Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Happy Holiday: Happy Islamic New Year

Islamic New Year, December 18th, is a cultural celebration in which Muslims celebrate the month of Muharram which marks the beginning of the liturgical year.

Muharram is historically tied to the Islamic prophet Muhammad who emigrated from Medina to Mecca in 1662 A.D. Because of its historical roots, the Islamic New Year is celebrated differently. Some celebrate Muharram relatively quietly through prayer and reflection, while other Muslims celebrate Muharram by exchanging cards. As far as differences in celebration for Shia and Sunni Muslims, both groups see this particular holiday as a somber remembrance as it also encapsulates the Battle of Karbala and the death of Caliph Abu Bakr. However other than these differences, Muharram is remembered as a day of self-reflection as well as family gathering through special prayers and readings such as the hijra from the Koran. These special prayers and readings are what unite Muslims during this time of year and serve as a reminder of the prophet Mohammed’s daring emigration from Medina to Mecca providing a kind of solidarity that brings all Muslims together.

Sources:

http://www.newyearfestival.com/islamic-new-year.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_New_Year

http://www.indobase.com/holidays/new-year/newyear-in-different-religions/islamic-new-year.html

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Campus Events: City of Chicago Winter Activities

With classes out of session, this week’s events calendar feature winter holiday happenings in the City of Chicago. The regular Campus Events calendar will resume on Thursday, January 7.

  • Maxwell Street Market
    South Loop, Des Plaines St & Roosevelt Rd
    Sundays, December 13, 20, 27, 2009 from 7:00am-3:00pm
    International ingredients just in time for the Holidays
  • Kristkindlmarket Chicago
    50 W. Washington St. - Loop
    Fridays and Saturdays until December 23 11:00am – 9:00 pm
    An open-air, German-style market showcases handmade ornaments, accessories, clothing and gifts from more than 50 vendors. Also features German food and drink such as beer, hot spiced wine, potato pancakes, bratwurst, schnitzel, strudel and more.
  • Chicago Sports Fest
    McCormick Pl Halls A and B 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive
    December 27 – 28 10:00 am-4:00 pm
    Learn how to Fence, play football or even try out some judo martial arts
  • Snow Days Chicago
    Grant Park S. Balbo & Michigan Ave
    January 29 - 31, 2010
    Snow sculpting competitions, dogsled competitions and many more activities free of admission

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Guest Blogger: UCPD - Holiday Safety Tips

Protect your home
  • Always lock doors and windows when you leave the house, even if you will only be away for a few minutes.
  • Never display gifts where they can be seen from the window or doorway.If someone comes to your home asking for a donation or claiming to be delivering a package, always ask for official identification.
Shop Safely
  • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or credit card whenever possible.
  • Never flaunt your money or expensive jewelry or clothing.
  • Walk confidently, and be alert. Notice who passes you and who is behind you. Be especially mindful of pickpockets on crowded busses and trains and among crowds of holiday shoppers.
  • If you drive, park in a well-lit space, and always lock the car, close the windows and hide shopping bags and gift in the trunks.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Happy Holidays: Merry Christmas!


Christmas Day, December 25th, is a traditional Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. It has become very popular in non-religious circles and many traditions have developed. The Christmas tree (pictured to the right) , usually a fir tree decorated with twinkling lights, tinsel, and ornaments begins the Christmas season for many families. Poinsettias, ruby-colored, star-shaped leaves, are popular holiday decorations during the Christmas season, along with wreaths and mistletoe, a popular kissing adornment at parties! Many families celebrate Christmas by having family and friends over for dinner and exchanging gifts. Some religious families attend various pageants, carols, and church services.


Thursday, December 3, 2009

Winter Break Perks

Winter Break is soon upon us and for some of us, home is only an air ticket away. If you are heading to the airport next week, Student Government will have the annual shuttle service during finals week to take students to Midway and O’Hare airport. The shuttles will run from Thursday, December 10th, to Saturday, December 12th. For more information and to sign up for the service, please visit the Student Government website.

While some of us get ready to head back to our hometowns, there are those who will be in the Hyde Park area. We here at 5710 would like to give students who will be around the campus a list of resources that are available to them. While there will be libraries, cafes, and gyms open to the student population, the hours have been augmented in light of the holiday season.

Libraries

Days Hours

1. Crerar Research Library
Sun-Thurs 8:00 am- 1:00 am
Fri- Sat 8:00 am- 10:00 pm

2. Joseph Regenstein Library (The Reg)
Sunday 12:00 pm- 5:00 pm
Mon-Thurs 8:00 am- 8:00 pm
Fri-Sat 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

3. D’Angelo Law Library
Sunday 12:00 pm- 9:00 pm
Mon-Wed 8:00 am- 8:00 pm
Thurs-Fri 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Saturday CLOSED

Athletic Facilities

1. Ratner Auxiliary Gym Centre
Mon-Fri 6:00 am- 9:00 pm
Sat-Sun 8:00 am- 7:00 pm

2. Henry Crown
Mon-Fri 7:00 am- 7:00pm
Sat- Sun 10:00 am- 6:00 pm
Campus Cafes, Halls and Pubs

Campus Events: December 4 - December 12

Friday, December 4

Gingerbread White House Unveiling
Time: 10:00am
Location: Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive

Soul Umoja’s God is in Control!
Time: 7:00pm
Location: C-Shop of Reynolds Club, 5706 S. University Avenue

Sunday, December 6

Opening Reception for the “All Power to the People! The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas”
Black Panther Party Minister of Culture
Time: 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: DOVA Temporary Gallery, 5228 S. Harper Avenue

Workers in a Time of War: Pakistan and the Crisis of the International Labor Movement
Time: 2:00pm
Location: International House, University of Chicago 1414 E. 59th Street

Hindu Student Sangam Workshop on Yoga and Meditation
Time: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: Rockefeller Chapel, 1156 E. 59th Street
RSVP birla@uchicago.edu. Bring your own yoga mats.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine for campus community members and children

To: Faculty, faculty emeriti, other academic personnel, students, and staff
From: Kimberly Goff-Crews, Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students in the University, and Nim Chinniah, Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Re: H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine for campus community members and children
December 2, 2009

Thanks to increased allocations of vaccine for H1N1 (swine) flu, we are now able to offer separate immunization opportunities for all members of the University community and children of University affiliates.

We invite all students, faculty, faculty emeriti, other academic personnel and staff to a general vaccination clinic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, in the Reynolds Club. Please bring University identification. Seasonal flu vaccine also will be made available at the clinic.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Happy Holidays: Chanukah!

It is December and that means only one thing: HOLIDAYS!! Get your Christmas tree up, your dreidel spinning, or light your Kwanzaa candles! We here at OMSA are very aware that many of our students and fans celebrate December in their own way and we wanted to highlight some of the celebrations occurring this month. We will be posting a description of a holiday every Tuesday for the first three weeks in December. This gives us the opportunity to share with our readers what we have learned in our research.

First up we have Chanukah!

Chanukah is the eight-day festival of light which begins on the eve of Kislev 25. This holiday celebrates “the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materiality.” This year Chanukah will be celebrated from Sunset of December 11 through December 19, 2009.

Chanukah customs include eating foods fried in oil -- latkes (commonly known as potato pancakes) and sufganiot (similar to doughnuts). Children usually play with the dreidel, a spinning top, which has inscribed the Hebrew letters nun, gimmel, hei and shin, an acronym for Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, meaning "a great miracle happened there"[pictured to the right].

Monday, November 30, 2009

DIY: Sushi Study Break!

Let us help you bring in reading period with a Sushi Study Break! Join us on Thursday, December 3 starting at 6pm for a spectacular study break.

We will learn how to make sushi and eat it!

Chicago's Native American Origins

This month the University of Chicago and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs celebrates Native American Heritage. As part of the celebration, each week the OMSA Blog featured a notable Native American and other information about the tribal communities. This week we have provided some information on the Native roots of our home, Chicago.

Chicago’s Native American Origins





At the beginning the Chicago area was inhabited by a number of Algonquian peoples, including the Mascoutens and Miamis. Trade links and seasonal hunting migrations linked these peoples with their neighbours, the Potawatomis to the east, Fox to the north, and the Illinois to the southwest. The name "Chicago" is the French version of the Miami-Illinois word shikaakwa (" Wild Onion"), named for the plants common along the Chicago River, and this has nothing to do with Chief Chicagou of the Michigamea people.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Guest Blogger: Meghan Hammond

I am the Assistant Director for Graduate Student Affairs, which is a central office that supports the graduate student career through the administration and management of fellowships, grants, and academic exchange programs and enhances the graduate student experience through the development and coordination of workshops, communications, services, and programs such as Graduate Student Orientation and the Family Resource Center. We are located in rooms 224, 225, and 227 of the Administration Building, and have an open-door policy: walk-ins welcome! We have a listing of fellowships databases available online, including opportunities specifically for students of color. We work closely with OMSA and other student services offices to connect you with resources that will enable you to make the most of your time at the University, and would love to meet with you one-on-one to discuss your research interests and how best to find resources to support your work. You can also follow us (“UChicago Graduate Student Affairs”) on Facebook—we’d love to have you all as fans!

Campus Events: November 30 - December 3

Monday, November 30
CSRPC presents “The International Association of Black Religions and Spiritualities: History, Present & Future Prospects” by Professor Dwight N. Hopkins
Time: 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Location: Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, 5733 S. University Avenue

Chicago Booth 1st Vale Latin American Leadership Conference
Time: 4:45pm – 6:45pm
Location: CAPS Resource Center in Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street
Tickets are $5.00

Summer Links Information Session
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: First Lounge of the Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street

AfriCaribe Auditions
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
AfriCaribe Cultural Center, 2547 W. Division Street

Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc presents Living La Vida Sana
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Guest Blogger - Jay Tan

I am Jay Tan, currently a third year in the College. I am majoring in Economics and Psychology. This winter quarter, I am going to participate in the Barcelona Study Abroad Program. I applied to the program early this year and I am glad that I was selected.

Applying for University of Chicago Study Abroad program has always been something on the top of “must-do” list. Why? It is because University of Chicago’s Study Abroad program is very well structured and the civilization programs fulfill 3 quarters of the core requirement in just one quarter. Besides that, Barcelona is a city that has been constantly attracting my attention due to its richness in culture and the phenomenal architectures of the city. The extremely cold winter in Chicago has also prompted me to apply for a study program during winter. All these lead to why I put Barcelona as my first choice when I applied for the program.

One might think that participating in these programs can be very costly. However, this perception is not entirely true. Many offices in the University give out academic grants to aid the successful applicants – Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA) being one of them. I learn about this academic grant on the OMSA’s website and decided to try my luck by applying for this grant. And yes, I was graciously awarded a good amount to lighten the cost of the program. Besides that, if you are receiving any kind of financial aid from the University, the aid will still apply despite you going abroad. Thus, Study Abroad Program is not always a very expensive thing to do.

All my friends who took part in these programs never regretted. Some even commented that the quarter where they joined the program is probably going to be their most enjoyable quarter in their entire 4 years of University life. The onsite visits made them understand the text and the culture of a civilization much better. Besides studying, they are also exposed to new languages and of course, enjoying the different kind of delicacies that each country can offer.

Thus, I would also strongly recommend all students in the University to grab this excellent opportunity to apply for the Study Abroad Program. Although my program will only be conducted in Winter quarter, I am sure that I will not regret it and I will have an incredible experience there.

Please continue read this blog as I will post my experiences about my study abroad program when I am in Barcelona next quarter!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Thanksgiving at the University of Chicago

Cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, macaroni and cheese, and of course TURKEY! The most wonderful things of Thanksgiving are celebrated with friends and loved ones. But sometimes, holidays have to be celebrated away from home. With that, Chicago and the University have some events going on to make the small break a little more homey!

On campus:

On Thursday, November 26, a Thanksgiving meal will be offered at South Campus from 11:00am -1:30pm. This event is for meal plan holders. The South Campus Dining hall will be closed after 1:30pm. Hours for dining halls during Thanksgiving Break are as followed:
  • Friday, November 27th: 9:00am-7:00pm at South Campus
  • Saturday, November 28th:11:00am-2:00pm at South Campus,
  • Sunday, November 29th: 11:00am-8:00pm at South Campus, 4:30pm-8:00pm at Pierce, 4:30pm-8:00pm at Bartlett.

Notable Native Americans: John Herrington

This month the University of Chicago and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs celebrates Native American Heritage. As part of the celebration, each week the OMSA Blog will feature a notable Native American and other information about the tribal communities.

This week's notable individual is John Herrington

John Herrington is an astronaut, of the Chickasaw Nation. Herrington is the first Native American to walk in space when launched November 23, 2002 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Serving as the flight engineer for launch and landing, Herrington vowed to carry the Chickasaw Nation flag with him into space. Members of his tribe watched the historic launch, and Herrington honored his Native American heritage by carrying six eagle feathers, a braid of sweet grass, two arrowheads, and his nation's flag.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Campus Events: November 20 - 25

Friday, November 20

OBS and ACM presents “The Need for Computer Scientists in a Bold New World” by Professor Brian Blake, Associate Dean of Engineering and Strategic Initiatives and Professor of Computer Science and Engineer at the University of Notre Dame
Time: 4:30pm
Location: TBA

Saturday, November 21

Nativo: Take Back Thanksgiving
Time: 8:00pm
Location: 2716 North Avenue

Monday, November 23


International Volunteering Initiative Study Break
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity Informational
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Tuesday, November 24

Tuesday, November 24

Race and Religion Workshop: “Prophetic Rage: Black Religious Response to Postmodernity" presented by Johnny Hill, PhD, Assistant Professor of Theology at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
4:15pm – 5:30pm
Location: Room 403 of the Swift Hall, 1025 E. 58th Street

Monday, November 16, 2009

Notable Native Americans: Charlene Teeters

This month the University of Chicago and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs celebrates Native American Heritage. As part of the celebration, each week the OMSA Blog will feature a notable Native American and other information about the tribal communities.

This week's notable individual is Charlene Teeters.


Charlene Teeters is an activist, of the Spokane Nation. Teeters has been referred to as the "Rosa Parks" of the American Indians. She campaigned against her alma mater, the University of Illinois, for using a Native American-looking effigy - Chief Illiniwek - dresses in feathers and war paint, as their school mascot. Chief Illinewek would dance to a drumbeat at local football games, humiliating and offending Teeters and others. She began protesting against the Indian mascot at the University of Illinois, then created an 1994 exhibit called "It Was Only an Indian: Native American Stereotypes" which identified Native American racism and stereotypes in the media and corporation advertising.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Campus Events: November 12- November 19

Thursday, November 12

ORCSA: Grad Student Pub Special
Time : 4.00pm -6.00pm
Location: Ida Noyes Hall Pub, 1212 E. 59th Street

Blacklight Literary Magazine 2009 Release Event
Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Friday, November 13

The Newberry Library Seminar in Latin American History featuring “Marketing Excitement: Bourbon Morality, Gambling and the Royal Lottery in New Spain” by
Javier Villa-Flores, Associate Professor of History and Latin American and Latino Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago

Time: 2:30pm – 5:00pm
Locations: The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton Street

Make Up Student Organization Reapplication Training
Time:3:00pm – 4:45pm
Location: Third Floor Theatre of the Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street

Guest Blogger: The OMSA Advisory Board

The OMSA Advisory Board met with a key administrator this past week! Ken Warren, Professor in the Department of English and Deputy Provost for Research and Minority Issues, came to address matters concerning diversity within the faculty, curriculum, and student body on campus.

With respect to faculty, we discussed, among other things, the rising number of African-American faculty at the University. It appears as though the University is “winning more frequently than it is losing” with regards to attaining and retaining faculty of color. At the same time, the University appears to be struggling to attract certain candidates who are not particularly drawn to the campus environment at UChicago. I cannot say that this comes as a surprise, but it appears as though the administration is working hard to draw in a qualified and diverse pool of potential candidates. Furthermore, the board addressed concerns with respect to the time that professors have available to engage with the study body. Both undergraduate and graduate students expressed that their professors are spread too thin while trying to keep up with their personal research efforts, teach the required amount of courses, and meet departmental obligations. Students expressed that a serious effort to recruit more faculty of color would significantly reduce the work load of current faculty, as well as provide more opportunities for meaning faculty-student engagement in the form of longer office hours; faculty contribution to student-organized events; and more substantive faculty advising for student research efforts. There was also discussion regarding post-doctoral positions, and the possibility of hiring future post-docs as potential tenure-track faculty members. We will update you with developments regarding this matter.

UIC Native American Heritage Celebration


The University of Illinois at Chicago is hosting their Native American Heritage Celebration on Friday, Nov 20. The event is titled Native American Art, Media and Communications and will take place at the Student Center East at 750 S. Halsted. For more information, please call 312.996.4515 or email nasp@uic.edu.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Guest Blogger: The OMSA Advisory Board

For those of you not familiar with the OMSA Advisory Board, we are a group of students that meet every other week with AnaVázquez, Deputy Dean of Students and Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, and members of the administration to discuss various issues concerning the student body. We work with the administration to discuss and attempt to resolve a wide array of issues, ranging from cultural studies programs to safety concerns on campus.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Notable Native Americans: Litefoot

This month the University of Chicago and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs celebrates Native American Heritage. As part of the celebration, each week the OMSA Blog will feature a notable Native American and other information about the tribal communities. 

This week's notable individual is Litefoot.


Litefoot is an Actor/ Rapper/ Corporation Owner, of the Cherokee Nation. Litefoot, considered the first commercial Native American Rap Artist, first gained notoriety after releasing the album, "The Money" (1992) on his own Red Vinyl Records. After subsequent albums and touring, he won the Native American Music Award in 1996, 1998, and 1999. Litefoot made his major motion picture debut in 1995, starring in "The Indian in the Cupboard." He then went on to act in several movies including "Kull, the Conqueror", "Mortal Kombat, Annihilation", and "Adaptation."

Friday, November 6, 2009

Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship Walk in Hours

Interested in learning more about the Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship?
Stop by 5710 and speak to Ronnie, the university’s DFI Institutional Representative, during any of the follow times:

DFI Walk in Hours
  • Monday Nov.16 1:30pm-3pm
  • Wednesday Nov.18 3pm-5pm
  • Thursday Nov.19 9:30am-11:30am
For more information about DFI, please review an earlier post. Click here for the official website.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Campus Events: November 6- November 12

Friday, November 6
Zocalo in Chicago “What Does Immigrant Integration Mean Now?”
Time: 2:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue

LGBTQ Programming Office First Friday
Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chicago Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Reeling, Chicago Lesbian & Gay Film Festival)
November 5-15
Location: Various (check website)

Filipino American Network Chicago’s Filipino American Film Festival
November 6 - November 7
Location: Portage Theatre, 4050 N. Milwaukee Avenue

November RSO Feature


The University of Chicago’s Native American Student Association, NASA, is an association designed for students and faculty to discuss the cultural, social and political concerns involving Native Americans and to raise knowledge and understanding of these concerns within the U of C community. NASA sponsors Native American social, cultural, and academic events and programs throughout the year in conjunction with other organizations and departments. NASA is strongly dedicated to creating a community of scholars and is open to all University of Chicago students, faculty, staff and alumni, both Native American and non-Native American from all disciplines.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Faculty of Color Panel with Agnes Lugo-Ortiz, Robert Gooding-Williams, Matthew Briones, and Kenneth Warren

Just added: Matthew Briones and Mario Small!

Matthew Briones is an Assistant Professor of American History and in the College. His areas of interest include comparative race relations, Asian/Pacific Islander American history, and African American history. His current projects include “Acts of Repossession: Internment, Interracial, and Ideological Counterpublics from the Popular Front to the Cold War” and work on “the Manilamen,” 18th-century Filipino immigrants who settled in Louisiana.


Mario Small is a Professor of Sociology. His areas of interest include urban poverty, inequality, culture, networks, case study methods, and higher education. His current projects deal with urban conditions, organizations, and networks.




On Monday, OMSA and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture will host professors Agnes Lugo-Ortiz, Robert Gooding-Williams, and Matthew Briones as well as Deputy Provost Kenneth Warren at 5710. They will engage in a conversation about the experience of scholars of color and share their journeys to their present positions at the University of Chicago. They will also discuss topics including obstacles faced by scholars of color, isolation affecting scholars of color, stereotyping of research conducted by scholars of color, and sources of personal motivation.

A little about the panelists:


Kenneth Warren is a Professor in the Department of English and the Deputy Provost for Research & Minority Issues. His focus is American and African American literature from the late nineteenth century through the middle of the twentieth century. His books include Black and White Strangers: Race and American Literary Realism and So Black and Blue: Ralph Ellison and the Occasion of Criticism.


Agnes Lugo-Ortiz is an Associate Professor of Latin American Literature in the Center for Latin American Studies. Dr. Lugo-Ortiz’s focus is nineteenth-century Latin American literature and nineteenth- and twentieth-century Caribbean cultural history. Her books include Identidades imaginadas: Biografía y nacionalidad en el horizonte de la guerra (Cuba 1860-1898). Her current book-length project is “Riddles of Modern Identity: Biography and Visual Portraiture in Slaveholding Cuba (1760-1886)." She has authored various essays on the interconnections between queer sexualities, gender and anti-colonial politics in twentieth-century Puerto Rico.


Robert Gooding-Williams is a Professor of Political Science and in the College. His areas of interest include Nietzsche, Du Bois, Critical Race Theory, African-American Political Thought, 19th Century Continental Philosophy, Existentialism, and Aesthetics. His books include Zarathustra's Dionysian Modernism and Look, A Negro!: Philosophical Essays on Race, Culture, and Politics. He also edited or co-edited Reading Rodney King/Reading Urban Uprising, The Souls of Black Folk (Bedford Books Edition), and "100 Years of The Souls of Black Folk" (Public Culture, Spring 2005).

Monday, November 2, 2009

Notable Native Americans

This month the University of Chicago and the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs celebrates Native American Heritage.  As part of the celebration, each week the OMSA Blog will feature a notable Native American and other information about the tribal communities.

This week's notable individual is Naomi Lang.


Naomi Lang is a Pairs Figure Skater, of the Karuk Tribe of California. Lang, who partners with Russian-born Peter Tchernyshev, is the first Native American to participate in the Winter Olympics. The two have competed and placed several times in the U.S Nationals, and also placed 8th in the World Championships. In addition, the two are the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 U.S. Ice Dance Champions.

CANCELLED--LifeSkills Program

The Life Skills--Financial Planning program has been canceled.

If you have further question, please contact Rosa at ryo@uchicago.edu

Thank you.
Rosa

Friday, October 30, 2009

Native American Heritage Celebration

November is National American Indian Heritage Month. The first American Indian Day was celebrated in New York State in 1916, and since 1976, United States Presidents have proclaimed either a week or month of recognition. The first nationally recognized month-long American Indian Heritage Celebration was proclaimed through a joint resolution signed in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.

In the month of Thanksgiving, American Indian Heritage Month is meant to celebrate especially the heritage, history, art, and traditions of American Indians and Alaska Natives. The month is celebrated by cities and states across the United States.

There are many exciting events throughout Chicago in celebration of American Indian Heritage Month. The American Indian Center of Chicago will host their 56th Annual Powwow . The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian also has great events and exhibits all year!

Below are some of the events happening at the University of Chicago

Note to Pregnant Women: Vaccine appointments

October 29, 2009

The University has received 175 doses of inactivated H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine shots. In keeping with Centers for Disease Control guidelines, this small initial shipment of inactivated vaccine is being allocated to pregnant women.

Pregnant University of Chicago faculty, staff, students, other academic personnel, post-doctoral scholars, and pregnant spouses or partners of members of these groups are encouraged to call the Student Care Center at 773-702-4156 and make an appointment for a free vaccination. A University ID or UC health insurance card is required.

Because of the small amount of vaccine available at this moment, no vaccination clinic for pregnant women is scheduled.

We recognize that given the small amount of vaccine currently available, we may run out before vaccinating all pregnant women who want the vaccine. We ask your patience, and your help in making sure that vaccine goes to those who need it most.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Campus Events: October 30 - November 5

Friday, October 30

ORCSA : Haunted House
Time: 3.30pm – 6.00pm (Scary Good Time)
Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm (Scary You To Death)
Location: Reynolds Club, 5706 S. University Avenue

Poetry Reading by Ginger Mance
Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: What The Traveler Saw, 1508 E. 55th Street

2009 Critical Encounters Artists in Residence
La Pocha Nostra Debut Performance
Corpo/Ilicito: The Post-Human Society #69
Time: 7:00pm
Location: 618 S. Michigan Avenue, 2nd Floor
Free. For more information call 312.369.8829

DuSable Museum of African American History presents DanceAfrica Chicago 2009
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive.

Katz Center for Mexican Studies presents” Temas y problemas de la historia contemporánea de México (1950s-1980s)” by Ariel Rodríguez Kuri, Research Professor & Director, Centro de Estudios Históricos, El Colegio de México
Time: 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Location: John Hope Franklin Room, SS 224. 1126 E. 59th Street

Saturday , October 31
Annual Belgian Halloween Party
Time: tba
Location: International House, 1414 East 59th Street

PanAsia, KSO and OMSA Asian Hip Hop Summit Tour
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Bartlett Trophy Lounge, 5640 South University Avenue

Sunday, November 1

MGSA and MECHA Dias de Los Muretos Celebration
Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Hutch Commons in the Reynolds Club, 5706 S. University Avenue

Life Series: Financial Planning

Need to balance your budget? Want to figure out how to manage your debt? Then come to this free financial workshop hosted by OMSA in partnership with the Booth School of Business. This free workshop is facilitated by Charisse Conanan and Adrissha Wimberly from the Booth School of Business.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship (DFI)

The Diversifying Faculty in Illinois Fellowship (DFI)  is a great funding opportunity for full time students of color in pursuit of a PhD, Master’s and terminal Master’s degree. If you intend to teach or serve in an administrative capcatiy at an Illinois educational institution after you complete your degree, then this is a great prospect for you!

The purpose of DFI is to increase the number of underrepresented faculty and staff in Illinois institutions of higher education and higher education governing boards. The goal of DFI is to increase the number of minority full-time tenure track faculty and staff at Illinois post-secondary institutions (two- and four-year colleges and universities). You must be a resident of Illinois (with an educational degree earned from an IL educational institution) or be a registered voter and have lived in Illinois for a period of at least three years.
The Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture Film Series presents
The Return of Navajo Boy
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
6:30 pm
5710 S. Woodlawn (OMSA)

Acclaimed documentary film "The Return of Navajo Boy" reunited a Navajo Family, triggered an investigation of uranium houses in the Navajo Nation, and helped a former uranium miner make his case for compensation. A powerful new epilogue shows how the film and Navajo participants are building a groundswell for the clean up of Cold War uranium contamination.

Film director Jeff Spitz and Navajo grandmother Ms. Elsie Mae Begay will be present for Q & A with the audience.

Co‐presented by:
Native American Student Association (NASA),
Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA), &
Program on the Global Environment (PGE) of
the Center for International Studies

Persons with disabilities who need an accommodation in order to participate should contact Jessica Sparks at 773‐702‐8063 or jessicas@uchicago.edu

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Bringing Michelle Obama to the Unviersity of Chicago

In an attempt to catch the attention of Michelle Obama, Student Government (SG) and the Organization of Black Students (OBS) will film a 10-hour video in the Reynolds Club tomorrow inviting the First Lady to speak at OBS’s annual Kent Lecture.

Click here to read the full Chicago Maroon Article
Michelle Obama to receive video invite from SG, OBS - The Chicago Maroon

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Campus Events: October 23 - October 29

Friday, October 23
Student Counseling Resource Center: Time Management and Increased Motivation for Graduate Students
Time: 4.00pm – 5.00pm
Location: Reynolds Club, South Lounge

Rockefeller Chapel : Motet Choir: Informal Concert for Parents Weekend
Time : 12.00pm
Location: Rockefeller Chapel

I House Global Voice Series: 2nd International Kathak Festival
October 23-25
Location: Assembly Hall of the International House, 1414 E. 59th Street

Monday, October 26

Office of Sustainability Bicycle Safety Workshop
Time: 4:30pm – 5:15pm
Hutchinson Courtyard

Chicago Graduate & Professional Studies presents “Road Map for Graduate Study” with author Don Martin
Time: 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Location, Ida Noyes Hall, West Lounge, 1212 E. 59th Street

CAPS Undergraduate Career Exploration Workshop
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Location, Ida Noyes Hall, West Lounge, 1212 E. 59th Street

International Volunteering Initiative Weekly Meeting
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Making the Most of the Diversity Internship Fair

Please join us for our

4th Annual Diversity Internship Fair

Thursday, October 29th, 12-2pm

5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue


Sponsored by OMSA and Career Advising and Planning Services

This event is open to all students in The College, Graduate Divisions, and Professional Schools

We welcome all students, no matter where you are in your internship/employment seeking process, but make the most of your time at the internship fair by following these simple suggestions:

1. Bring copies of your most recent resume to share with potential employers or internship sites. Contact CAPS https://caps.uchicago.edu/ for information on getting your resume reviewed.

2. Have a 30 second "elevator speech" prepared to share with the representatives you may meet. What is it that makes you a good fit for the organization you're interested in?

3. Wear business casual attire.

4. Do your homework on the organizations you're interested in talking with. A list of confirmed attendees is below:

Academy for Urban School Leadership, Chicago Careers in Health Professions, Chicago Youth Centers, Collegiate Scholars Program, Digitas, Discover Law, Grosvenor Capital Management, Human Rights Internship Program, Hyde Park Art Center, JP Morgan, The Leadership Alliance,  Library and Information Science Access Midwest Program, Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), Planned Parenthood, Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), Summer Links, Teach for America, Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP)

Hope to see you there!!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Open Student Forum: Transportation and Security

Thursday, October 22
12:00 noon and 6:00 pm
McCormick Tribune Lounge in the Reynolds Club, 5706 South University Avenue

Each forum (at 12:00 and 6:00) will present the same information so please join us for the one you are able to attend. This is an opportunity to meet and engage with administrators and to discuss concerns, problems, and compliments pertaining to transportation services and safety and security. Light refreshments will be provided.

Brought to you by Student Government and the Offices of Campus and Student Life

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Campus Events: October 16 - October 22

Friday, October 16
Deadline for OMSA Allocation Board funding application
Deadline for the Diversity Leadership Award
Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Reynolds Club, 1212 E. 59th Street

Miguel Gandert: Reading History & Intercultural Relationships in the Rituals of New Mexico and Bolivia
Time: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Location: CSRPC, Center for the Study, 5655 S. University Avenue

OMSA Outing to National Museum of Mexican Art
Time: 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue and Off Campus

LGTBQ Programming Office Graduate Mixer
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: 5710 South Woodlawn Avenue

Phat Pitch Presents: OCD Automatic DJ Set
Time: 9:00 pm to 11:30 pm
Location: Reynolds Club, Hutch Commons, 1212 E. 59th Street

Saturday, October 17

Chicago Humanities Festival: Clown Doctors
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Location: International House, Assembly Hall, 1414 E. 59th Street

Chicago Humanities Festival: Chicago Sports
Time: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Location: International House, Assembly Hall, 1414 E. 59th Street

Organization of Black Students Welcome Dinner
Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Reynolds Club, McCormick Tribune Lounge, 1212 E. 59th Street

Monday, October 19

OMSA and LGBTQ Programming Office How to be an Ally
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: 5710 South Woodlawn Avenue

Interested Ladies of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Meeting
Time : 7.00pm to 8.30pm
Location: 5710 South Woodlawn Avenue

International Volunteering Initiative (previously called ISVN)
Time: 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Crossroads: How To Be an Ally | Monday, Oct. 19



As part of OUTober, the University of Chicago celebration of LGBTQ History Month, OMSA and the LGBTQ Programming Office will be hosting the Crossroad Program: How to be an Ally, a short panel and candid group discussion on what it means to be an ally and how students can be allies to different communities on and off-campus. The panel will focus primarily on allyships between queer people of color, white folks, and straight folks. The event will also delve into the ways that all individuals can examine their own privilege and complex intersections of identity in order to be allies to one another.

Here are a few more events for OUTober.

Martha Nussbaum: “Same Sex Marriage and Constitutional Law”
Thursday, Oct 22
7:30 pm
The Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted

Victim (Film Screening)
Tuesday, October 27
9:00pm
Max Palevsky Cinema, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street

AIDS Memorial Quilt Opening
Friday, Oct 30 (On display through Dec 3)
8:00am-4:00pm
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 1156 E. 59th Street

Graduate & Professional Workshop Series

Making the Most of your College Years: Wednesday, October 21st 7-8pm at 5710!

The Chicago Multicultural Connection Mentoring Program (CMC) and OMSA present our Graduate & Professional Workshop Series: Making the Most of your College Years, Wednesday, October 21st from 7-8pm at 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue. Come get your questions answered regarding course sequencing, how to fit in study abroad, taking three classes versus four, and anything else you want to know about choosing your courses. This workshop is a must for 1st and 2nd year students. Upperclassmen are encouraged to attend as well. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Robin Graham at rgraham1@uchicago.edu.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Photos from Noche de Arte


Afro-Colombiano, Grupo Rebolú Performing at Noche de Arte


Visual Artist at Noche de Arte


Dancing the Night Away


Students performing spoken word

Photos from the OMSA Welcome Back and the Dedication of the Timuel D. Black Edible Arts Garden


The Edible Arts Garden at 5710 S. Woodlawn



Timuel D. Black giving remarks

Timuel D. Black and his wife Zenobia standing next to the Edible Arts Garden

The plaque that is standing at the garden, dedicated to Timuel D. Black

Photos are taken by Morrie Bowie

Friday, October 9, 2009

OMSA goes to Pilsen!! Friday, October 16th!


















Join OMSA as we head to Pilsen!

As part of Caras de América—Latina/o Heritage Celebration, join OMSA and OLAS as we head to the opening exhibit and reception for “Women of Juárez: Rastros y Crónicas at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen. For more information about the exhibit, please visit [http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/mdj09.html].

We will meet at 5710 S. Woodlawn at 4:30pm and take the train together to the Museum.

RSVP to Rosa by October 14th to ensure your spot. There is a limited number of tickets available.

For more information, pleases contact Rosa at ryo@uchicago.edu
Women of Juárez: Rastros y Crónicas

Since 1993, more then 500 women have been killed in Ciudad Juárez in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. For some time now, Mexican and Mexican American artists have been sensitive to the subject of Women of Juarez and have worked on diverse projects to share their perspective on this disturbing situation. The thought provoking pieces throughout the exhibition serve as a chronicle of the struggles of Mexican women and the grievous deaths in Ciudad Juárez. By generating awareness, the artwork supports the cause of the victims’ families who search for justice and truth. The artists of Rastros y Crónicas compel the viewer to comprehend and sympathize with what thevictims endured and what the living continue to face. In this way, our generation and future generations will not forget or ignore the loss of life in Ciudad Juárez.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Campus Events: October 9 - October 16

Friday, October 9

John W. Rogers Jr.: The State of Black Business in Chicago
Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Location: Room 122, Social Science Research, 1126 E. 59th Street

Family Resource Center Opening Celebration
Time: 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Location: University Church, 5655 S. University Avenue

OMSA Noche de Arte
Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn

Bollywood on the Quad
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Bartlett Quad , 5640 S. University Avenue, (5710 S. Woodlawn is the rain location)

Saturday, October 10

61st Street Farmers Market
Time: 9:00am to 2:00pm
Location: 61st Street between Dorchester and Blackstone

South Side History Bike Tour
Time: 10:30am to 3:30pm
Location: Bartlett Quad, 5640 S. University Avenue

Sunday, October 11

Flamenco Beginners Dance Class
Time: 11:00am to 12:30pm
Location: Bartlett Arts Rehearsal Space, 5640 S. University Avenue

South Side Solidarity
Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: See event descriptions for details

Monday, October 12

OMSA Chicago Multicultural Connection Kick-Off Orientation
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn

Global Brigades Ice Cream Sundae Study Break
Time: 8:30pm to 9:30pm
Location: Bartlett Dining Hall

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Social
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn

Tuesday, October 13

Free Rapid HIV Testing
Time: 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Locations: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Phi Iota Alpha and OLAS Presents Riesgo! (Latino Jeopardy)
Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Locations: 5710 S. Woodlawn

Wednesday, October 14

M.E.Ch.A Weekly Meeting

Time: 7:00pm to 8:00pm Locations: 5710 S. Woodlawn

Thursday, October 15

OMSA and CSRPC Artist in Residence Miguel Gandert Student Brownbag Lunch
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Hyde Park Farmers’ Market
Time: 7am to 2pm
Location: Harper Court, 52nd Pl. & Harper

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Latino College Experience
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Human Rights Program Internship Report Back Panel “Midwives, Dusty Roads, and Clinics: Working for Health Care for All”
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Harper 103, 1116 E. 59th Street

Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Bailando con los Phiotas (Dancing with the Phiotas)
Time: 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Friday
, October 16

Let’s Talk
Time: 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn

Sunday, October 4, 2009

About the Timuel D. Black Edible Arts Garden

Garden Dedication - Monday, October 5 from
5:00pm - 7:00pm at 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

The Timuel D. Black Edible Arts Garden represents a remarkable, creative collaboration between the groups at the University of Chicago’s 5710 S. Woodlawn Building (including the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and the LGBTQ Programming Office), the Civic Knowledge Project (CKP), and Prof. Timuel D. Black himself, the legendary civil rights activist, educator, and oral historian of Chicago’s South Side. It is an original and innovative project that has no parallel anywhere else on the University’s campus, and it is an important first step that demonstrates how amazing things can be done even in small spaces.

The idea for the garden initially grew out of various Civic Knowledge Project workshops and collaborations, particularly the community-based Sustainable Savings workshops, which led to important, productive discussions with the University’s Director of Sustainability and University Planner about the possibilities for converting various University spaces to edible plants gardens. The hope was to demonstrate both how small, less than promising areas could be used for significant local and organic food production (through e.g. container and vertical gardening), and how this could be done in a way that was aesthetically and artistically significant, connecting with a larger movement led by environmental artists to create “edible estates” in place of lawns and other urban spaces. But the idea was also to make this a new, highly interdisciplinary form of gardening, something that would carry significance for many different people (both on and off campus) with a wide range of interests and backgrounds. The history of urban gardening is replete with new approaches, from Victory Gardens to community gardens to native plants gardens, and this project was meant to be another original approach—a garden so invested with artistic, historical, and philosophical meaning that it would speak not only to people interested in environmental science or urban agriculture, but also to artists, philosophers, historians, and interested citizens. The name “Edible Arts” is meant to indicate just how unusual this garden is.

Happily, the students at 5710 proposed that the garden be dedicated to Prof. Timuel D. Black, the author of the wonderful multivolume work Bridges of Memory. This was a singularly good idea, from the CKP’s perspective, since Prof. Black has long been a most valued partner in various CKP activities concerning the history of the South Side and Bronzeville. When Prof. Black visited the garden during the early phases of its construction, he was full of enthusiasm and ideas for investing it with a larger meaning, making it a dynamic form of tribute that would inspire hope, valorize education, teach South Side history, and stimulate just those types of conversation that he has always treasured, talking with the elders.

The design of the garden, with its graceful ascending lines and design elements, its sculptural artistry, are meant to realize that vision. It is a small space in which a lot is happening, and virtually every little piece of the garden has an important story to tell. The circular stone planters were built with old paving stones from the streets of Chicago, including stones from late 19th or early 20th century Maxwell St. The stones carrying the dedication plaque are pieces of a famous local building from 1890—the historic Roundhouse just off of Washington Park, now the site of the latest expansion of the DuSable Museum of African American History. The tomato plant in the central circular planter is a special heirloom tomato cultivated in honor of the famous independent alderman of the 5th Ward and champion of social justice Leon M. Despres. The rivers of beautiful recycled local glass (on beds of LEED certified blue gravel) running through the garden, and the ascending wire sculptures, symbolize the first and second Great Migrations of African Americans to Chicago, and the “bridges of memory” that Prof. Black has sought for so long to build. The smaller sculptures on the ascending wires represent the work of local South Side artists, artists striving to impart the message of hope and optimism. And of course, among the artwork, one can find the University of Chicago Phoenix, an especially appropriate part of the vision of Prof. Black, who is himself a University Alum.

More artistic elements will continue to be added as the garden progresses, both as an experiment in sustainable urban agriculture and as a dynamic work that changes the flow of human interaction at 5710, encouraging people to stop, talk, remember, and tell their stories. The students at 5710 look forward to donating their fall harvest to a local food pantry; an edible arts garden gives city residents the opportunity to eat fresh food and, for the children, a chance to see where their food comes from. Also, the rain barrels for gray water harvesting and the composter will be decorated with mosaics by local schoolchildren working under the direction of the CKP and a South Side artist to help realize Prof. Black’s vision for this space. New plantings and arrangements will insure that the garden remains beautiful and meaningful throughout the year, even during the coldest months. As a dialogical space, the garden has only just begun. The hope, shared by all those responsible for it, is to make it a focal point for building the community connections and civic friendship that will indeed make it a fitting tribute to our great South Side historian Timuel D. Black, whose legacy of activism on behalf of social justice needs to be carried on through the generations.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Campus Events: October 2 - October 9

Monday, October 5

Gilbert F. White Leadership Program Informational Session
Time: 4:30pm
Location: Bartlett Lounge, 5640 S. University Avenue
Application Due: October 12

OMSA Welcome Back & Dedication of the Timuel D. Black Edible Arts Garden with the Civic Knowledge Project
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Presents: Miss Black and Gold Pageant Informational Session
Time: 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Multicultural Greek Council Presents: Meet the Greeks
Time: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

International Student Volunteer Network Meeting
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Chinese Undergraduate Student Association General Meeting
Time: 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: McCormick Lounge in the Reynolds Club, 5706 S. University Avenue

Tuesday, October 6

SAMSU Singaporean Society: General Meeting
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

SORT: Student Organization Reapplication Training
Time: 6:30pm – 9:15pm
Location: Reynold’s Club and Mandel Hall, 5706 S. University Avenue

Phi Iota Alpha Latino Fraternity Inc. Presents: Fall Informational Session
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Feminist Majority Meeting
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

OMSA Latina/o Heritage Celebration Film Showing with Doc Films
Time: 9:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Ida Noyes Hall, Max Palevsky Cinema, 1212 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL

Organization of Black Students General Assembly
Time: 8:00pm
Location: Room 103 Harper Memorial Library, 1116 East 59th Street

Wednesday, October 7

Graduate and Professional Student Organizations Roundtable
Time: 11:30am – 2:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

CSRPC and CGS Open House and Welcome Reception
Time: 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Location: Center for Gender and Race Studies Lounge, 5733 South University Avenue

Quarterly President’s Roundtable
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Sponsor’s For Educational Opportunity
Time: 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn RSO Avenue

American Red Cross Club of UC
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc, Social
Time: 6:30pm – 9:00 pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

M.E.Ch.A Weekly Meeting
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Thursday, October 8

Gilbert F. White Leadership Program Informational Session
Time: 4:30pm
Location: Bartlett Lounge, 5640 S. University Avenue
Application Due: October 12


Grad Student Social
Time: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Ida Noyes Hall, Cloister Club, 1212 E. 59th Street

“Extreme Makeovers in a Chicago High School: Transforming “At Risk Youth” into “Young Latino Professionals” presented by Jonathan Rosa, Ph.D. Candiate, Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago
Time: 4:15pm -5:30pm
Location: The Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture, 5733 S. University Avenue

Colleges Against Cancer Kick-off Meeting
Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Location: Room 140 Harper Memorial Library, 1116 East 59th Street

OMSA Latina/o Heritage Celebration Film Showing “El Norte”
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Ida Noyes Hall, Max Palevsky Cinema, 1212 East 59th Street

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Presents UncensoRED: Let's Talk About "It"
Time: 6:30pm - 10:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

QFilms: Frida with the LGBTQ Programming Office
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

OLAS Weekly Meeting
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Friday, October 9

500th Convocation at the University of Chicago
Time: 10:30am, doors open at 9:45pm. Live feed at Max Palevsky Cinema in Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street
Location: Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Family Resource Center Opening Celebration
Time: 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Location: 2nd Floor University Church, 5655 S. University Avenue

OMSA Noche de Arte with OLAS, OBS , Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.
Time: 6:00 pm – 10:00pm
Location: 5710 S. Woodlawn Avenue

Thursday, October 1, 2009

OMSA's Mentoring Program Kick-Off October 12th!

The Chicago Multicultural Connection (CMC), is holding its annual Kick-Off Orientation and Reception on Monday, October 12th from 7-9pm at 5710 S. Woodlawn. If you are an undergraduate student who is interested in working with a mentor or a graduate student interested in serving as a mentor, please attend this event! Students will have an opportunity to meet with new and current mentors and mentees and find out more about the program. The time commitment for the program is minimal, but the rewards are great! You may sign-up for the program in advance or on the day of the kick-off. For more information or to sign-up, please contact Robin Graham via email at rgraham1@uchicago.edu or visit http://omsa.uchicago.edu/mentorship/.

The Chicago Multicultural Connection (CMC), a career-focused mentoring program, is looking for student participants for the 2009-2010 school year! CMC matches undergraduate students of color with alumni, faculty, staff or graduate students who share similar career interests and goals. Along with one-on-one mentorship, the program provides career and academic workshops as well as social and cultural events throughout the year.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Latina/o Heritage Month: Las Caras de America


Latina/o or Hispanic Heritage Month is nationally celebrated in the United States from September 15-October 15th. In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The celebration was extended to a month in 1988.

Many people wonder why the celebration crosses the middle of September to the middle of October. This was done in honor of the anniversary of the independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence on September 16th and September 18th, respectively. Click here to learn more about the history of this month.

The University of Chicago will be celebrating Latina/o Heritage events in the month of October. Las Caras de America program is an annual event that provides students with the opportunity to learn more about the Latina/o culture. With film screenings, workshops, presentations, games, and dancing, there is something for everyone. Click here for more information on campus celebrations.

Chicago is a great city for every celebration, so Latina/o Heritage Month is no exception! Events can be found here for the Luna Negra Theater Group, a local Chicago theater group. There are also events at many of the local colleges and universities. The University of Illinois has some great events coming up; please visit their website for more information.

OMSA Welcome Back and the Dedication of the Timuel D. Black Edible Arts Garden


Click to Enlarge

2010 Diversity Leadership Awards

The Diversity Leadership Awards seek to recognize University staff members who display leadership in fostering diversity both on campus and within the surrounding community and to highlight, in concert with the University of Chicago Board of Governors, the contributions of alumni who advance the cause of justice and equality in our community and society. Please nominate a staff member or alumna/us. The deadline is October 16. For more information, please visit the website.