Give David Equality

Join the Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Give-David-Equality/445362585528?v=wall

This morning, I was invited to join a Facebook page called "Give David Equality" that pertains to the injustice that leaders like David, leader in SigEg and campus leader of "The Right Side of History" face because he is gay. 


I read the following note on the Facebook page and immediately joined it and his site in support, offering Connect 4 as a group with whom he can possibly connect to help spread awareness on campus if he desires. In addition, I will be sharing the idea with Connect 4 of partnering with David to have a Straight Talk for Equality on campus and lending our faces and voices as straight talkers on the site. 


Please join the Facebook Page for this at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Give-David-Equality/445362585528?v=wall and support David and million of others in the LGBT community by learning more about The Right Side of History.

David is a good friend of mine, a normal guy who likes to hang out. He's in SigEp a fraternity at WashU and knows how to have a good time. However because David is gay he is not treated like me under the law.  

You may not know this, but David is not a full citizen of this country--nor are the millions of other gay Americans like him. David can be legally fired in 29 states for being gay, legally evicted from his house in over 30 states, barred access to the military and its government benefits, and restricted from getting access to the 1,100+ federal privileges that our government gives married couples. It's hard to believe that in our country, we all don't have the same legal rights and protections. 

David wants to have a family someday unless we change these laws, David's family won't have the same rights as the family that raised me, or as many other American families. How is this possible? How much longer will David have to wait? 

We can and must change these laws. This year, please help give David -- and millions of LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi Trans) American--equal rights. Please show your support for David's 100% equality by joining this page and by inviting your friends. I'll keep you posted on how you can help David and other LGBT Americans gain full equality in the upcoming year. 

Thanks for your support

Join Connect 4 on the Catalysts Network

Connect 4 President, De Nichols, produced a book last semester called The Catalysts Paradigm that has now grown into a network amongst WashU students called The Creative Catalysts Network. The CCN is an online community whereby innovative/creative student thinkers and leaders and communicate and share the initiatives, creative projects, issues/causes, and businesses that they are forming and leading. This is a also a great place for student groups, for they can share their events/missions. This is a great place for student artists/designers/creatives, for they can connect with sg and initiatives leaders in efforts to make their design work better. AND this is a place for people who simply want to share ideas and vocalize needs/causes in the community. If any of these are you, please join, and join the Connect 4 page and group on it.

"Unity Fest", A Concept

 I found this idea online, and I think it would be something really cool to host either as it is described below or as an expanded concept for all ethnic communities on campus. It could even be something that students collaborate to create in order to serve a higher meaning with the term UnityFest.


I can't remember which university this is from, but it's cool.... and if you think "Connect 4" is a stranger group name, check out "SODA." 

Within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community are many ethnicities and experiences. This event will acknowledge and celebrate this diversity. There will be performances, discussion, and food from several distinct communities.This event is also part of a UnityFest and is sponsored by Raising Our Asian Rights (ROAR) and Students Organizing Diversity Activities (SODA).

Multicultural Retreat, A Concept

For a while, some members of Connect 4 have considered the idea of programming a multicultural retreat that would be open to all students and serve as an opportunity for us to explore our various identities, learn about leadership in diversity, and find ways to open more opportunities to learn and advocate for issues when we're on campus.

Well, I started looking around/researching what other universities are doing in this effort and came across the following retreat that is hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Read the description. Sounds pretty similar to some of the goals that I have heard from WashU peeps.

Cultural Leadership Retreat: February 5th to the 7th

The Cultural Leadership Retreat is a three-day, two-night weekend with interactive workshops designed to create an environment for individuals to explore cultural identity, share experiences, and discuss the meaning of leadership within the context of a diverse society. The workshops create a safe climate for sharing activities. Participants need to come prepared to actively participate in activities by sharing views, attitudes, beliefs and experiences openly and honestly. The Cultural Leadership Retreat is an unique opportunity to learn more about yourself, connect with other students, and to make a positive impact at UNLV.

For students interested in applying as a participant for the retreat, please click here to apply. Application deadline is January 14, 2010!

For staff or faculty interested in applying as a facilitator for the retreat, please Click Here to apply.

Afriky Lolo Brings the Rumble in the DUC

Today I was sitting in the downstairs SU offices with Senators, when suddenly an onslaught of drumming caught my attention. Though in midst of conversation, I removed myself to find the sound and came across the following amazing performances by Afriky Lolo, "a nationally acclaimed West African Dance Company" based out of St. Louis. The African Students Association hosted their performance today in preparation for their show "Sundiata" in Edison theater. Please watch the videos below, post more if you got to see them, and support them and ASA February 26!








Below is the flyer for the show. Please show your support by attending this event! I will be connecting with Connect 4 and Culture Shock members to by group tickets to see it. Join us!

Learn more about Afriky Lolo by visiting http://afrikylolo.com

Opportunity with NSBE to Discuss the Lack of Diversity in Faculty

Alice Ndikumana sent the following request to student group leaders in efforts to coprogram an event to discuss the lack of diversity amongst the faculty at WashU. De will be meeting with her next week to learn more about this endeavor.

My name is Alice Ndikumana. I am a junoir biomedical engineering student, and the programs chair for the National Society of Black Engineers. Every year we host a NSBE Week in the Spring Semester. This year the theme of our week is inspiring and educating Black engineers. Along that theme, one of our main events is an event discussing the lack of a diversity amongst the faculty at our university. The goal of our event is, firstly, to answer the following questions: 1. How racial/ethnic representation among Washington University in St. Louis compare to similar intstitutions? 2. What is our university doing to increase these numbers? 3. What are the main obstacles we face? Secondly, we hope to educate our student body about what it takes to become an professor and what the career entails. 

I am hoping that your membership may be interested in attending our event and that you may interesting in co-programming this event with us. If you are interested please respond to this email we can set up a time for us to meet and bounce around ideas.

From Camille, "The Psychology of Stereotypes, Identity, and Perception" at Missouri History Museum Thursday

Connect 4's Co-VP Camille Young sent the following message regarding an event that many Connect 4 members will be attending Thursday before our Pre-Activities Fair meeting. Please let her know if you will be attending by emailing connect4.wustl@gmail.com. 

As you all know, this Thursday, we will be having of first meeting of the year at 9pm in Seigle Hall. Before hand I was hoping that we could, as a group, attend an amazing lecture at the Missouri History Museum, entitled "In the Mind's Eye: The Psychology of Stereotypes, Identity and Perception," at 7pm. The lecture is being led by our very own Alan J. Lambert, associate professor of Psychology at Washington University. I've attached the events link:http://www.mohistory.org/node/3755

As our campus' premier diversity awareness group, I believe it is important that we educate ourselves on the complexities of discrimination and stereotyping, and this is a great opportunity for us to do so! (as well as group bonding ^_^)

This semester, our group is seeing a lot of changes; from choosing a new name, starting new initiatives, and to potentially becoming apart of SU. As we undergo these changes, it is important that we remain on our "A" game. In order to do so, De, Lexi, and myself are looking to promote and acknowledge the diversity within our own group as well as comradery.

So, if you would like to go and can make it this Thursday, to the History Museum at 7pm before our first meeting, please contact me no later that 12pm on Thursday. The museum is on the Metro Link line at Forest Park and we can ride it together.

Thanks guys, and hope to see and hear from you all soon!