Thursday, February 22, 2024

Cultural Genocide Lecture Next Week: Kathleen Mahoney

Kathleen Mahoney sits on a large rock with the ocean in the background. She has long blonde hair and wears a dark jacket and denim pants.

Next week, guest speaker Kathleen Mahoney will deliver a lecture on Thursday, Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. in Maxey Auditorium. The lecture, titled “The Cultural Genocide of Indigenous Peoples and Reconciliation: The Canadian Experience,” is offered in conjunction with two First-Year Seminar sections taught by Professor of Philosophy Julia Ireland and Professor of French and Francophone Studies Jack Iverson. The event is free and open to the public. (Flyer attached.)

Kathleen Mahoney was the Chief Negotiator for Canada’s Indigenous Peoples claim against the Canadian government and major religious denominations for the Indian Residential School policy and the abuse inflicted on students, achieving the largest Indigenous settlement in Canadian history for mass human rights violations. She was the primary architect of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and led negotiations for the historic apology from the Canadian Parliament and from Pope Benedict XVI. Mahoney also served as co-counsel for Bosnia Herzegovina in their genocide action against Serbia in the International Court of Justice, and her work on the commission of rape as a weapon of war in Bosnia contributed to the expansion of the Genocide Convention to include mass rapes and forced pregnancy.

Mahoney will be joined on-campus by Indigenous Canadian leader and former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Phil Fontaine who played a central role in raising public awareness of the Canadian Indian Residential School system. Fontaine pushed to secure federal and papal apologies in 2008 and 2022, and last March he helped secure a repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery from Pope Francis.

This campus talk is presented at a time when Washington State embarks on its own Truth and Reconciliation investigation into Indigenous Boarding Schools.

Power & Privilege Symposium Schedule

Thursday, February 22

9 a.m.

“Attention Beyond Attendance: Let’s start with Palestine” (Maxey Auditorium)
“Dismantling the Chains: Unmasking Systematic Oppression in Mass Incarceration” (Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall)

10:10 a.m.

“Getting Learning Disability Accommodations Is Harder Than You Think” (Maxey Auditorium)
“Uncle Sam Needs You: Neocolonial Rhetoric and Postcolonial Mythos” (Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom)
“What are HSPs and Why Are They Discriminated Against?” (Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall)

2 p.m.

“Blacknificent” (Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall)
“Don’t Touch Me: Understanding Accessibility Tools in Public Life” (Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom)
“When the momentum dies, so do the refugees” (Maxey Auditorium)

3:10 p.m.

“Judaism Beyond Zionism” (Maxey Auditorium)
“The Privilege of Outdoor Recreation” (Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom)

Announcements

Community Engagement Team Is Hiring

The Career and Community Engagement Center is accepting applications for paid leadership positions in four of its Community Engagement Programs: Stream Team, Buddy Program, Friends Program and Food justice. Applications are available on Handshake and are due Saturday, Feb. 24 at midnight. Please note that you must be logged into Handshake to view the application. (Flyer attached.)

Whitman Stationery Portal Is Open

The twice-yearly opportunity to get bulk pricing on Whitman-branded stationery is here. The online portal is open for orders though Tuesday, March 5. Estimated delivery is April 18. As a reminder, your portal login information is not the same as your Whitman login. Questions? Contact Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Communications Andrea Volz at 509-527-5160 or volza@whitman.edu.

Apply To Join the Interest House Community

In addition to residence halls, Whitman College also offers students the opportunity to live in a variety of interest houses, in a neighborhood that borders the campus. Applications for Fall 2024–Spring 2025 are being accepted through Friday, March 8. (Flyer attached.) Learn more about the Interest House Community online. Questions? Contact Alyssa Ortiz, Resident Director of the Interest House Community, at ortizal@whitman.edu.

Photo Finish

Five performers, one holding a microphone. A screen in the background contains ''Sounds of the People'' in blue text.

Photo (@soundsofthepeopleofficial): The 2024 Power & Privilege Symposium week will conclude with a free concert by Sounds of the People on Friday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. Sounds of the People also performed for Power & Privilege in 2023 (pictured).

Happening Today (No Classes)

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Power & Privilege Symposium

Various Campus Locations (see above for details)

3:30 p.m.

Moving Forward With Social Anxiety

Welty Student Health Center

4–7 p.m.

Food Justice Project: Food Distribution at BMAC

Blue Mountain Action Council Warehouse (921 W. Cherry St.) (RSVP)

7–10 p.m.

Weekly Game Night

Reid Campus Center, Café

8 p.m.

Club Meeting: Disco

Reid Campus Center, Room G02

Whitman Events Calendar

Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

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