Saturday, January 14

Evening Focus Session: 8:00-10:00 p.m.

Is this #%$@! funny?

Presenters: Alan Bloom, Dre Daniels, Valparaiso University Faculty and Student

Christopher Center: 205 CLIR

This session will examine the cutting edge comedy of the likes of Dave Chappell and Cedric the Entertainer. Many people find their acts hilariously funny; others find them degradingly offensive. But what do you think of this material, and why? Can you make fun of Rosa Parks? Is a black, blind white supremacist funny? Is it amusing to think that if there were reparations FUBU and KFC might merge to form the largest company in the world? Finally, how deferential do we need to be about previous civil rights leaders who carried the torch, and how much can we laugh at stereotypes without reinforcing them?

Monday, January 16

Offsite Focus Session: 2:30 at Valparaiso High School

The Angry Eye: Jane Elliot's Work

Presenters: Alan Bloom, Patricia Martinez, History Department, Valparaiso University

Valparaiso High School

In the award-winning documentary, "The Eye of the Storm" (1970), Jane Elliot divides her third grade classroom into blue-eyed and brown-eyed sections and assigns them an inferior and superior status. The status of each group changes for several days. This experiment demonstrated in a very concrete fashion the effects that racism had on both those assigned "superior" and "inferior" status. Professor Alan Bloom and Professor Patricia Martinez from Valparaiso University's History Department will show this film to the students and will initiate a discussion about how race is constructed in our society and how we can work to fight the devastating effects of racism by developing an understanding of how we all promote racial stereotypes. Some of the questions we will address include: What does it mean to be black or white in our society today? How do we form our own preconceptions about other groups in our society? How can we work to develop a more equitable society in our increasingly diverse world?

Focus Session I: 1:00-1:50

Bias Motivated Incidents in Northwest Indiana

Presenters: Tom Stratton, Larry Baas, James Old, Community Research and Service Center

Mueller: M01

Students working in the Community Research and Service Center track the occurrence of bias motivated incidents in Northwest Indiana. These incidents are defined as behavior which constitutes an expression of hostility against the person or property of another because of the victim's race, religion, or ethnicity/national origin. The research tracks such incidents back to 1990 and regularly updates the data. Information about the type of incident, its location, its severity, the victim and perpetrator are collected. This information provides a basis for discussion of the types of problems that occur in Northwest Indiana and whether progress is being made in reducing these incidents.

Heads Up to Diversity (Repeated in Session II)

Presenters: Erin Votava, Kelly Bell, Student Social Work Organization (SSWO)

Mueller: Refectory

The purpose of this session is to help participants understand how it feels to be a victim of discrimination. Each participant will receive a card with a number on it. The number represents a group of people. No one knows what their card is and has to figure it out by the way the others treat him/her. A discussion will follow.

Do You Speak Mexican? The Latino Monologues (Repeated in Session II)

Presenters: Laura Medina, Elizabeth Banda, Latinos in Valparaiso for Excellence (LIVE)

Union: Squire Room

This presentation features ten different Latino/Latina personalities and stereotypes in a series of monologues that explore some of the issues faced by Latino/Latinas on a daily basis living in the United States. Members of LIVE hope to educate students on controversies that they have observed as Latinos/Latinas. In doing so, they hope to capture Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s teachings of equality and acceptance in the hearts of the audience and create a reason for change.

The First Emancipator

Presenter: Andrew Levy, Butler University

Christopher Center: Meadow Reading Room (1st Floor)

Author Andrew Levy will lead a discussion of his book, The First Emancipator: The Forgotten Story of Robert Carter, the Founding Father Who Freed His Slaves. Hear how a wealthy plantation owner in Virginia freed 450 slaves in 1791 after undergoing a religious experience. Dr. Levy, Professor of English at Butler University, has appeared on C-Span, the cover of the New York Times Review of Books, and has been interviewed on NPR's "All Things Considered."

The Game of Life (Repeated in Session II)

Presenter: Jacob Kloess, Habitat for Humanity

Huegli Hall: Lumina Room

Ever wonder what the world is like for those who are different from you? Come and play the classic game of Monopoly-with a twist! See what life is like among the different classes. The game will be followed by small-group discussions of our experiences with the game, how it relates to our lives, and possible solutions.

Building Peace in our own Backyards: Confronting Racism in America (Repeated in Session II)

Presenter: Kris Parker, Purdue Extension, Porter County

VUCA: 1409

"We created it, we export it, we live it…yet most of us do not see it." Around the world many people recognize racism in America as one of the greatest global crises threatening international security. In this interactive session international conflict transformation principles will be applied to help Americans, (especially "white" Americans) confront the race crisis in the U.S.

Dance through the Decades

Presenter: Pia Daniels, Black Student Organization (BSO)

VUCA: 1412

This session will be an education on African-American dance through the centuries. It will begin in Africa, then dance in slavery, the 1920's, 50's and 60's, 70's, 80's and now. It will include the development of dance and how it is incorporated into music.

Selections from the Brauer Museum of Art (Repeated in Session II)

Presenter: Gregg Hertzlieb, Director, Brauer Museum of Art

VUCA: Museum

The Brauer Museum of Art has in its permanent collection a number of items by artists of color and artists who have typically been marginalized because of their ethnic origin. These pieces will be installed in one of the museum's galleries, and gallery talks will be offered to describe the ways that these works of visual art exemplify the ideas and concerns of MLK Day.

Focus Session II: 2:00-2:50

What Would Dr. King Do?: A Conversation on Civil Disobedience and Discourse Today

(Two Hour Session 2:00-3:50)

Presenters: Trisha Mileham, Stewart Cooper, Andrew Murphy, Scott Huelin, Valparaiso University Faculty

Mueller: M01

Where do civil disobedience, public discourse, and peaceful protest fit in today's climate? Are views on racial, social, and political topics not held by the majority given equitable thought and consideration? For example, during wartime, the delicate balance between freedom of expression and security of state come into sharp focus. What are the limits of dissent? Panelists and audiences members will discuss the civil rights actions of the 60's with how we work through diverse issues today.

White Like Me: Examining Racial Privilege (Two Hour Session 2:00-3:50)

Presenter: Allison Schuette-Hoffman, English Department, Valparaiso University

Mueller: 02

Racism. Typically people hear this word and associate it with people of color. But racism not only happens to African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans; it also happens to "white" people. In this two-hour session, the audience will read, reflect upon, and discuss Peggy McIntosh's article, "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." After examining ways in which racism shapes white experience, the question "Having described white privilege, what can I do to reduce or end it?" will be pondered.

Changing Climates: Understanding the Current On-Campus Racial Climate (Repeated in Session III)

Presenters: Dan Pedersen, Stacy Oliver, Kelly Bersett, Office of Residential Life

Mueller: M04

During the Fall 2003, Valparaiso University boasted a multicultural enrollment of 12%, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. Though that number may be comparatively higher than other small, private, religiously affiliated schools, it represents only the racial composition on campus. What about the racial climate? Valparaiso University's Office of Residential Life surveyed a random sampling of the 2000 undergraduate students who live in on-campus housing about the racial climate of residence halls. The survey was conducted during the Fall 2005 semester. This panel discussion, moderated by a member of the professional staff in the Office of Residential Life, will explore and discuss the results of that survey, as well as share their own experiences in the residence halls. The panel is composed of upper-class students representing various multicultural groups, residence halls, and on-campus involvement.

Christians and Wealth (Two Hour Session 2:00-3:50)

Presenter: Martin Erhardt, Chemistry Department, Valparaiso University

Mueller: M10

This session features a video presentation of a debate on the issue of how Christians should handle material wealth. The debaters are Dr. Ron Sider, President of Evangelicals for Social Action, and Dr. John Schneider, Professor of Religion at Calvin College. A discussion of issues related to financial stewardship led by Dr. Erhardt will follow.

Heads Up to Diversity (Repeated in Session I)

Presenters: Erin Votava, Kelly Bell, Student Social Work Organization (SSWO)

Mueller: Refectory

Do You Speak Mexican? The Latino Monologues (Repeated in Session I)

Presenters: Laura Medina, Elizabeth Banda, Latinos in Valparaiso for Excellence (LIVE)

Union: Squire Room

African-American Protest Music Before the Civil Rights Era (Two Hour Session 2:00-3:50)

Presenter: Ronald D. Cohen, Emeritus Professor of History, Indiana University Northwest

Christopher Center: 205 CLIR

Protest music among African-Americans began in the 19th century, and continued into the 1960s. Most of these songs concerned protesting racism and discrimination, and some were even commercially recorded, although others were collected by folklorists. Dr. Cohen will play recordings of a number of these songs to demonstrate their political and personal overtones.

The Game of Life (Repeated in Session I)

Presenter: Jacob Kloess, Habitat for Humanity

Huegli Hall: Lumina Room

Building Peace in our own Backyards: Confronting Racism in America (Repeated in Session I)

Presenter: Kris Parker, Purdue Extension, Porter County

VUCA: 1409

Indefinable (Repeated in Session III)

Presenter: Michelle Rossi, DramaWrights

VUCA: 1412

DramaWrights, the campus playwriting group, presents an interactive comedy about stereotypes and how they block people from developing healthy relationships. In the play, Andrew visits a dating service in hopes of finding "the perfect woman," but the women he finds there do not match his perceptions. Will he be able to move past his pre-conceived ideas and find "Miss Right"? A discussion will follow after the play. This original play is by VU students and features students from a variety of academic disciplines.

Selections from the Brauer Museum of Art (Repeated in Session I)

Presenter: Gregg Hertzlieb, Director, Brauer Museum of Art

VUCA: Museum

Recollections of Advocacy (Two Hour Session 2:00-3:50)

Presenter: Carl Mack, National Society of Black Engineers

Neils: 234

Carl Mack will discuss his work as an advocate for people of color and his efforts to create a society that is more inclusive and educated about racial identity.

Focus Session III: 3:00-3:50

What Would Dr. King Do?: A Conversation on Civil Disobedience and Discourse Today

(A Two Hour Session Which Begins at 2:00)

Presenters: Trisha Mileham, Stewart Cooper, Andrew Murphy, Scott Huelin, Valparaiso University Faculty

Mueller: M01

Where do civil disobedience, public discourse, and peaceful protest fit in today's climate? Are views on racial, social, and political topics not held by the majority given equitable thought and consideration? For example, during wartime, the delicate balance between freedom of expression and security of state come into sharp focus. What are the limits of dissent? Panelist and audience members discuss the civil rights actions of the 60's with how we work through diverse issues today.

White Like Me: Examining Racial Privilege (A Two Hour Session Which Begins at 2:00)

Presenter: Allison Schuette-Hoffman, English Department, Valparaiso University

Mueller: 02

Changing Climates: Understanding the Current On-Campus Racial Climate (Repeated in Session II)

Presenters: Dan Pedersen, Stacy Oliver, Kelly Bersett, Office of Residential Life

Mueller: M04

Christians and Wealth (A Two Hour Session Which Begins at 2:00)

Presenter: Martin Erhardt, Chemistry Department, Valparaiso University

Mueller: M10

African-American Protest Music Before the Civil Rights Era (A Two Hour Session Which Begins at 2:00)

Presenter: Ronald D. Cohen, Emeritus Professor of History, Indiana University Northwest

Christopher Center: 205 CLIR

Indefinable (Repeated in Session II)

Presenter: Michelle Rossi, DramaWrights

VUCA: 1412

Recollections of Advocacy (A Two Hour Session Which Begins at 2:00)

Presenter: Carl Mack, National Society of Black Engineers

Neils: 234

Carl Mack will discuss his work as an advocate for people of color and his efforts to create a society that is more inclusive and educated about racial identity.

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