Higher Education Commons^™

Class Of 2019 Graduate Students Urged To “Make A Difference”, Jill Rodrigues

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In RWU’s first annual Graduate Commencement, speakers challenge graduate students to change the world.

Senior Portrait Series, Xaviea Brown

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Senior Portrait Series highlights some of our grads' memories at RWU and their plans following commencement.

Rwu’S University College Graduates Students From All Walks Of Life, Courtney Dell'agnese

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In the 2019 University College commencement ceremony, RWU celebrated the accomplishments of students who received their degrees or certificates and honor society inductees.

Lavender Graduation Celebrates Queer And Trans Students, Justin Wilder, Julia Rubin

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Friends and family celebrated 18 graduating students from RWU's Queer and Trans community at our second annual Lavender Graduation.

A Conversation With 2019 Student Commencement Speaker Phoebe Thaler, Julia Rubin

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Phoebe Thaler `19 spoke with RWU News about the significance of being student commencement speaker, the importance of representation, community, and advocacy and her hopes for the future.

Leaders Honored In Student Achievement Awards, Julia Rubin

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On May 5, friends, family and RWU community members gathered to celebrate the many accomplishments of our student leaders.

Rwu Business Students Develop 10-Year R.I. Business And Economic Report For State Government Officials, Jill Rodrigues

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Analyzing key business and economic factors from 2008-2017, findings from the report have been released on the R.I. Secretary of State website.

Students Share Research At Academic Showcase And Honors, Jill Rodrigues

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SASH provides a forum for students to present their scholarly and creative work before an audience of peers.

Table Of Contents

New and Dangerous Ideas

Copy of the Table of Contents.

Acknowledgement

New and Dangerous Ideas

The editorial team’s acknowledgement of Gabriella Caron and faculty advisors' contribution to the publication of the journal.

Letter From The Editor

New and Dangerous Ideas

A summary of the second issue of New and Dangerous Ideas.

Front Cover

New and Dangerous Ideas

Page Image of New and Dangerous Ideas Front Cover.

Two Cents, Sam Avila

New and Dangerous Ideas

I took a Literature class a couple of years ago where we read different poems and short stories that focused on the Civil Rights Movement as well as social justice as a broader theme. I remember reading the poem “Ballad of Birmingham” by Dudley Randall, which magnified the emotions of African-American families in a powerful piece of literature. When I read that piece, I fell in love with writing again and I wanted to share stories through literature.

I wrote this piece because it was a way for me to reflect on a society that can act so hateful towards …

That Is So Gay, Daniel Nemec

New and Dangerous Ideas

The piece I created shows the complex and varied subject that is identity, specifically pertaining to the queer community.

The United States Healthcare System Keeps Failing Black Women, Vanessa Malkia

New and Dangerous Ideas

Writing this piece, I was pushed by the anger I constantly feel anytime I am reminded of the state of black women’s health in our country. As a black woman in a world that constantly reminds black people that we do not matter, hearing about the negative experiences black women face at the hands of healthcare professionals is incredibly frightening. It begs this question to be asked: Where are we safe? Racism (racist beliefs and acts) has real repercussions that sometimes put minoritized groups in deadly situations.

Due to a combination of implicit bias and structural inequalities, black women have …

This Is Not A Woman's Body, Av Binns

New and Dangerous Ideas

I was inspired to create this drawing while learning about the AIDS crisis, and the use of human bodies in acts of civil disobedience calling for government recognition and medical support of people living with AIDS. The queer community, with limited financial and political support, used their bodies for tools of resistance and visibility. Queer bodies were not only tools for marching and blocking streets; they were evidence of the severity of the issue at hand. AIDS was hard to ignore when it was gathered in the streets. Decades later, queer bodies remain an essential tool of advocacy for the …

David Wojnarowicz By Peter Hujar (1981), Kieran Binney

New and Dangerous Ideas

The poem is an ekphrastic piece, meaning it was inspired by a work of art — in this case, a portrait of David Wojnarowicz, photographed by Peter Hujar in 1981. Both Wojnarowicz and Hujar were prominent artists and gay activists in the 1970s and 80s, during the height of the AIDS crisis, and both died of AIDS-related illnesses.

I originally picked this portrait to write about for a class assignment simply because it was a striking image, but as I looked into Wojnarowicz’s background I grew more interested in both his life and the time in which he lived, and …

Like Mother, Like Daughter, Savannah Fox-Tree Mcgrath

New and Dangerous Ideas

My motivation for this piece was to shed light on what it is like growing up with a heritage, knowing it from your experience and family, and yet, having people challenge you your whole life to prove it. No one questions my German, Irish, or Finnish ethnicity, but, since I don’t match the stereotype of a Native American, I am constantly challenged.The image on my painting depicts my twin sister, Indigo, the only one of us five kids to have blonde hair and blue eyes, from my mother’s mother and my father’s mother and father. Having a mother who was …

Would You Be Comfortable Living With Someone Who Identifies As Homophobic?

New and Dangerous Ideas

Entering college for the first time is a very exciting time. You are starting a new chapter of your life, meeting new people, and living independently. While I had the same anxieties that many have over making friends and adjusting to college life, I could not have been prepared for the experience of my freshman year. My first semester at Roger Williams was a very dark time. I cannot express how harmful it is to be excluded and disliked in your living space because of a part of yourself which you cannot change. I was fortunate that I was able …

Artist Statements

New and Dangerous Ideas

Statements of artistic creations and ideas.

What Is The Opportunity Cost And Burden Of Confronting Oppression In And Out Of Classroom?, Beza Tadess

New and Dangerous Ideas

I was inspired to write this piece because at many points in my college career, I have felt exploited by the hands of white patriarchy that deemed the issues that I faced in and out of the classroom as my own to solve. This piece is my heart and intellect in order for me to leave this institution feeling like someone with power will be forced to hear it. I did not write this piece with the intention of inciting pity but rather to start a conversation with the larger university and higher education community about the ways in which …

New And Dangerous Ideas Back Cover

New and Dangerous Ideas

Page Image of New and Dangerous Ideas Back Cover.

Zine Team Advisors And Members Of Faculty Selection Committee

New and Dangerous Ideas

Page image of Zine Team Advisors and Members of Faculty Selection Committee.

A Poem For A Small Town Queer Kid, Indigo Martin

New and Dangerous Ideas

I wrote this piece originally for myself. It was a healing piece about coming to terms with my past and embracing it. Embracing my past is important to me because being discriminated against, being put in violent situations, experiencing microaggressions, and being made to feel like less than a human being has made me stronger. Minoritized people who do social justice work have often experienced some deep trauma. It is important to focus on healing and take care of one’s mental health in order to be able to be activists for social justice.

This piece opens with my experiences being …

Women's Track & Field Team Wins Ccc Championship, Casie Beauchemin

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The Roger Williams Women's Track & Field team won the CCC Championship for the second year in a row on a Saturday afternoon.

Hawks Soar Past The Challenge: Rwu Day Of Giving Breaks Records, Jill Rodrigues

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Participation more than doubled, raising the most funds ever on an annual Day of Giving.

More Than Just Events: Students Gain Valuable Skills Through Stage Crew Work, Courtney Dell'agnese, Kindell Brown

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In addition to learning how to set up concerts, dance shows and poetry slams, the members of RWU’s stage crew develop skills that can transfer to any position after graduation.

At First Ever Star Field Flashlight Exhibition, Expect The Unexpected, Julia Rubin

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On Sunday May 5, RWU artists of all types will showcase their work at the WaterFire Arts Center, in the first-ever Star Field Flashlight Exhibition.

A Celebration Of Community Engagement, Julia Rubin

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On Wednesday, April 24, students, faculty, staff, and community members, gathered to recognize more than 80 collaborative projects that have bolstered community initiatives and instilled in students important skills for the future.

Rwu Students Claim Second Place In Student Advertising Competition, Jill Rodrigues, Justin Wilder

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Innovative marketing campaign earns interdisciplinary team top-two finish in the regional round of the National Student Advertising Competition.