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.

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.

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.

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.

Reflections from the Emerging Minds Project -Gabrielle Newell

Emerging Minds Project | April 2011
Gabrielle Newell - First Year

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 11 students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.

*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.

"Religion"

As usual, I left our meeting this week feeling like there was so much more for us to discuss. The question of religious expression, particularly in public life, is a topic that can never be exhausted or satisfactorily answered. So, I would like to share a couple questions that I’ve been thinking about since our meeting with Ms. Teresa Hord Owens, Dean of Students at University of Chicago.

Reflections from the Emerging Minds Project - Meltem Naz Kaso

Emerging Minds Project | April 2011 Meltem Naz Kaso- First Year

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 11 students come together at 5710 to dialogue with an experienced facilitator who works in the field.

*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.

“Freedom of Religion” or “Freedom from Religion”

Teresa Hord Owens, the Dean of Students at University of Chicago Divinity School, is the first person who challenged me to ask myself the question above. Being from Turkey, a country that strives to adapt secular practices despite its 98% Muslim population, I have realized how relevant it is to understand the difference between “the freedom of religion” and “the freedom from religion.” Does freedom of religion in private life require being free from religion in public sphere? By promising individuals the right to freedom of religion, is it our obligation not to force them towards freedom from religion? These are all very complicated questions that seem easy to ask but nevertheless hard to answer. But I am proud to say that after last week’s session, I have modified my answers. Now I am a strong believer of the idea that individuals may or may not believe in God. Similarly, they may practice religion or be firm atheists. In any case, nobody is “free from religion” in a sense that gaining religious competency is fundamental for anyone living in a pluralistic society.

Education

Emerging Minds Project

February 2011

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 11 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.

By: Grace Evans

Education is a popular word these days, pronounced so often I think we’ve nearly forgotten what it means. At the very least, we have ignored the fact that some parts of this word might need defining. Allow me to attempt this task.

Some will argue that for decades, the purpose of the American educational system served to produce effective workers, cogs in the wheel of capitalism. An element of this is still true: we educate children so that they will one day become the engineers, politicians, architects and business owners we need to keep our economy growing. Aside from building workers capable of generating economic surplus, education also reduces social expenditures as children grow: educated people are less likely to go to prison, draw welfare or unemployment payments, or qualify for food stamps. Educating our children, then, saves us money and maintains our economic stability.

Note: I do not think that framing children as economic inputs captures the full scope of the issue. We also educate people to maintain our democracy, whose equity and effectiveness rely on an educated, informed, politically engaged populous. But the economic frame is a pragmatic one, which appeals to powerful people, so I’m trying to get accustomed to using it.

Immigration

Emerging Minds Project
January 2011

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 11 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.

Emerging Minds Project - Jonathan Lykes

Last night I had a provoking conversation with a recent college graduate in Chicago. The conversation was based on our lives and mostly our differences in opinions when it comes to politics, economics, and most importantly social issues. While I am always excited about and welcome dissenting thoughts, by the end of this conversation it was clear the difference in our praxis. My recent job was working with at-risk youth in the inner city encouraging them to get involved in the political systems in which they live. His most recent job was at an advertisement firm and in his words “working 12 hour days to make sure the companies bottom-line is continuously better.” I challenged him to exist in the business world not only with an individualistic-capitalist paradigm, but to invest in people just as much as stock. He challenged me to watch a documentary on Netflix “Babies” that explored the international differences in socio-economic upbringings.

This multifaceted yet casual conversation is a symbol of the interactions that should take place more often, both within the University but also in atmospheres that go beyond the academy. This is in essence an articulation of minds emerging, thoughts clashing against each other, and theory being forced to walk among practice. These conversations do not occur in the name of deliberate friction, but in the firm belief that understanding and tolerance is more than necessary. Especially if we are going to navigate to find solutions to the social issues that many would rather sweep under the rug than confront head-on. To disrupt the habit of avoiding the subjects that are most “touchy” we felt the need to create a space where these topics are tackled, interrogated, and dissected.

This is why I am excited about a new initiative that I along with several others (specifically Sarah Yu and the OMSA Staff—Rosa Yaidra Ortiz & Ronnie Rios) are launching, The Emerging Minds Project. This is not a “stop in when you feel like it” initiative. The first accepted cohort of students went through an application process that encouraged them to articulate what their views are on issues like identity, what they have experienced in the past, and why this project is important to them. Unfortunately we could not accept everyone, but it is important to form a community that has an ultimate goal of understanding and respect, regardless if friction occurs in the process.

I look forward to meeting the first cohort of students and helping facilitate these conversations, not as someone who is any wiser than anyone else, but as someone who truly hopes to understand. I want to revisit what I “think I know” and redefine my view of the world. I want to decipher through the problems many choose to ignore. Most importantly, I am excited about the artistic development that will come from the cohort at the end of the project.

In my heart I believe life is too short to let it pass without fixing something. Some avoid these issues to make life for them-selves easier; The Emerging Minds Project faces these issues because we understand ignoring them only makes life more difficult for everyone. Choose to participate.