Wednesday, April 12, 2023
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National Arab American Heritage Month
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Feature by the Division of Diversity and Inclusion:
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April 1st marked the start of National Arab American Heritage Month. This month serves as a space to recognize the significant contributions of Arab Americans to the United States—often accomplished in spite of efforts to exclude them.
In 2017, the Arab America Foundation started the National Arab American Heritage Month initiative. The tireless organizing and advocacy efforts of volunteers and community leaders have led to proclamations from numerous communities, culminating last year in President Joe Biden proclaiming April as National Arab American Heritage Month.
President Biden wrote:
“The Arab American story is the American story—one of diverse backgrounds and faiths, vibrant tradition, bold innovation, hard work, commitment to community and stalwart patriotism, all coming together to accomplish something greater than any one of us … Sadly, we also recognize that, even as Arab Americans enrich our Nation, many continue to face prejudice, bigotry and violence—a stain on our collective conscience. Hate must have no safe harbor in this country. We must affirm that sentiment again and again.”
It is indicative of the Arab American experience in the United States that this month is only being nationally recognized after years of self-advocacy work from the Arab American community. And that these years are built on a far longer lineage of Arab Americans fighting to be heard and included, to be celebrated and protected. April is a month for folks to come together from many different identities and backgrounds to say, “We hear you; we welcome you. We are eager to celebrate you and we commit to protecting you.”
On Whitman’s campus, students embrace a variety of curricular opportunities to better educate themselves on issues relevant to the Arab and Arab American experience, particularly through Whitman’s South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies major. Faculty, staff and students have all engaged in issues centering Arab and Arab American folks:
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- In February, students Owen Jakel ’25 and Franko Omair ’25 led a Power & Privilege session titled “Transnational Palestinian Solidarity: How You Can Take Action Across Borders.”
- In March, Professor of History Elyse Semerdjian and Visiting Assistant Professor of Politics Özge Serin led a community teach-in titled “In the Ruins: The State of the Earthquakes in Turkey, Syria, and Kurdistan and Terror as Usual.”
- Student organizations such as Whitman Students for Justice in Palestine and the Muslim Students Association continue to advocate for and support many Arab and Arab American folks within the Whitman community.
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Jack Jackson Lectures at University of Michigan
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Last month, Associate Professor of Politics Jack Jackson delivered an invited lecture on US constitutional law and politics to students at the University of Michigan. Jackson's lecture situated the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision (overturning Roe v. Wade) within the broader context of a radicalized right-wing judicial politics that emerged after the defeat of Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court in 1987.
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Reid Post Office Closing Early Today
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Please note that the Reid Campus Center Post Office will close early today at 2 p.m. Please adjust your mailing needs accordingly.
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Friendship Family Gathering Tomorrow
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The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office will host a Friendship Family gathering from 5:30–7 p.m. on Thursday, April 13 on the Reid Campus Center side lawn. These periodic events are an opportunity for existing Friendship Families and their assigned students to connect. The population of international students continues to grow and anyone interested in joining the Friendship Family program is invited to attend this event to learn from other families and students about their experiences and expectations with the program.
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The Northwest 5 Consortium (NW5C), a collaboration between Whitman College, Willamette University, Reed College, the University of Puget Sound and Lewis and Clark College, will present “Ethical Dilemmas in Community Engaged Partnerships: Strategies for Critical Solidarity” at noon on Friday, April 14 (register in advance). For more information, see attached flyer.
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QPR Suicide Prevention Training on Friday
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Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a two-hour training session provided by Counseling Center staff, using the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) model which has been proven to decrease suicide risk in communities like ours. Participants will be certified as a QPR Gatekeeper, valid for one year. The training will take place from 1–3 p.m. on Friday, April 14 in Reid G02. Space is limited, so please RSVP in advance and email questions to QPR@whitman.edu. (See attached flyer.)
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Organic Garden Club Summer Internships
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The Organic Garden Club is accepting applications for three paid internship opportunities for Whitman students staying in Walla Walla this summer who can commit to working in the garden for 5–10 hours per week. Submit your completed application to collinsc@whitman.edu by midnight on Friday, April 14.
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In accordance with Washington State Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that since yesterday, one person with Whitman access was confirmed positive for COVID-19.
Please continue to follow all our campus COVID-19 protocols and if you have any symptoms that may be COVID-19 or know that you may have been exposed to coronavirus, please be tested.
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Glover Alston Center (GAC)
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Sustainability Talk with Professor Geology
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Whitman Investment Club: Bank Failures
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Glover Alston Center (GAC)
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other content to share with the Whitman community, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon for the following day’s newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.
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Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
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