I have recently had a few conversations with friends about what advocacy is and what its importance is. I find myself beginning these conversations because often times I hear the term ‘protest’ laden with negative connotations. It is quite disheartening because advocacy is in fact education, action, and the opportunity for dialogue about serious topics. I used to think of advocacy as speaking up for those whose voice is not heard. Now I have refined my definition to stress listening to the voices of the silenced, learning what it is that they know they need, and standing by in solidarity, marching together in protest and in hope, thinking and innovating new solutions to issues and problems that plague us. Advocacy is service to one another in the most active and honest form because not only do we serve one another but in working side by side we connect with one another. Doing so makes it impossible to walk away feeling good that you helped without understanding that the struggle continues and knowing there are many people working together to make it all better. Just thoughts of mine lately that I thought I should add to the blog :) peace, love, and hope : Sara
We had a great day of tabling this afternoon! We got a few pages full of signatures for the petition to the Senate to co-sponsor the International Violence Against Women Act as well as some great insights into what “Feminism” really means to individuals on DePauw’s campus.
Be sure to stop by our table tomorrow during lunch to educate yourself and speak your mind!
-Haley ‘08
Here are a few “Feminisms” from today:
Women’s Rights are Human Rights Week starts tomorrow! Stop by the HUB in the Union Building tomorrow for more information on the events of this week!
Be sure to purchase your Vagina Monologue ticket in advance! Only $5. All proceeds to go to www.vday.org and the Putnam County Family Support Services. View the Vagina Monologues publicity poster here > Vagina Monologues DePauw University
I would also encourage you to check out Amnesty International USA’s International Violence Against Women PhotoBook -click here.- Each of these women has a powerful story to share. Please take action on behalf of them by supporting the International Violence Against Women Act by visiting this website.
Hope to see you all out at our events!
All the best,
Haley ‘08
Hi everyone! In conjunction with Amnesty International, FMLA, and the upcoming production of the Vagina Monologues at DePauw University, we are planning a week of advocacy dedicated to WOMEN!
We’ll be tabling at the HUB in the UB Building every day during lunch during the week of March 3rd-8th, 2008 with materials about women’s rights issues and women’s health and some cool free buttons. Our big push is to see the International Violence Against Women Act passed this year. Members of Congress from both parties introduced this legistlation that will use the power of U.S. diplomacy and international aid to address physical and sexual violence against women and girls around the world. The International Violence Against Women Act will provide $1 billion over five years in U.S. foreign assistance for long-term prevention, economic development for women, programs to change public attitudes and social norms and legal and health reforms - all intended to end violence against women worldwide. We’ll have form letters and petitions to send to your lawmakers to ensure the bill’s success. We’ll also have education and advocacy materials as well as tshirts and tickets for Vag Mos for sale!
The calendar of events for the week includes: View PDF version —Women’s Week Calendar
Tuesday, March 4th, 7pm, Reese Hall: Always A Woman’s Choice?
Feature film (featuring CHER!) following the plights of 3 different women and their experiences with abortion, to be shown and discussion with members of FMLA. We’ll also have refreshments!
Wednesday March 5th, 7pm, Women’s Center: “Feminism:Debunking the Myths”
Panel discussion with Professors Tamar Beauboeuf, Mona Bhan and Rich Cameron. Come discuss with us as we try to understand what is really means to be a feminist today. Free Refreshments!
Thursday, March 6th, 5-7pm, Women’s Center: Taco Thursday-”Women, Race, Class, & Gender and the Politics of Identity
This event will feature discussion on the realities of womens lives, as race, class, and gender, intersect in a myriad of ways to shape women’s lives, and thus how they come to identify themselves, and resist forms of oppression through navigating complex cultural, class, race, and gender matrixes. Poetry readings are welcome, and there will be selected
works from various feminist authors and their words on feminism(s) to stimulate dialogue in realization that women are different, but that those differences can be destructive, can also be beautiful and the very source of women’s liberation. All women, and male allies, as well as those in opposition are welcome. Free dinner (vegan!) included!
Friday & Saturday March 7th & 8th, 7pm, MeHarry Hall: Vagina Monologues, $5
Stop by our table before and after the show to petition for the International Violence Against Women Act and learn more.
Saturday March 8th, 10am-Noon, UB Ballroom: Your Vagina & You
Women’s Health & Advocacy Workshop: Will feature talks by Rebecca Alton from the Wellness Center on Women’s Health as well as a talk by Professor of Anthropology Rebecca Upton on her work on HIV/AIDS in Botswana. Plus stick around for an advocacy workshop put on by Amnesty International.
We really hope you’ll participate in these events this upcoming week. Also if you’d like to take action online for the the International Violence Against Women Act, click here.
All the best,
Haley O’Brian ‘08
Russell Compton passed away December 9, 2007 at the age of 98. He leaves behind a legacy of activism, scholarship, and a vision of education as a participatory endeavor not bound by the walls of the classroom or the prestige of titles.
We have created an In Memoriam page for former students, friends, family, and the many people whom Russell taught to post thoughts, memories, and words of hope. Please take a moment and visit the page to share what you remember or what you learned from Russell.
Services will be held for Russell Saturday, December 15 at 11am at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church.
Hi all! My name is Sara Doody. I am a senior Conflict Studies major and this is my third year as an intern for the Compton Center for Peace and Justice. I have to start out this entry by telling you all what a phenomenal group of men and women work for the Compton Center. Since I am on my way out I feel like it is somewhat of my duty to brag about all the amazing things the interns do, since they certainly will not! The issues we tackle encompass human rights, social justice, and critical thinking and sensitivity with regards to our place in the world and the action necessary to change and progress beyond the world’s current state of multiple conflicts. Please do not hesitate to comment to this blog and contact any of the interns. We would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions as well as make connections with other students and advocates!
In the Fall of 2006 I decided to begin a campaign to educate students and begin, what I hoped would become, a campus-wide dialogue about the current war in Iraq. I feel that this country may care dearly about its soldiers, but has chosen not to critically assess our occupation in Iraq and actively speak out agains the War, to bring our soldier’s home and end the killing of innocent Iraquis, who were never responsible for 9/11 in the first place, nor ever had any WMDs.
Along with fellow intern, Jess Holmes, we created a visual campaign that stood in DePauw’s Academic Quad for 3 days. There were three visuals: pictures of “What we See” in the media (concerning the war), pictures of “What we Don’t See” (mostly of dead Iraquis and wounded soldiers/citizens), and a board informing the student body that we are accountable for these things as well as space left for their comments. It was a successful forum and something that was given enough time to hopefully affect people.
Since then we have done many things, including toy soldiers dispersed around campus with the name of soldiers lost in the war written on the toy gun they held, we filled the academic quad lawn with flowers in honor of those killed by the war, and have continued our discussion boards this fall. We are currently scheduling a semester-long panel with local Iraq veterans who will come to campus to educate the student body about what is really going on and how they feel about our occupation in Iraq.
Jess and I were off-campus in the Spring of 2007 and were unable to continue our activism on campus. Luckily, however, Rebekah and Andrea picked up where we left off with some pretty stellar campaigns throughout the semester. I would like to thanks Jess and Rebekah for continuing the Anti-War campaign with me this semester. They are incredibly thoughtful and creative women, without whom, our campaign would be nothing. Thank you Jess and Rebekah (and Andrea, who graduated last semester!) for everything!
Recently I attended an anti-war march in Chicago, on October 27th that was part of a larger national and international day of solidarity protesting for the withdrawl from Iraq, safe return of our soldiers, and the end of our occupation, displacement, and killing of innocent Iraquis.
I am very lucky to be a part of the Compton Center for Peace. The resources it affords me to be an activist and advocate on DePauw’s campus and nationally is more than I could have hoped for from my undergraduate institution. However, I will say the greatest gift I have received is to have a support group of 12-15 students and staff every semester that are like-minded, think about the world and the wellbeing of its inhabitants everyday, and have given me a space for criticaly thinking, dialogue, friendship, and hope.
In the hope for a more peaceful tomorrow,
Sara
Hi all : )
My name is Sainabou and I work as an intern at the Compton Center. I am currently a junior at DePauw with a double major in Political Science and Sociology.
I have always been saddened by the numerous unequal and inhumane treatments of different groups throughout the world; but like most people, I always felt that as one voice, I would not be heard. I joined the Compton Center because I saw that past projects done by interns did have an effect on the student body - by either educating them on an issue or by making them aware of a social injustice they may not have been aware of.
As Sarah mentioned, she and I are working on a racial dialogue program entitled “Melting the (Coffee) Pot.” It is our hope that through this program, a more comfortable and conducive atmosphere will be established for racial dialogue and race relations.
Hello.
About me:My name is Sarah, and I am an intern for the Compton Center. I am originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. At DePauw, I major in Conflict Studies and French. I decided to join the Compton Center, because I see a real need on DePauw’s campus for social justice and knowledge, in addition for a desire within myself to learn and grow.
About my projects: This year, I am working with another co-intern Sainabou on a project called “Melting the (Coffee) Pot” where our motto is melting the barrier, one pot at the time. We have decided to explore different facets of the racial dialogue in conversations open to all. Thus far, we have explored issues of white privilege and the “race card.” Stay tuned on the blog for more information about past and upcoming issues.
Greetings fellow activists!
Welcome to the new Compton Center blog!
My fellow interns and I decided that we needed a new way of reaching out into the greater community concerning issues of peace and social justice. Alas, we have become the newest members of the blogging community.
Ultimately we hope that this blog will provide a free, open, and honest forum concerning issues of campus, local, national, and global social justice. We’ll be featuring editorials, news, recent developments, information and updates on our projects, details on campus and local events, and much more.
We hope you’ll be a loyal reader, share the blog with a friend or two, and participate actively in this dialogue.
In the end, we hope to encourage you to think critically and act justly.
peace,
Haley
