intersectional ways. This work explores strategies of healing and resistance through inserting one’s own narrative of flourishing rather than surviving, while reflecting violent realities. Three large drawings mimic pervasive advertisement language and presentation reflecting the oppressive strategies used to contain women of color. Created with charcoal, watercolor, and ink, these 'advertisements' contrast with an interactive rice bag filled with comics of my everyday experiences. These documentations compel viewers to reflect on their own participation in systems of power.

Ikeda Draws Parallels Between The Muslim Ban And Incarceration Of Japanese Americans, Aliya Uteuova

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On Monday, Nov. 13 [2017], University of Maine welcomed Tom Ikeda for his talk titled "World War II Incarceration of Japanese Americans and Why It Matters Today."

Race, Residential Segregation, And The Death Of Democracy: Education And Myth Of Postracialism, Lori Latrice Martin, Kenneth J. Varner

Democracy and Education

Since the 1930s, federal housing policies and individual practices increased the spatial separation of whites and blacks. Practices such as redlining, restrictive covenants, and discrimination in the rental and sale of housing not only led to residential segregation by race but also continue to shape Whiteness and frame narratives about what constitutes Blackness. Despite the judicial and legislative victories of the civil rights movement, including the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas decision, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, residential segregation persists and in …

Constructing A Deconstruction: Reflections On Dismantling Racism, Bronwyn Cross-Denny, Ashleigh Betso, Emily Cusick, Caitlin Doyle, Mikaela Marbot, Shauna Santos-Dempsey

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

The article is a reflective narrative regarding the work I do as an ally for change and social justice as a white woman. In my class on Human Diversity and Social Justice, I often discuss how I can use my white privilege to advance social justice to address racism. Several students who have taken the class offer their own reflections on taking the class. Relevant information from the literature is provided to ground the discussion and includes cultural competence, racism, white privilege, and racial identity development. Strategies for deconstructing racism are discussed.

Connecting Multiculturalism, Sustainability, & Teacher Education: A Case For Linking Martin Luther King Streets & The Power Of Place, Charlane Starks

Benerd College Faculty Articles

In "The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America," Kozol (2005) asked a question that many educators and other education stakeholders still wonder about in regards to the educational progress for many urban school students in the United States, "What do we need to do to alter these realities?" (p. 215). Altering realities requires new questions and creatively connecting educational issues such as multiculturalism, education for a sustainable living, and teacher education in different ways. In this article author Charlane Starks ascribes an urban location to multiculturalism, sustainability, and teacher education to draw attention toward transforming …

Pushing The Boundaries: What Youth Organizers At Boston's Hyde Square Task Force Have To Teach Us About Civic Engagement, Meredith L. Mira

Democracy and Education

Across the United States, researchers and youth workers alike have identified an increasing number of civically engaged youth who are organizing to improve their communities and schools. By taking an action-oriented approach, these youth are speaking back to the notion that they are uninvolved in society. This interview-based study explores the meaning-making experiences of youth organizers at Boston’s Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) to better understand how they engage. Findings suggest that HSTF is engaging two broad groups of youth by focusing on both their personal development and their sense of community awareness. The study introduces an organizing model of …

Catalyst: A Social Justice Forum, Volume One, Issue One, Shane Willson, Landon S. Bevier, Rachael E. Gabriel, Taylor Krcek, Alaina Elizabeth Smith

Catalyst: A Social Justice Forum

It is with great pride that we present to you the inaugural issue of Catalyst: A Social Justice Forum. Here we have attempted to create an innovative, peer-reviewed space in which people from numerous disciplines, or even those claiming no discipline, can present research, multimedia, and art aimed at furthering the ideals of social justice, broadly defined. Social justice is not a concept owned by the academy, for attempts to create a more just world can come from many professions, or even from no profession at all. By applying the traditionally academic peer-review process to work done by activists, artists, …

Umaine Franco-American Center To Host Meetings With Council For French Life In America, Nick Houtman

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The University of Maine’s Franco-American Center will host meetings October 4 [2002] to promote ties between the Conseil de la Vie Française en Amérique (Council for French Life in America), or CVFA, and Franco-Americans in Maine. At 2 p.m., the Center’s community council will meet at Crossland Hall with the CVFA administrative board, and Franco-Americans from throughout the state will meet with the board during a reception from 4 to 7 p.m.

Justice For All: Finding The Courage To Live Our Beliefs, Vladimir Skaletsky

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

On March 16, 2000, a gunfight occurred in the West End neighborhood of Atlanta, Ga. A deputy sheriff fell to the ground, fatally wounded. On March 14, 2001, Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of firing the deadly bullet.