The recipients of the 2006 Chancellor's Feinstone Grants for Multicultural Initiatives have been announced by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Now in their 10th year, the grants are awarded to members of the SU community who propose innovative programming that takes concrete steps to move forward the University's dialogue on cross-ethnic relations; propose methods for individual and group development to help break out of learned patterns of prejudice; and focus on skill building and the development of alliances across ethnic identities.
Six recipients are named to receive grants for programs that will take place during the Spring 2006 semester.
The Native American Students at Syracuse (NASAS) student organization plans to sponsor a speaker, John Mohawk, a Ph.D. at the University at Buffalo, on the topic of "Haudenosaunee Influence on U.S. Culture and Democracy." Mohawk will speak during the Onondaga Land Rights and Our Common Future educational series, scheduled to run from February-November 2006.
The Rev. Kelly Sprinkle, protestant chaplain at Hendricks Chapel, received a grant to assist in travel costs for students to spend a week in civic engagement, learning and reflection while focusing on clean-up and recovery in New Orleans. The project will include working in solidarity and students will an immersion experience focused on the issue of environmental racism and how individuals of consciousness work for environmental justice.
D. Bruce Carter, associate dean of the College of Human Services and Health Professions (HSHP); Jason Castro, faculty member in the School of Education; and Felicia Proud, director of Student Support Services in HSHP, will develop a program designed to educate the University community about Haudenosaunee culture and to welcome current Native American students, as well as those admitted through the University's Haudenosaunee Promise scholarship program. The main project will be an awareness program that will include an interactive panel discussion introducing concepts specific to Haudenosaunee history, issues, traditions and overall culture, to develop and reinforce cultural competence and interpersonal diversity skills among all HSHP students, faculty and staff.
Collette Eccleston, assistant professor of psychology, will conduct an examination through studies of the consequences for racial categorization and intergroup relations using a locally relevant example, the HillTV controvery. She will investigate possible solutions to the divisiveness that such situations create. Proposed studies will be conducted during the first few weeks of the Spring 2006 semester and data will be analyzed by the end of the semester.
Off-Campus Student Services Assistant Director Darya Rotblat's "Writing on the Wall" (WOW) program received funding. SU students, faculty and staff will be given the opportunity to paint a brick and share their words and symbols of hate. One hundred thirty-five bricks will be painted and a wall will be constructed on the Quad, made available for viewing and then dismantled in a ceremony. The program is designed to confront oppression and the barriers that exist and limit communication between various groups of people.
The Team Against Bias (TAB) received funding for a Diversity Summit for student leaders to provide a safe space for open dialogue to discuss how student groups' existing customs, policies, practices and procedures may promote self-segregation and may thwart campus diversity initiatives. The program aims to raise consciousness and lead to effective action and social change.
