Winter Jubilee -- Fun for you, Fun for Me!

     Festivities abounded Monday on the Esplanade as Trinity Diversity Connection celebrated Winter Jubilee!
     TDC and our 13 Associate Groups came together with different events, activities, and FOOD (of course) to show Trinity some alternative winter traditions. TDC had vegan and regular smores and pictures taken in different holiday settings -by the fireplace, in a sleigh, etc.
     Even though it was wicked cold outside, the good company (and cups of hot chocolate and cider) kept us warm enough to visit all the different groups booths. For instance, the Chinese Culture Club and the Muslim Student Association both Calligraphy (two different types: Chinese and Arabic); Black Student Association had cookies and milk as well as a visit from Santa; Sexual Diversity Alliance celebrated with Vegan Cake and coloring pride flags; Latino Exchange had a pinata with candy; Jewish Student Association made menorahs out of marshmallows, pretzels, and spice drops; Gaelic Cultural Society decorated gingerbread cookies; Asian Subcontinental Association had mango smoothies and did Rangoli, a traditional Indian art form made by arranging beans in different patterns; and MANY more!
Hope everyone who made it out for this event had a great time and "Happy Finals to all, and to all a good-night."

Dialogue on Diversity

      This past Monday-Nov. 22nd- was the last Dialogue on Diversity for this semester. The topic was an Interfaith Dialogue and there were representatives from faiths such as Hinduism, Judaism, Catholicism, Sikhism, and Islam. During the dinner, - which was delicious, by the way - each representative give a brief introduction to the main beliefs in their religion. After this summary, the floor was opened up to questions from guests at the dialogue.

      Monday night was a civil discussion of discovery and education about the different religions represented on campus. However, even those with no faith (or a faith not represented) were welcome to join the discussion. If you have ideas for future dialogues, contact Maria Tariq.

Carnival!

      Well, Friday was the Carnival at Prassel Lawn! There was plenty of jumping in bouncy castle's, eating too much cotton candy, playing games, winning prizes, and acting like, well, kids again. The facepainting, balloon animals, and especially henna were a hit with carnival goers (shout out to Divina and Tanvi for applying henna until their own hands were numb). People enjoyed our guest booths: Trinity University Volunteer Action Community (TUVAC) had two groups, Habitat for Humanity built gingerbread houses and the Cancer Awareness group tie-dyed shirts; Association of Student Representatives (ASR) did a knock down the cans game that I couldn't hit to save my life; and Society of Women Engineers (SWE) did a dart balloon pop game.There was also a cake walk, duck pond game, bucket toss game, guess the number of toothpicks, and booths for TDC and SPB. Congrats to everyone who won a raffle prize and hope everyone else had a great time!

And thank you again to everyone who helped make this carnival a success, it would not have been possible without you!

Carnival- Looking for Artists and Bands!

Current Events, Exec. Board Meeting 11/2

     Happy Late Dia De Los Muertos (November 1st)!  Also known as Day of the Dead, Dia De Los Muertos celebrates the memory of dead relatives and friends through prayer, gifts, and visitation to gravesites. Another well known tradition during this holiday is creating alters (or ofrendas) inside or near the home to remember loved-ones. Latino Exchange, one of TDC's Associate Groups built an altar in Coates for use by anyone at Trinity. Another interesting Dia De Los Muertos altar was erected by Storch Memorial Building to honor Possum, a recently deceased cat. Check them out (and add to them) while you still can!

     Also, Tuesday night was a new TDC Executive Meeting, where we learned about the United States President Obama's visit to India. The debate centered on Obama's refusal to visit India's Sikh Golden Temple and the possible political reasons behind not visiting this historic site. Our fearless discussion leader found the political statement “we can never do as many events as we’d like to do” to be an inappropriate excuse for sure an important holy site (SALDEF news brief). According to the Daily Mail, the President might have canceled his visit because it might make citizens see this act as proof that he is Muslim.  We discussed why this would be (and shouldn't be) an issue for Obama, to have other people perceive him as a  secret worshiper of Islam. Another issue that was brought up was the distinction between the Sikh faith and the Muslim faith: "The temple - called Harmandir Sahib - is the spiritual centre of the Sikh religion and one of India's most popular tourist attractions" (Daily Mail Reporting). However, the concern was that the public would infer Obama is Muslim- because he will need to cover his head out of respect- even though the temple is for Sikh worshipers, not Muslim ones. Obama's running from a possible controversy (if indeed he is), is disappointing for America as a whole because instead of an illuminating conversation about the intersection of religion and stereotypes, we instead get denial and fear.

*If you would like to voice your opinion about the White House's decision not to visit Harmandir Sahbib, see the SALDEF news brief for more information. *

Social Activism: "Educate Yourself"

     Last night, October 26th, was a program on the Trinity campus to raise awareness for refugees. The formal program included an overview of the San Antonio Center for Refugee Services as well as personal narratives from refugees currently living in San Antonio. These men came from Bhutan, Congo, Iraq, and Burma/Myanmar though most of them lived in at least one different place besides there home country before ending up in the United States.

     Tula Durand, from the non-profit Center for Refugee Services, gave us an overview of terms and definitions relating to refugees. Ms. Durand also explained how and where most refugees were located throughout the world and the protections they are offered by UN Sanctions. The number of refugees coming to San Antonio- and where they are from- has changed drastically over time, so that this year alone, SA had over 1,000 refugees. That is triple the amount of refugees that came here last year. Over all, it was a very informative program, with a chance to talk one on one with these refugees at the reception held afterward.

Current Events, 10/19 Exec. Meeting

* from the 10/19 Executive Meeting, presented by Thi Pham.
   
     At our last TDC Exec. Meeting, we discussed the Body Image Program's initiative to end "fat talk."  This program is especially important to our University as the sororities on campus were one of the test groups for the project that is now nationwide. Our athletics and sororities now participate yearly and part of the program is a Fat Talk Free Board- where students can celebrate their bodies by posting what they love about themselves for all to see. One of the issues that came up during our discussion was a question of whether or not this campaign was targeted at creating a healthy nutritional and fitness program to go along with a healthy image. However, Tri Delta we surmised that this project was more to raise self-esteem (as well as discourage "Fat Talk"), rather than to be a resource to a "healthy" lifestyle. Another point of discussion was at the source of "Fat Talk" in our society? Is it caused by parental or peer pressure or some other reason? We followed that media and fashion standards of beauty were partly to blame because they create unrealistic goals for human bodies with airbrushing and other image altering techniques.
     Check out the body image program website  as well as the youtube video for more information.

LGBT Ally Workshop

A New Associate Group Joins TDC!!!

     Our cabinet is very excited about the events of last nights' vote to include a new group under the umbrella of Associate Groups in TDC.The Sikh Student Associate presented last night at our Executive Meeting, covering why and how they fit in with the overall mission of TDC and what events they plan on having throughout the year. Though they are a small group now, they hope to gain a membership of people at Trinity interested in the Sikh faith (which has around 23 million followers worldwide) and dispelling the mystification and misinformation surrounding the male turban. 

     So a big congratulations and welcome to Jaskirat Singh Batra (President), Harjot Kaur Dhillon (Vice-President),  Jasdeep Singh (Historian/Secretary), and  Anmol Singh Bhinder (Accountant) from the Trinity Diversity Connection Board members!

Also, discussed at the Executive Meeting for Current Events:

(* from the 10/5 Executive Meeting, presented by Kate Goldsberry) 

"Suicides Put Light on Pressures of Gay Teenagers" by McKinley

      In light of LGBT History Month (October), I decided to talk about a NY Times Article that caught my attention about the recent rise in suicides of LGBT youth. Bullying seems to have become an epidemic in middle schools and high schools across the country and it is especially damaging to developing LGBT youth. As the article mentions, "According to a recent survey conducted by Ms. Byard’s group, nearly 9 of 10 gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual middle and high school students suffered physical or verbal harassment in 2009, ranging from taunts to outright beatings" (McKinley: NY Times- Oct. 3, 2010). 

    However, the recent suicide of Tyler Clementi, a 18 year old Rutgers University student, shows that the problem of bullying and harassment is also a problem in institutions of higher education. Many figures and groups have spoken out about this issue recently, including Ellen Degeneres and the "think B4you speak campaign" (website).

Some questions that came up during the meeting:

1. Who is to blame for this continued harassment of students: Parents, the Institution itself, Faculty and Staff at these schools, or some other cause?
2. How does anti-gay rhetoric affect these teens? video-clip about phrase "that's so gay"
3. Why are more and more people choosing to use online/media as a way to bully others?
4. How can we change this trend? 

Petition Day and Dialogue on Diversity

Petition Day

     As our Associate Groups and the rest of this campus found out, this past week was First Amendment Right's Week. This meant that our Freedoms to Assemble (Monday), Speak (Tuesday), Petition (Wednesday),  Religion (Thursday), and Press (Friday) were all challenged by different groups and activities on campus. TDC
participated by helping to host the Freedom to Petition Day event as part of our take on Social Activism and Justice on campus. Ashwin organized multiple groups on campus to come and have a petition ready for other students to sign. Some were silly (the right to have spicier food on campus) or inspirational (Petitions for the Dream Act and Freedom to Marry Act), but all the groups there felt something in the world wasn't quite right and decided a petition was the way to try and enact that change. See the Trinitonian Article 
    The next TDC Social Activism Project is Oct. 26th @ 7:00pm (Fiesta Room, Trinity University). The topic is Refuge Awareness and there will be several guest speakers.

Dialogue on Diversity: Gender Discrimination
     Hosted by TDC, the Dialogue on Diversity Series seeks to create a forum for discussion on certain topics of interest (this semester: Gender, Interfaith Issues, and Immigration) that we feel have a great impact on our society at this given point in history. Along with dinner-pizza and salad-, participants were challenged to think critically about the impact of gender norms and socialization. Guest speakers from the Esperanza Center for Peace and Justice Center (website) along with the Rape Crisis Center for Adults and Children (website) came to the dialogue to give their opinions and ideas about gender discrimination in the U.S. To sum up the thoughts and comments that were discussed would be impossible, but I will say that it became obvious just how interrelated all types of oppression (sexism, racism, homophobia, etc.) really are.
     The next TDC D.o.D. will be Nov. 9th @ 7 p.m. (in the Skyline Room, Trinity University) over Immigration Issues in the United States.
  

Current Events, Exec. Board Meeting 9/21

* from the 9/21 Executive Meeting, presented by Maria Tariq.

"Afghan Boys Are Prized, So Girls Live the Part" by Nordberg

  Instead of having three daughters, Azita Rafaat remade her youngest daughter into an Afghan boy so she could have a son. "To those who know, these children are often referred to as neither 'daughter' nor “son” in conversation, but as 'bacha posh,' which literally means 'dressed up as a boy' in Dari" (Nordberg 2010). Mrs. Rafaat, who is a member of Parliment herself, suggested to her third daughter get a haircut and become their son, to gain their family greater status in Afghan society. It also allows their 'son' access to more educational and social opportunities.  NY Times Article Link

Some questions we came up with at meeting:

1. What are some other options women might take to get equal access in society?
2. Is this going to be developmentally harmful to Mehran to grow up as a boy only to face societal pressures to be a woman once she hits puberty?
3. Does this positively or negatively affect the struggle for Equal Rights between the sexes?  Aka, is this a progressive or regressive tactic?
4. What does the society think about this type gender switching? 

Event Report Form

2010 – 2011 Trinity Diversity Connection Program/Event Report

Diversity group:__________________________________
Name:__________________________________________
E-mail Address:__________________________________
Position:________________________________________
Name of Program:________________________________
Program Date:___________________________________
Program Location:________________________________

Expenses
Amount           Expenditure Description
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    
                                                                                    

Total Attendance
*Students:_____________________________

*Faculty/Staff:__________________________

*Community:___________________________
   
Briefly Describe the Program:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

What Went Well?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What Could Have Been Improved?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________




* this form can (and should) be used for all events an Associate Group has each year, including TDC events such as Celebration and Awareness Week, Winter Jubilee, and Taste of Diversity.

T.D.C. Point System:

Executive Meeting Attendance: +10/officer (limit: 20 pts)
General Meeting Attendance: +5/officer (limit: 50 pts); +10 pt bonus if all officers present
Group Sponsored Event: 1st 2 events per semester, +50/event; +25/following events

Special Event Attendance: +10/officer (limit 50 pts); +10 pt bonus if all officers present
Dialogues on Diversity (each semester): +10/officer per dialogue; +5 pts for additional dialogue
Winter Jubilee: +10/officer (limit: 50 pts); +5/activity; +5/food
Social Activism Events: +5/officer per event (limit: 25 pts); +10 pt bonus if all officers present
CAW Activity: +40 per group
Night of Color: +10/officer (limit: 50 pts); +10 pt bonus if all officers present
Taste of Diversity: +10/office (limit: 50 pts); +10 pt bonus if all officers present
Trainings: +5/officer (limit: 25 pts); +10pt. for officers who are on time

T.D.C. Disciplinary Actions

Violations will be given to any officer of an associate missing a required event without giving TDC prior notice of absence. Each group gets three warnings/violations TOTAL before their status as an associate group in TDC gets reevaluated.  This means that if 3 officers from the same associate group each miss one event without an excuse, the associate group will then be up for Re-Evaluation status.

Disciplinary Actions are as follows:
1st infraction – Warning e-mail to offending officer and President of each organization with notification of the offense
2nd Infraction-  Warning e-mail to offending officer and President of each organization with notification of the offense. Also, a required meeting, including the offending officer, their Associate Group President, that groups T .D.C. group Liaison, and TDC Advisor.
3rd Infraction – Warning e-mail to offending officer and President of each organization with notification of the offense, as well as a loss of advertising privileges with TDC (includes the rest of that semester's free copies and loss of Trinitonian ads).
4th Infraction- Re-Evaluation of status as a TDC associate group by TDC Board vote.

Trinitonian Article- CAW 9/17/10

What do Plaid Print, Fasting, Bollywood, and a Shabbat Service all have in common? 

     Ok ok ok ok, so stop me if you already heard this one: “A Muslim man and an Hindu woman walk into a Tea Room…” Oh, you don’t know that one?  What about “A Gay man and an Irish man go to Fiesta…” Nope, nothing. “Really? Ok, how about the one where a Black woman and a member of the Asian Subcontinental Association walk into a bar that is no longer a bar?”  Have you completely lost me on this one?! Get to the point already lady. Yes, well, badly stereotyped jokes aside, I am trying to talk about Celebration and Awareness Week (and butchering it, as you can all see I’m not cut out to be a comedian).  All of these bizarre occurrences are actually taking place this week; you just have to find the right room (Lightner Tea Room; Fiesta Room; and Tiger’s Den, respectively) on campus to be a part of party. 

      Celebration and Awareness Week is a time to have fun while learning about different aspects of diversity, but it is also a time to reflect on life. How often do you actually take the time to stop, and really look at your surroundings- look at the way campus organizations, classes, study habits, physical activities, musical interludes, and dorm life all intersect to form the Trinity Bubble we know and love. Trinity Diversity Connection hosts Celebration and Awareness Week for just this reason: to give students the opportunity to look around and see that there is more to this campus than reading that William Dean Howells’ book for class (sorry Dr. Stokes).   
     Diversity is about celebrating differences, but also about recognizing similarities in human nature. So when I happened to wear plaid pants on Monday only to fit in perfectly with all the other plaid at GCS’ Kilt and Knotwork Night, I chalked it up to last year’s President- Sidra Qureshi- and her knowledge that even the most random seeming circumstances can add up to a good connection with other people.  So if you haven’t made it out to any CAW events lately, I wish I could say that the three ghosts of TDC’s past would come haunt you too, but I can’t: However, I can tell you with confidence that you are missing out on some great experiences to meet new people, to challenge yourself into trying new activities or foods, as well as missing some seriously excellent music.

So if you feel regret about not going to a CAW event yet, or just want to keep those unique CAW experiences coming, I suggest you try to attend JSA’s “Shabbat Service” TONIGHT in the Tehuacana Room (7:30-9:00pm) and/or SDA’s “Fun and Gaymes”- yes, it is spelled that way on purpose- in the Fiesta Room (6:00-7:30pm).  And of course, TDC’s Grand Finale is on Saturday (7-10pm) with “Night of Color”! There will be dancing, activities, food, as well as a chance to win one of those great Celebration and Awareness Week t-shirts that you see us wearing around campus today.

     Whether or not you ended up going to BSU’s “Outspoken Lyrics” Tuesday or tasted new foods at FSA’s “Fear Factor” challenge on Wednesday, Celebration and Awareness Week is all about being able to look at this campus in a new light. Say hello to your old friends, but don’t be afraid to mix it up and say hi to that passing stranger on your walk to class in the morning. You might learn something new about life, this campus, or yourself in the process.

*Article by Kate Goldsberry (TDC President) published in the Trinitonian 9/17/10

TDC Office Hours

This list is for Fall semester '10:


Kate (president): W 2:30-3:45; T 3:30-4:00
Topper (vice-president): W: 9-10:30 a.m.
Thi (event program coordinator):  M 1:30-3:00
Paarth (accountant): F 12:30-2:00
Maria (internal affairs): F 10:30-12:00
Carmel (public relations): T/R 9:15-10:00 a.m.
Ashwin (social activism): T 10:00-10:30 a.m., R 10:30-11:30 a.m.

TDC Officer Requirements

Every officer in a associate group is required to attend per Semester

(dates included are for 1st semester's activities):

• Officer Training
• 1 DoD--Sept. 29th, 7 p.m.,Skyline; Nov. 9th 7 p.m., Skyline; Nov. 22 8:00 p.m., Skyline    
• 1 Special Event (Nile Seguin)--Nov. 4th @ 7pm, Laurie Auditorium
• Night of Color for CAW--Sept.  18th, 7 p.m-10pm, Fiesta Room
• 1 Social Activism Project--Sept. 29th, 11-2pm Esplanade; Oct. 26th, Fiesta Room, 7 p.m.,
• Fall Only: Winter Jubilee--Dec. 6th, 5 p.m., Esplanade/Fiesta Room 
• Spring Only: Taste of Diversity 
• Spring Only: TDC Gala

Each organization is required to have PER SEMESTER:

• 1 social event 
• 1 educational event 
• completed event reports

*Presidents and treasurers also have meetings once per month; please contact Soi or Paarth with any questions.