Friday, November 30, 2012

How Can Career Advancement Help Me? by Michael Johnson

Pointers for students in the College from Career Advancement staff member Michael Johnson.

What is Career Advancement? by Michael Johnson

Career Advancement aims to provide University of Chicago students and alumni with experiential learning opportunities in a variety of fields. We promote University of Chicago talent to a wide range of employers and institutions in order to expand the set of jobs, internships, and other opportunities available to them.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

OMSA Advisory Board Update by Karim Rupani

On November 6th, the Advisory Board held its third meeting of the year and was finally able to meet its Student Government Representative, Benjamin Hammer. Benjamin’s role as liaison is essentially to listen to concerns OMSA raises and then bring them up in student government meetings so that they can be addressed openly. In addition to meeting Benjamin, the Advisory Board also undertook the task of beginning to unpack a few of the goals that it has set for itself (in terms of the most pressing issues and concerns that need to be addressed). To this end, the Advisory Board made significant headway in assessing the situation of numerous groups on campus, differentiated by both race and gender.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

OMSA Advisory Board Update by Alexandra Halladay

For our second Advisory Board Meeting on October 23rd, 2012, we began by discussing briefly a new Campus of Student Life initiative that is taking shape this year; the Campus Dialogue Fund is a new committee on campus that will distribute funds and approve proposals for speakers on campus. The Campus Dialogue Fund is a new program that provides annual funding of $15,000 to bring speakers that address issues relevant to campus, including: education, access, disparity, racial bias, class privilege, justice, equality, healthcare, housing, income inequality, religious diversity, non-partisan political topics, immigration, LGBTQ equality, and more! You can find a more in depth description of the roles of committee members and the application below, the application is due November 16th, 2012 so be sure to hurry!

(http://csl.uchicago.edu/diversity-inclusion/initiatives/campus-dialogue-fund)

Monday, October 22, 2012

OMSA Advisory Board Update by Alexandra Halladay

Welcome to the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs Advisory Board for the 2012-2013 school year. With 17 members, some returning and some new, undergrad and grad students alike, we’re excited to kick the off our year. Our first meeting was on Tuesday October 9th where we became more familiar with each other by sharing what we love about our school, what we dislike, what we do to destress and three parts of our identity.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Response to Recent Bias Incidents

Vice-President for Campus and Student Life Kim Goff-Crews has issued a statement regarding the recent bias incidents on campus. It is available online here:

How core values shape the University’s response to bias reports | Campus and Student Life | The University of Chicago

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Reflection on Gender and Sexuality by Ifedayo Ajiboye


The purpose of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP) is to create an intellectually open and dynamic environment for students to learn about and discuss social justice issues of today. Each month, a group of students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.
This blog is an outlet for each of our members' voices. While this is a collection of their personal thoughts, we hope to display a glimpse of the multifaceted ways that each topic impacts the individual members of the EMP cohort.

*The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are that of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect a collective opinion of the EMP cohort or that of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. The conversation with Rosa Ortiz provided me insight into the difficulties that were prevalent for individuals of the LGBTQ community. Ultimately, for me, Rosa reemphasized the principle of individuality in her discussion regarding usage items taken for granted such as the function of gender pronouns. One problem, however, kept puzzling me. The tension in preserving one's identity and belonging to a community stimulated me to a fascinating realization. As Rosa mentioned, quite a lot of individuals who reveal a non-heterosexual sexual orientation oft are castigated and sometimes even ousted from places of residence creating a turbulent clash of social acceptance and personal identity. For members of the LGBTQ community, that turmoil can often generate self-repression as a mechanism to function in society without discrimination for gender identification or sexual orientation thus creating an enormous dilemma I see facing the LGBTQ community: emotions of pity or animosity from the general population rather than respect. I mention pity not in the sense of empathy but more directly on apologetic pity. I remember a quote from a source I cannot recall which reads something as follows: No one wishes for their children to be gay but loving them regardless if they were gay. This sort of pity is quite destructive in creating a dialogue to understand those that are part of the LGBTQ community as it views a non-heterosexual orientation simply as a misfortune rather than a big part of one’s identity. Ultimately from EMP's discourse with Rosa, I have gained an increased comprehension of the fallacious nature of assumptions that prevent identifying another with an equal level of respect as one demands.

Reflection on Gender and Sexuality by Matt Kellner

The purpose of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP) is to create an intellectually open and dynamic environment for students to learn about and discuss social justice issues of today. Each month, a group of students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.
This blog is an outlet for each of our members' voices. While this is a collection of their personal thoughts, we hope to display a glimpse of the multifaceted ways that each topic impacts the individual members of the EMP cohort.

*The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are that of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect a collective opinion of the EMP cohort or that of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.   

     Last Friday, Ms. Rosa Yadira Ortiz from Lambda Legal, an LGBT/HIV civil rights organization, visited our cohort. Our discussion focused on the injustices and discrimination toward the queer community, and particularly toward the transgender community. Prior to the meeting, Rosa sent us a report entitled “Injustice at Every Turn” from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force on the plight of transgendered people in our society. The findings are shocking, to say the least: our nation’s transgender population experience significantly and startlingly higher incidences of homelessness, physical and emotional harassment, job discrimination, and suicide attempts than the general population.
     Although these statistics are sobering and paint a morbid picture, our discussion offered what seems to me a reasonable means of combating the epidemic of discrimination against transgender people, and the LGBT community in general. Throughout the evening, Rosa and our cohort talked about identity and the multifarious ways that we can define who we are, in terms of sexual orientation, gender identity, and in regard to race, religion, ethnicity, and beyond. Rosa described to us how many people no longer fit neatly within one single category or label; who we are and how we act or define ourselves cannot be reduced to one overarching term and often is dependent on external circumstances. The “Injustice at Every Turn” report corroborated this view, proving that even within the transgender community extensive variation exists among the terms people use to identify themselves. With all this diversity in nomenclature, Rosa suggested that we, as allies or members of the queer community, have a simple responsibility to learn and respect the queer jargon, and I believe that by diligently carrying out this duty, we can help diminish discrimination.
     On countless occasions, I’ve witnessed ignorant comments made about LGBT people. Sometimes these remarks come from a lack of knowledge, and people accidently use dated or offensive terms without realizing the implication of their word choices. Frequently, however, it seems like more malevolent intentions underlie these comments. To me, much of the discrimination toward the LGBT community stems from a problem of vocabulary. For what seems like a large portion of the population, words like “gay,” “lesbian,” and “queer” are learned as slurs or are tied to stereotypes. Often, people are unsure of what it actually means to be an LGBT person and, rather than asking, resort to making assumptions or relying on stereotypes. As a result, the queer community and the different groups that comprise it get dehumanized and reduced to simple, negative images. To help us to better understand the LGBT community, Rosa began the meeting with a vocabulary lesson and emphasized the importance of politely asking people which gender pronouns they use or how they identify. It may seem daunting to keep up with the alphabet soup of the LGBT (or LGBTQ or LGBTQQAA or…) community, but I believe reducing discrimination toward LGBT people can start with something as simple as understanding and respecting the language the queer community employs. Instead of assuming heteronormativity or blindly using a term to refer to an LGBT person, one can avoid being offensive by spending just a few seconds to ask a person how they identify themselves. Sure, it may be awkward to ask a stranger their sexual orientation or which gender pronouns they use, but once that person realizes that, by asking, you care about and respect them and their identity, that discomfort will vanish.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Reflection on Health Disparities by Karim Pirani

The purpose of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP) is to create an intellectually open and dynamic environment for students to learn about and discuss social justice issues of today. Each month, a group of students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.
This blog is an outlet for each of our members' voices. While this is a collection of their personal thoughts, we hope to display a glimpse of the multifaceted ways that each topic impacts the individual members of the EMP cohort.

*The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are that of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect a collective opinion of the EMP cohort or that of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Reflection from the Racial Health Disparities in Chicago: What Can Be Done? panel by Karim Pirani. For a quick summary of the event, please visit the Chicago Maroon article.

On Monday February 20th, OMSA held an event entitled, Racial Health Disparities in Chicago: What Can Be Done?, which was co-sponsored by many different RSOs on campus. The event hosted a variety of panelists who offered their unique perspectives as to the problems plaguing the current health care system and the racial discrepancies that are all too prevalent within it. These panelists included two doctors, a nurse, a chief medical officer of a hospital, and a community activist. The overall purpose of the discussion was three-fold: to figure where exactly the disparities are to be found, to investigate what is causing them, and then finding appropriate solutions to remedy the situation.

Of the various panelists, some were concerned primarily with the inadequacies of the current health care system, especially in terms of access and opportunity. Perhaps the most obvious area of need was touched on by the community activist, whose group FLY has been fighting for a trauma center on the south side of Chicago for multiple years now. The activist, Veronica, also mentioned the group’s continued efforts to try and eliminate juvenile detention facilities in favor of rehabilitation centers. Though she did not elaborate on her plan, the idea that alternative forms of discipline and reform be implemented seemed very appealing to me. Though I am wary of eliminating juvenile detention centers altogether (especially for great offences like murder), I do think that the idea of ulterior means of development merits some attention. 

Reflection on Health Disparties by Jessica Adepoju

The purpose of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP) is to create an intellectually open and dynamic environment for students to learn about and discuss social justice issues of today. Each month, a group of students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.

This blog is an outlet for each of our members' voices. While this is a collection of their personal thoughts, we hope to display a glimpse of the multifaceted ways that each topic impacts the individual members of the EMP cohort.

*The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are that of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect a collective opinion of the EMP cohort or that of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.


Reflection from the Racial Health Disparities in Chicago: What Can Be Done? panel by Jessica Adepoju. For a quick summary of the event, please visit the Chicago Maroon article.

I must admit that I went into this recent panel discussion—Racial Health Disparities in Chicago— having a very tenuous grasp on the woes and worries of healthcare. Of course, I’ve heard terms like “single-payer” and “Obamacare” (such a nifty word!) tossed around in political debates before. I also occasionally see State Farm health insurance commercials on TV. But that pretty much accounts for my knowledge on the subject. After listening to the panel, however, the subtleties of the healthcare system have become a little clearer to me. The issue of healthcare is a complex one, involving various social, economic, and institutional factors. Most interesting of all was the speakers’ repeated juxtaposition of healthcare as a right and healthcare as a business. All the speakers gave strong case arguments for healthcare as a universal right, and condemned the discriminatory and profit—rather than health—driven behaviors that manifest themselves within the business of healthcare. While I agree that our healthcare system needs definite reforms, I also felt certain reservations about the panel’s comments on profit-focused healthcare enterprises. In our effort to promote equality and compassion in the health system, we need to be cautious of demonizing the very lifeblood of innovation: namely, cold hard cash.

Reflection on Health Disparities by Wujun Ke

The purpose of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP) is to create an intellectually open and dynamic environment for students to learn about and discuss social justice issues of today. Each month, a group of students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.

This blog is an outlet for each of our members' voices. While this is a collection of their personal thoughts, we hope to display a glimpse of the multifaceted ways that each topic impacts the individual members of the EMP cohort.

*The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are that of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect a collective opinion of the EMP cohort or that of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Reflection from the Racial Health Disparities in Chicago: What Can Be Done? by Wujun Ke
For a quick summary of the event, please visit the Chicago Maroon article. 

Last Monday’s Racial Health Disparities panel made me more aware of social justice problems afflicting the health care system in America as well as the steps we must take to guarantee universal access to health. The panel seemed to agree that the biggest problem in regard to the health care system is structural - that the poor are more predisposed to illness and less able to afford care, whereas the rich are less likely to become ill and more able to afford quality care. If economic status is so closely tied to the quality and accessibility of health care, then I wonder if the term “health care” should be more broadly defined than just by treatment of biological or bodily abnormalities.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Weekly Schedule - February 6 - 9

Monday, February 6
Hot Cocoa and Cookies with ORCSA
Presented by: ORCSA
12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Marketplace, Reynolds Club, 5706 South University Avenue

Tuesday, February 7
SHINE National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
4:30 PM-9:30 PM
Room W-IA, School of Social Service Administration, 969 East 60th Street

General Assembly
Presented by: Organization of Black Students
8:00 PM
5710 South Woodlawn Avenue 

Wednesday, February 8
"Latino Catholicism: Transformation in America's Largest Church"
Presented by: The Lumen Christi Institute, The American Religious History Workshop, and The Center for Latin American Studies
4:00 PM-6:00 PM
Room 122, Social Science Research, 1126 East 59th Street

Chelsey Kivland - Caribbean Studies Workshop
Presented by: Caribbean Studies Workshop
4:30 PM-6:00 PM
Room 114, Kelly Hall, 5848 South University Avenue

Finding Good Mentors: Exploring Careers in Politics with Will Burns (AB’ 95, AM ’98)
Presented by: Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, Chicago Careers in Public & Social Service, Chicago Multicultural Connection (CMC)
5:30 PM
5710 South Woodlawn Avenue


Reflection on Interfaith by Catherine Castro

The purpose of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP) is to create an intellectually open and dynamic environment for students to learn about and discuss social justice issues of today. Each month, a group of students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.


This blog is an outlet for each of our members' voices. While this is a collection of their personal thoughts, we hope to display a glimpse of the multifaceted ways that each topic impacts the individual members of the EMP cohort.

*The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are that of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect a collective opinion of the EMP cohort or that of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Reflection on Interfaith by Catherine Castro

Religion can be such a strong and unifying force. It has the power to bring people from different cultures under one faith and create a community of loyal and devoted followers. While religions tend to be accepting of people of different backgrounds, categorizing individuals under a certain religion, by nature, can be a process of exclusion. By labeling ourselves as Christian, Muslim, Hindi, Jewish Buddhist etc. an automatic divide is naturally built that separates non-believers from believers. I cannot say for sure that people do this consciously or unconsciously but in either case, this divide and categorization in our minds is inevitable. How then, do we break these natural barriers? How do we stay strong in our personal faiths without ostracizing our fellow religious and non-religious brothers and sisters? Three weeks ago, Mr. Hakan Berberoglu, the president of the Niagara spoke to EMP and proposed an interesting solution- interfaith dialogue. Communication is one of the key things to any successful relationship and therefore, I believe Hakan’s proposition definitely has merit to it. However, can this solution be considered realistic? Is it a realistic approach to try and get people of different faiths with opposing views and at times strained pasts to come peacefully together with the some similar goal in mind? If the foundation of a person’s faith is that their belief that their sole religion is the one and only path to their conception of “salvation” and “heaven”, then it seems to me counterproductive to try to foster acceptance amongst these religions through the medium of interfaith dialogue.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Reflection on Interfaith by Mohammed Ali

The purpose of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP) is to create an intellectually open and dynamic environment for students to learn about and discuss social justice issues of today. Each month, a group of students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.

This blog is an outlet for each of our members' voices. While this is a collection of their personal thoughts, we hope to display a glimpse of the multifaceted ways that each topic impacts the individual members of the EMP cohort.

*The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are that of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect a collective opinion of the EMP cohort or that of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Reflection on Interfaith by Mohammed Ali.

Last week, our Emerging Minds Project cohort met with Mr. Hakan Berberoglu of the Niagara Foundation (which is not the same as “The Niagara Foundation”) to talk about interfaith discussions. These discussions--whereby the Niagara Foundation provides resources enabling religious communities of different callings to meet, learn, and grow mutual respect for one another--are entirely voluntary. They depend on the mutual interest of participants to organize and hold such discussions. Unfortunately, there are communities that Mr. Berberoglu has worked with that are simply opposed to the idea of holding interfaith dialogues. For me, one of the most resonant points of our discussion focused on why some people would be so opposed to reaching out to members of different faiths.

Reflection on Interfaith by Rebeca Alderete Baca

 The purpose of the Emerging Minds Project (EMP) is to create an intellectually open and dynamic environment for students to learn about and discuss social justice issues of today. Each month, a group of students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.

This blog is an outlet for each of our members' voices. While this is a collection of their personal thoughts, we hope to display a glimpse of the multifaceted ways that each topic impacts the individual members of the EMP cohort.

*The views and opinions expressed in these blog entries are that of each individual author and do not necessarily reflect a collective opinion of the EMP cohort or that of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Reflection on Interfaith by Rebeca Alderete Baca

Last Friday, we were all involved in a dialogue to discuss interfaith. And next Friday, we will reunite and talk again. We will have a dialogue. And it is a healthy process because we are willing to speak, and stay silent in turn. Hakan Berberoglu made us aware of the importance of dialogue among different faiths last week. He stressed that the most important thing in dialogue, inter-faith in particular, is to select people who are open to dialogue to participate in that dialogue. Indeed, it is healthy to bring those who are willing to talk to the table. This is what EMP is—a group of people willing to explore. I firmly believe that dialogue between faiths and cultures and the subsequent understanding that this dialogue brings about can and will dissolve any problems or disagreements those two cultures may have. Most of our problems are brought about through misunderstandings, misjudgments and preconceived notions. Dialogue humanizes; it demolishes the view of the other party as “the other.” Dialogue brings groups closer to one another and promotes understanding. So much good comes from open, willing dialogue.

Monday, January 23, 2012

CMC Mentor Spotlight: Thomas Stewart


The Chicago Multicultural Connection, OMSA’s mentoring program, is still taking applications from undergraduate students interested in having a mentor. CMC, a career-focused mentoring program, 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.  For more information or to sign-up, please contact Robin Graham via email at rgraham1@uchicago.edu or visit http://omsa.uchicago.edu/mentorship/.http://omsa.uchicago.edu/mentorship/.

Check out the posting from CMC Mentor Thomas Stewart, a PhD student in Evolutionary & Developmental Biology about why he participates in the program!

“As an undergraduate at Syracuse University, I had several mentors. It was their guidance that led me to apply for various internships and to spend a semester studying tropical ecology in Costa Rica. I found them invaluable as I explored scholarship opportunities, developed my undergraduate thesis project, and organized a plan for life after graduation. Largely, I credit my undergraduate mentors with helping me to discover my academic interests and to ultimately pursue my doctorate at the University of Chicago. 

Currently, I am pursing my PhD in evolutionary and developmental biology.  My research interests lie in understanding patterns of biological diversity, exploring how developmental systems shape evolutionary trajectories. I use catfish as a model to explore the origin of novel appendages in vertebrates, and work across a range of fields including developmental biology, paleontology, biomechanics, ecology and phylogenetics.

As a mentor I strive to provide the generosity in time and attention that my mentors provided me. I would advise my own mentees, indeed all students, to embrace breadth in their studies and balance in their professional and personal endeavors. I’m excited to work with all students and continuing to serve as a CMC mentor.”

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Weekly Schedule - Jan. 20 - 26

Friday, January 20

Reading and Performance by Diane Lefer
3:00 PM-4:00 PM
5710 South Woodlawn Avenue, Room 107 


Saturday, January 21

Workshop with Diane Lefer: Teaching Writing as a Tool for Social Change
10:00 AM-12:30 PM
Room 409 Cobb Hall, 5811 S. Ellis Avenue


International Food Festival 2012: Celebrating Culture and Cuisine
Presented by: Asian Students Union
6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street

Monday, January 23

A to Z of searching and applying for Full Time Jobs
4:30 PM-6:00 PM

West Lounge, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street

Tuesday, January 24

Summer Teaching Internships, Fellowships, & Experiences
4:30 PM-6:00 PM
West Lounge, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street

Wednesday, January 25

Caribbean Studies Workshop
4:30 PM-6:00 PM
Room 101 of Haskell Hall, 5836 S. Greenwood Aveue

LGBTQA Graduate/Professional Student Mixer
Presented by the Office of LGBTQ Student Life
6:00 PM-8:00 PM
5710 South Woodlawn Avenue

Thursday, January 26

First Floor Conference Room 5733 , Centers for Gender/Race Studies, South University Avenue

Graduate and Professional Student of Color Mixer
Presented by the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs
6:00 PM-8:00 PM
5710 South Woodlawn Avenue, Room 107

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Weekly Schedule - Jan 12 - 19

Thursday, January 12

Super Walk-Ins
Presented by Career Advising and Planning Services
9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Second floor reception, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street

What do you think?
Presented by: Health Promotion and Wellness
11:00 AM-1:30 PM
Marketplace in Reynolds Club, 5706 South University

Perspectives on Seguro Popular: Mexico's National Health Insurance Program
Presented by: Harris School of Public Policy Studies
12:00 PM-1:30 PM
Lecture Hall 142, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, 1155 East 60th Street

"Guy Benton Johnson and the Problem of Racial Triangulation," David M. Ferguson, PhD Candidate, Department of Sociology, University of Chicago
Presented by Reproduction of Race & Racial Ideologies Workshop
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
5733 S. University Avenue

Grad Event: Alumni Chat
Presented by Career Advising and Planning Services
5:00 PM-6:00 PM
Room 203, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street

CCIPSS: For 1st Years: How to Connect with Community Service RSOs and Get a Summer Opportunity in Public and Social Service
Presented by: Chicago Careers in Public and Social Service
5:00 PM-6:30 PM
Library, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration
6:00 PM-8:00 PM
Rockefeller Chapel, 5850 S Woodlawn Ave.

Masquerade Party
Presented by:  the Smart Museum of Art
8:00 PM-10:30 PM
Smart Museum of Art, 5550 South Greenwood Avenue

Friday, January 13

Internship Interview Boot Camp: Consulting & Business
Presented by Career Advising and Planning Services
8:30 AM-1:00 PM
Career Advising & Planning Services, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street

Let's Talk
Presented by: Student Counseling Services
1:00 PM-3:00 PM
5710 South Woodlawn Avenue, Room 301 (LGBTQ Lounge)