Actualizing Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in your Professional and Personal Life. Dr. Antoinette Favazza, Professor, Education; and Dr. Minsuk Shim, Associate Professor, Education. The Holmes Partnership is a confederation of 78 US colleges and universities founded in 1981 to encourage reform in the education of urban teachers; diversify the ranks of those who conduct teacher preparation programs; and assist in the revitalization of urban schools. This workshop discusses the Holmes Partnership, the Holmes Scholar Program, and the UNITE Network; and promotes the involvement of URI faculty and students in developing relationships with schools in Rhode Island characterized by diversity in race, language, culture and socioeconomic class. Mon, 9/25 @ 2:00pm.

Alumni Professionals of Color Forum. Facilitated by Jessie Kenyon, Assistant Director, Alumni Relations. Enabling current students to interact with successful alumni professionals of color, this forum provides the opportunity for students to meet and hear alumni panelists discuss their own career paths, and to offer professional and personal advice about how to prepare for life after graduation, and how to succeed as a member of the labor force. Food and beverages are provided. Thurs, 9/28 @ 4:00 pm.

An African Dance Recital. Facilitated by the Alima Dancers. Deriving its name from an Arabic term denoting "those who are skilled in dancing and music", the Alima International Dance Association, comprised of students from Africa, draws the cultural referents for its interactive dance performance from African countries as diverse as Liberia, Cape Verde, Ghana, Gabon, Senegal and Guinea. Thur, 9/28 @ 7:00pm.

Angels and Pigs: Inclusion in America. Directed by Bryna Wortman, Associate Professor, Theatre and Students. Scenes from two plays about Diversity, Society and Inclusion. While Tony Kushner’s Angels in America (1991-92) provides a gay perspective on the fragility of personal identity, love relationships, and faith in God during the 1980’s against a backdrop of the height of the AIDS crisis, Neil LaBute’s Fat Pig (2004) is a heterosexual commentary on a love affair between a handsome, white-collar male and a warm, witty, plus size woman; and the ruthless judgment of her by a society which equates thinness with youth, happiness, and success. How do we help each other become more comfortable with difference? With self-image? With the need for approval? Wed, 9/27 @ 6:00pm.

Angry Eye with Jane Elliott, The (Video). Facilitated by Roxanne Gomes, Assistant Director, Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity. Reenacting her famous 1968 Blue Eyes/Brown-Eyes experiment in discrimination, the legendary anti-racist teacher Jane Elliott works with college students in this video to depict the way society socially constructs racial prejudice. Taking eye color as an arbitrary dividing line, Elliott orchestrates a microcosm of contemporary American society, compelling the more privileged blue-eyed participants to expose the capricious nature of the ranking process that stratifies people and sows the seeds of divisiveness. Tue, 9/26 @ 11:00am

At The River I Stand (Video): Civil Rights and Worker Rights. Facilitated by Dr. Ric McIntyre, Professor, Economics. This workshop features the award-winning documentary, At The River I Stand, which recounts the two months coinciding with the 65-day strike of 1,300 sanitation workers in Memphis, TN, and leading to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the spring of 1968. During the two eventful months, a local labor dispute was transformed into a national struggle, illuminating the connection between economic and civil rights, the debate over violent versus non-violent change, and the interweaving of class, caste and race in the fabric of American society. Special attention will be given to the presence of caste in the 1960s and to its present day persistence in American society. Mon, 9/25 @ 6:00pm.

Athletics, Recreation & Play; Harmonizer or Divider. Ted Boyett, Coordinator, Aquatics. Through the Olympics, Paralympics, Special Olympics, the World Cup, the World Series, the World Scholar Games, the Super Bowl, and other events, sports have demonstrated the ability to unify or to divide local, state, regional, national, and international peoples, institutions, and cultures. Utilizing a focus group process to maximize audience participation, this workshop examines the role of sports in our own lives, and evaluates their impact in promoting health, development, peace and human rights. Participants will share relevant experiences that provide insight into the impact of race, gender, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, and disability in sports. Wed, 9/27 @ 10:00am.

Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin (Video). Facilitated by Andrew Winters, Assistant to the Vice President for GLBTQ Programs. This video focuses on the life and work of the late African-American, openly gay, civil rights and human rights activist and pacifist Bayard Rustin (1912-1987). Born to Quaker parents, he began his activism in high school while locally protesting racial segregation. During the 1930’s, he worked for the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation, later resisting the draft in World War II. After organizing the initial Freedom Rides against segregation in the 1940’s, he traveled to Montgomery, AL in 1956 to mentor the then 26-year old Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When he discovered guns in his host’s home, he persuaded him to embrace unconditional nonviolence. Despite his leadership in organizing protests during the 1956 Montgomery bus boycott, the 1960 Democratic Convention, and the 1963 March on Washington, Rustin was ultimately threatened, marginalized, beaten, and fired for his unwillingness to conceal his gay identity and to compromise his political beliefs. Tue, 9/26 @ 5:00pm.

Chiva Bus. Facilitated by Dr. Sunshine Menezes, Interim Executive Director, Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting. Identified with Colombia, the Chiva is a flamboyantly colored bus complete with horn, musical band, bar, and stylized decorations. A ‘party-on-wheels’ cruising the city at night, it delivers patrons along the nightclub circuit. Named for this national symbol of goodwill and free spirit, the local Chiva Bus band is known regionally for its spicy Latin music and persona, combining tango and samba with technique and passion. Thur, 9/28 @ 8:00pm.

Choral Performance/Workshop on the Sources and Meanings of Musical Inspiration. The URI Chorus. Directed by Mark Conley, Assistant Professor, Music. The Annual URI Concert at the Multicultural Center will be presented with commentary intended to enhance awareness of different cultural traditions, diverse approaches to composing music, and sources of inspiration such as politics, literature, arts, nature and symbolism. The role of emotional and intellectual influences will be presented as well as the degree of importance between text and music. Thur, 9/28 @ 2:00pm.

Community Sing. Facilitated by Sue Warford, Coordinator, Child Development Center. This workshop presents children in performance as they explore how ageappropriate music can be used to enhance personal growth and development and to increase awareness of diversity. Thur, 9/28 @ 11:00am.

Creating Affirming Campuses and Families for GLBTQ Students. Andrew Winters, Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs for GLBTQ Programs. While institutions of higher education are often more welcoming of GLBTQ persons than society at large, GLBTQ students still frequently feel marginalized on their campuses. This workshop featuring a panel of students will describe their perceptions of the campus climate and describe challenges faced by many GLBTQ students. In addition, the presentation will discuss how advisors, whether GLBTQ or straight, can partner with GLBTQ students to make the campus a more inclusive and affirming environment. Wed, 9/27 @ 12:00pm.

Cultivating Future Generations for a Nonviolent Global Community. Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., Director, Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, and Distinguished Scholar in Residence. A living link to many of the defining moments of the U.S. Civil Rights movement – the desegregation of Nashville (TN), the founding of SNCC, voter registration in Selma (AL), the Freedom Rides, and the Poor People’s Campaign – Dr. Lafayette has emerged as one of the world’s foremost advocates for international peacebuilding. This workshop introduces participants to ongoing initiatives for peacebuilding and conflict resolution currently underway in countries such as the United States, Colombia, Cuba, Israel, and Puerto Rico, and provides information and advice for those who wish to enlist in and support these international initiatives. Wed, 9/27 @ 1:00pm.

“Cutting-Edge Biotechnology in Old-World Cuba”. Dr. Marshall Feldman, Associate Professor, Community Planning. During the 1980’s, the Cuban government diverted millions of its meager dollars into applied research in the human, animal, and agricultural sciences to promote economic development. Today Cuba is the largest exporter of human biotechnological products in South America and the Caribbean, with over 50 nations, including China, India, Malaysia, and Iran, among its clients and research partners. Yet Cuba faces major obstacles in integrating its industry into world markets: the stifling US-led trade embargo; the domination of world markets by transnational companies that control access to production, marketing, and distribution; the need to comply with intellectual property rights; and the need to attain credibility in industrialized countries. This workshop provides an opportunity to learn about the history and importance of the industry, and to review the national and international circumstances that prohibit free interaction between US and Cuban scientists and consumers. Wed, 9/27 @ 2:00pm.

Defying Categorization: Strategies for Researching Under- and Mis- Represented Groups in Archives. Emily R. Brown, Graduate Student, Library and Information Studies, and Graduate Assistant, Special Collections and University Archives. As the United States has become more diverse, the need to re-examine, and in some cases, re-write American history has become more evident. In credibly rewriting history, the role of primary research is central. This workshop will focus on the challenges of accessing archival resources on under-represented communities for research and documentation. Participants will receive assistance in making connections, developing strategies, and negotiating institutional practices for accessing relevant archival resources. Wed, 9/27 @ 2:00pm.

Depression: Fighting The Dragon (Video). Facilitated by Pamela Rohland, Assistant Director, Disability Services. Viewing disability as an issue of cultural diversity, this documentary by Sue Ridout seeks to increase public awareness about the growing illness of depression by examining the stories of talented patients who have fought to overcome their psychological illness in the face of discrimination similar to that experienced by other marginalized groups. Special attention will be devoted to changes in the chemistry of the human brain before and after treatment for depression, using sophisticated imaging technologies that map the brain. Discussion will follow. Tue, 9/26 @ 9:30am.

Disability, Identity, and Culture. Pamela Rohland, Assistant Director, Disability Services. The study of disability has transitioned from a model of pathology to an emphasis on understanding the ways in which the identity and culture of disability is socially constructed. This workshop will explore the lived experience of people with disabilities; examine the social, cultural, and physical attitudes and barriers they face; and situate disability within the contemporary discourse on cultural diversity. Wed, 9/27 @ 4:00pm.

Discussion of Interpreter of Maladies (1999) and The Namesake (2003) by Jhumpa Lahiri: An Application of the Shared Inquiry Method. Facilitated by Dr. Cheryl McCarthy, Professor, Graduate School of Library Science, and Graduate Students, GSLIS. Born in London in 1967 to a Bengali family, and raised in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri recently described her background in Newsweek: “I have lived in the United States for almost 37 years and anticipate growing old in this country…When I was growing up in Rhode Island in the 1970’s, I felt neither Indian nor American. Like many immigrant offspring, I felt intense pressure to be two things, loyal to the old world and fluent in the new….” Applying a method in which participants collaboratively help each other to search for their own answers to questions raised by the text, this discussion explores stories of first and second generation immigrants of Indian ancestry, and of those experiencing otherness in India, revolving around the erosion of cultural identity, the loss of communication, and the shifting boundaries of relationships in and between homeland and diaspora. Participants in the discussion are required to read at least one of the texts. Wed, 9/27 @ 4:00pm.

Diversity and Health. Laurie Johnson, RN, Roger Jadosz, RN, and Susan Ash, RD, Health Services. This workshop discusses scientific reasons why certain races, ethnicities, or other groups are more prone to certain diseases. It will explore and reveal some of the relevant myths and facts. By recognizing known medical facts, participants will enhance their knowledge base in understanding their own health and that of others. Wed, 9/27 @ 11:00am.

Diversity of Musical Life. Dr. Eliane Aberdam, Assistant Professor, Music. Different cultures create different tones and tuning systems, which play different cultural functions. By focusing on the diversity of musical life, and its links to elements of tone, scale and tuning, workshop participants will learn parallels between the diversity of music and the diversity in languages with their differences in alphabets and phonetics. This workshop will examine the different tuning types that create different scales in different countries. Wed, 9/27 @ 11:00am.

Diversity Week Art Exhibit and Gallery Talk. Facilitated by the URI Fine Arts Gallery, Judith Tolnick, Director, Art Galleries. In the fall of 2002, New York artist Jill Moser, a graduate of Brown University, invited painters, poets, curators, and critics to suggest pairs of words that could provide a symbolic springboard for her next body of work. The responses enabled her to create The Naming Game, a series of paintings, drawings, and photo collages, that creatively play with meanings and their associations, and provoke dialogue about the very idea of naming what is seen. Writer D. Salem Smith will join Jill Moser in discussing the ways in which collaboration in the arts may be fruitfully generated. Wed, 9/27 @ 4:00pm.

Diversity Week Career Services Essay and Visual/Creative Contest. Open to any URI student. Contest rules at http://career.uri.edu. Prizes include a $100 gift certificate to the URI bookstore and a flash drive. Deadline for submission is October 16 at 4:30 pm.

Diversity Week Open Mic/Poetry Slam. Facilitated by Chris Bannon, Coordinator,Origins. Always one of the most popular events during Diversity Week, the Open Mic/ Poetry Slam is a student-generated, student-operated, student-judged performance event, open to poets, musicians, dancers, and other artists who sign up in accordance with the rules of the night. Open mic is about expression. It’s about the audience becoming the performer. It’s about people coming…never knowing what to expect next. A Poem? A Song? A monologue? The Blues? Spoken Word? It’s about that moment of spontaneous courage that says, ‘I’m going to get up there next.’ Open mic breaks the rules… there’s no single performer or single style. It is as diverse as the audience. Alumni guests will perform. Let us know you want to perform, sign up in advance at http://www.uri.edu/mcc or sign up the night of the event. Mon, 9/25 @ 8:00pm.

Dressing the Role Models: Women in Children’s Biographies. Dr. Gale Eaton, Associate Professor, GSLIS. Books give children role models to emulate—but women who make it into juvenile biographies don’t always do it by following the rules for good little girls. How do writers make their stories acceptable? Sometimes they dress the inconvenient reality up in descriptions of clothes. Thur, 9/28 @ 7:00pm.

Exploring Class and Social Privilege.Curtis Ferguson, Graduate Student, Human Development and Family Studies. The purpose of this workshop is to examine the often-unnoticed issue of class-ism as a socioeconomic form of discrimination, and the effects that such bias has on marginalized communities. Using food as a point of reference, the workshop will engage participants in understanding the influence of socioeconomic class factors on what and where people eat. Special attention will be given to comparing socioeconomic privilege in the United States, and other nations. Wed, 9/27 @ 4:00pm.

Fiesta de Diversidad (Celebration of Diversity). URI Diversity Week Planning Committee, the URI Brazilian/Cape Verdean Capoeira Club, URI Breakdance Crew and the Alima International Dancers. Initiating Diversity Week, this celebration of the cultural and artistic heritages of the diverse social groups that comprise American society presents their experience through music, dance, drama, and other modes of expression. Mon, 9/25 @ 12:00pm.

Gays in the Military: Repealing ‘”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’”. Dr. Al Lott, Professor Emeritus, Psychology. This workshop will discuss the present status of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that prohibits gay service members in the US from openly acknowledging their sexual orientation after they have enlisted. Current attempts to repeal the law, and the role that students can play in these efforts, will be explored. Fri, 9/29 @ 11:00am.

Gender, Work, and Family Life. Dr. Helen Mederer, Professor, Sociology. The entry of women of all social classes, single, married, or heads of single-parent households into the world of paid work, has dramatically influenced the social construction of male-female relationships. Women now constitute half the labor force in the U.S. Men are spending more time on child care and household tasks than in the past, while employed women are spending less. This workshop provides insight into these modern changes in work and family life, and the gradual transformation of gender roles; and assists in developing individual, collective, and institutional strategies that reduce resistance to the changes. Wed, 9/27 @ 1:00pm.

Get Up and Dance. Facilitated by Amy Olson, Director, URI Hillel Foundation, and Hillel students. Try your skill at Israeli folk dancing. Even people with no experience can learn these simple circle dances in less than 20 minutes. Watch the leaders, learn the steps, and give it a whirl. Refreshments appropriate to the Fall Jewish Holidays will be served. Thur, 9/28 @ 6:00pm.

Higher Education in Contemporary America. Dr. Gordon Dash, Jr., Associate Professor, Finance; Dr. Rosie Pegueros, Associate Professor, History; and Dr. Wendy Roworth, Professor, Art. Moderated by Dr. Frank Annunziato, Executive Director, URI American Association of University Professors (AAUP). This panel will discuss the responses of higher education at the national level to dynamic challenges posed by external social forces in the areas of financing, diversity, and academic freedom.Fri, 9/29 @ 1:00pm.

Hip Hop: Contesting Meaning and En-gendering Movement in the Postindustrial City. Dr. Tricia Rose, Professor, American Studies, University of California at Santa Cruz. In twenty-five years, hip hop has morphed from a Bronx youth subculture into a global, multibillion-dollar industry that extends its reach into music, fashion, art, dance, and film. In its affinity of standpoint with the postindustrial city and the underclass, hip hop can be read as a “style that has the reflexivity to create counter-dominant narratives.” Or are the frequent commercialism, sexism, misogyny, and hedonism signs of accommodation to dominant narratives? Rose’s book of critical essays is Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America (Wesleyan, 1994). Tue, 9/26 @ 7:30pm.

How Colorful are the Sciences?: Strategies for Correcting Racial Imbalance in the Sciences. Dr. Padma Venkatraman, Coordinator, Graduate Diversity Affairs; Dr. Barbara Silver, Director, NSF ADVANCE, and Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies; and Ashima Singh, Graduate Student, Psychology. National data indicate that African-American and Latino students persist to graduation in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines at significantly lower rates than Whites and Asian-Americans. This workshop examines the racial imbalance at the university, state, and national levels, identifies possible causes of the imbalance, and reviews successful corrective strategies at the classroom and institutional levels. Wed, 9/27 @ 2:00pm.

Immigrants and the News Media. Dr, Kendall Moore, Assistant Professor, Journalism; and John Pantalone, Lecturer, Journalism. In an era when the aftermath of 9/11, government policy, and corporate centralization of the media have placed unprecedented constraints on the exercise of the public’s right to know, this panel discussion examines the role of the media by evaluating its performance during the current controversy over immigration into the US. Particular attention will be given to the effectiveness of the media in mediating the immigration reform debate, and in educating the public about under-represented perspectives in Rhode Island. Does the media help to perpetuate or challenge existing racial/cultural/ethnic stereotypes? Are there opportunities for underrepresented voices to be heard in mainstream discourse? Tue, 9/26 @ 12:30pm.

Late Night Players. Sponsored by URI Hillel Foundation and Housing & Residential Life. An evening of laughter with the Late Night Players is a smorgasbord of sketch comedy. Skits, musical numbers, slide shows and dance battles combine to create a show that is by turns observational, absurd, political, thoughtful and hysterical. These 4 funny guys from Boston have performed their fast-paced, interactive show to great acclaim on dozens of college campuses. (www.latenightplayers.com). Wed, 9/27 @ 7:30pm.

Latino Immigration in the United States. Facilitated by Dr. Tom Morin, Professor, Languages. Nearly 12 million undocumented workers, largely of Latino ancestry, are believed to be living in the United States. The vast majority of these immigrants toil in low-skill, low-wage jobs, such as construction, manufacturing, or hospitality – jobs in which most Americans lack interest. This panel discussion of Latino academics and activists discusses the historical, social, cultural, economic, and political issues underlying the controversy. Should the United States always maintain a culturally white identity? What would be the economic impact caused by the inability to fill low status jobs? Would animosity exist if the immigrant population were predominantly white? Mon, 9/25 @ 6:00pm.

Learn How to Belly Dance: A Middle Eastern Art Form. Facilitated by Nancy Hawksley, Coordinator, Facilities Services. This highly participatory session will present basic belly dance movements to pre-recorded Middle Eastern music. Wear comfortable clothes! Be prepared to lift your arms, move your body and uplift your spirit! Bring a hip scarf if you have one. Men and women, dancers and non-dancers, are welcome! Thur, 9/28 @ 9:30am.

Lecture by Italo Scanga Visiting Artist Gregory Coates. Facilitated by Barbara Pagh, Professor, Art. The Italo Scanga Visiting Artist Fund was established in 2005 with a donation from URI Art Department alumna Katherine Scanga and the Italo Scanga Foundation. Italo Scanga was an internationally renowned sculptor who taught for many years at University of California-San Diego. Gregory Coates, a New York based painter, is the second visiting artist supported by the fund. His artworks have been exhibited widely and are in many important museums and art collections. Coates has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in New York, London, Berlin and Munich. Awards include a Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant, a Pollack-Krasner Grant, a New York Foundations for the Arts fellowship and the Edward Mitchell Bannister Society’s Artistic Achievement Award. He has been an Artist in Residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Kunsthaus Tacheles in Berlin and the International Artist- Workshop in Capetown, South Africa. Mon, 9/25 @ 4:00pm.

Margins to Mainstream: Literary Intersections of the American Voice. Claire Reynolds, Laurie Carlson, Brian Dixon, Scott Wade, Ph.D. Students, English. Comparing texts from the conventional American literary canon with less traditionally known texts from African-American writers, this panel challenges the duality that often marginalizes the study of non-canonical texts. In order to question the origin and construction of the American literary voice and identity, special attention will be devoted to commentary on texts, such as Nella Larsen’s Passing and Kate Chopin’s The Awakening; Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin; Joel Chandler Harris’s Nights with Uncle Remus and The Conjure Tales by Charles Chesnutt; and Richard Wright’s Native Son and Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho.Wed, 9/27 @ 3:00pm.

Mexico and the U.S. at the Crossroads: Democracy, Immigration and Social Justice. Dr. Rosaria Pisa, Lecturer, Sociology. This workshop will increase awareness of current relations between the United States and Mexico, the world’s only instance of a shared land border between a “first-world” and a “third-world” country. Participants will be given the opportunity to compare dual theories of international relations, one based on the need to define self-interest on a national perspective, and the other deriving from a belief in the interdependence of nations. Special attention will be given to the discussion of Mexico’s 2006 presidential election, the role of binational civil society organizations and their contributions to democracy and social justice, the symbiosis of cross-border interactions, and the emergence of a new U.S. immigration policy. Wed, 9/27 @ 10:00am.

“Minorities” in Higher Education: Opportunities and Barriers for Success in Math and Science. Catalina Martinez, Physical Scientist, Office of Ocean Exploration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and Dr. Darryl Keith, Research Oceanographer, Atlantic Ecology Division, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. This workshop examines the influences of cultural and socioeconomic differences on students’ selection of STEM fields of study in higher education; addresses issues and misperceptions about the under-representation of people of color and women; and explores social and cultural capital as they relate to academic and life success. Wed, 9/27 @ 1:00pm.

Multicultural Science Quiz. Dr. Padma Venkatraman, Coordinator, Graduate Diversity Affairs. Since Europeans began to write it in the late 18th century, the history of science has meant the history of Western science, reflecting the hegemony of Western culture. While the importance of Western science to human progress should not be minimized, the scientific achievements and perspectives of women, people of color, non-Westerners, the disabled, and GLBT persons should not be marginalized. In support of the emerging campaign to globalize science, this workshop will increase awareness of contributions to science and science history from diverse and underrepresented groups. Wed, 9/27 @ 1:00pm.

Music for Social Justice, Protest and Diversity. Dr. Paul de Mesquita, Professor, Psychology; Dr. Libby Miles, Associate Professor, Writing; and Dr. Steve Wood, Professor, Communication Studies. Ever wondered how to sing some of those old songs from the 60’s that helped change the country? Workshop participants will sing protest songs to enhance their understanding of the reasons and mechanisms for initiating social transformation. Utilized by the civil rights, anti-war, labor, and immigration movements, these songs typically identify a social problem, suggest a response, appeal to common values, arouse external sympathy and support, and develop group unity. Thur, 9/28 @ 3:30pm.

Music for Social Justice, Protest and Diversity: Instructional Jam Session. Dr. Paul de Mesquita, Professor, Psychology. This fun, learning experience for musicians and music-lovers is accessible to all skill levels, beginner to advanced. Bring your guitar, banjo, harmonica, other instruments, or just your voice! Achieving communitas as a state of mind is more important than being in perfect rhythm. Words and chords will be provided. Wed, 9/27 @ 11:00am.

National Student Exchange: Travel, Study and Enjoy a Semester Away From URI. Donna Figueroa, Assistant Director, Office of International Education & NSE, and students. A panel of URI students, both returning and currently on exchange in the US and elsewhere, will share their experiences and respond to questions. Wed, 9/27 @ 3:00pm.

Native Expressions. Facilitated by Silvermoon Mars, Alumna, Sociology. Presenters will use storytelling, music, and dance to introduce Native American life and spirituality in the 21st century. Representatives from the Native American community will describe their experience and history through stories. Thur, 9/28 @ 12:30pm.

Pangaea Roots Music Festival, featuring Ancient Future Arabic Dance Ensemble. Facilitated by Michael Lapointe, Hall Director, Housing and Residential Life. Named for the common land mass formed c. 200 million years ago when the various continents were joined together, the 2006 Pangaea Roots Music Festival features Ancient Future ( http://www.ancientfuture.com ), a pioneer in world fusion music since its origin in 1978. Combining, interpreting, reworking, and expanding the common ground between cultural musical traditions, Ancient Future showcases an ensemble combination selected from the 28 master musicians that perform with the band. Their internationally acclaimed music incorporates the sensibilities of African, Balinese, Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, South American, and European rhythms with contemporary jazz and rock. Fri, 9/29 @ 8:00pm.

Peace and Harmony Meditation. Facilitated by Dr. Celina Pereira, Physician, Health Services; Laurie Johnson, RN, Health Services; Dr. Paul DeMesquita, Professor, Psychology; Dr. Art Stein, Professor, Political Science; and Claire Sartori-Stein, Lecturer, Psychology, CCE. Deriving its origins from the ancient Eastern religions, particularly those of India, China, and Japan, meditation is both a body of ancient spiritual practices and a set of contemporary mind-body techniques. It seeks to center the mind by concentrating focus on an object of attention, freeing the mind from material attachment, and opening the mind to heightened consciousness. This gathering increases awareness of basic principles and practices, and offers an opportunity to direct collective energies to attaining peace and harmony on the URI campus. Fri, 9/29 @ 12:00pm.

Political Bias in the University. Dr. Jacqueline Sparks, Assistant Professor, Human Development and Family Studies; and Arthur Ferri, Graduate Alumnus, Education. In the classical Western sense, liberalism refers to a view of society characterized by freedom of speech, thought and information for its citizens, while emphasizing the role of the state in protecting individual rights. In the Western university, maintaining the traditions of liberal education and academic freedom for faculty and students requires that a campus commit itself to open inquiry and exposure to diverse views, rather than limiting focus to ideological formulations on either the left or right. Responding to charges of both liberal and conservative bias in the academy, this workshop will elicit views on the creation of a classroom and campus climate that supports the expression of multiple perspectives while encouraging students to think clearly about controversial issues, understand alternate perspectives, and engage opposing views with perspective and civility. Wed, 9/27 @ 4:00pm.

Preserving the Wampanoag Language and Culture: Native Americans in RI. Carrie Tobey, Graduate Student, Library and Information Sciences (GSLIS). This workshop provides an overview of the campaign to revitalize the study of the traditional Algonquian-derived language of the Wampanoag, “the People of the East,” as a means of reconciling the past, removing barriers to present-day participation, and transforming future relationships. Known in American history for greeting and befriending the Pilgrims of Plymouth in 1620, and helping to initiate the Thanksgiving celebration, the Wampanoag endured brutal warfare from the English settlers over land. Today the Wampanoag are centered primarily in Mashpee, MA, and in Martha’s Vineyard. In 1996, Jessie Little Doe, a Mashpee tribal member, began working with MIT’s Wampanoag Language Reclamation Project, earning a Master’s degree in linguistics in 2000, and teaching tribal classes. The Wampanoag legacy to American English includes words, such as squaw, wampum, and skunk. Wed, 9/27 @ 4:00pm

Promising Scholars: Graduate Student Research Symposium on Diversity (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Moderated by Dr. Padma Venkatraman, Coordinator, Graduate Diversity Affairs; and Dr. Paul de Mesquita, Professor, Psychology. Co-sponsored by RI Sea Grant programs. A forum for graduate students, particularly pioneers in science-related fields, to increase interdisciplinary communication within the STEM fields, and promote understanding and multicultural dialogue between scientists and non-scientists. Mon, 9/25 @ 4:30pm.

Promising Scholars: Graduate Student Research Symposium on Diversity (Social Sciences, Humanities, Fine Arts, Education). Moderated by Dr. Paul de Mesquita, Professor, Psychology. A forum for graduate students to present research on diversity-related topics to the campus community; nurture communication, collaboration and innovation across disciplinary boundaries; and stimulate critical inquiry. Mon, 9/25 @ 3:00pm.

Promoting Gender Equity through Coastal Management in Developing Countries. Lesley Squillante, Assistant Director, Coastal Resources Center, and Elin Torell, Marine Research Associate, Coastal Resources Center. The URI Coastal Resources Center (CRC) has emerged as a leading advocate for the inclusion of women and women’s perspectives at all levels of decision-making in coastal management programs around the world. This workshop will present an update on two major collaborative projects of the CRC. In 2001, the CRC launched its Women in Leadership Development initiative, with an international conference that enlisted academics, scientists, practitioners, advocates and donors in developing strategies for integrating gender and population considerations into selected coastal management programs in Africa, Asia, and South America. In 2002, the CRC began its Population, Equity, AIDS, and Coastal Ecosystems project in Tanzania, promoting the creation of crossfunctional teams that can tailor coastal development work to community and household needs. Wed, 9/27 @ 3:00pm.

Race and Class in the Reconstruction of New Orleans. Dr. John Logan, Professor, Sociology, Brown University. Unique among US cities because it is a confluence of French, Spanish, African, Anglo, and Native American cultures, New Orleans is also central to the nation’s economy. It is the nation’s largest port complex, accounting for 16% of US cargo traffic. It is home to ¼ of the nation’s oil and gas production, and 1/3 of the nation’s seafood processing. After the flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina displaced thousands of residents, mostly African-American and poor, power elites - local, state, and federal – are exploiting the unprecedented opportunity to reduce the socioeconomic footprint of black poverty (and black political power), insuring that the new New Orleans will be whiter, richer, more Republican, and less populous. This workshop will describe the dramatic impact of Katrina on the city and its populations; and discuss federal, state, and local governmental and corporate policy responses to enhance flood protection, provide emergency bridge loans and homeowners insurance, build affordable housing, and offer incentives for lowincome communities to rebuild in higher-lying areas. Wed, 9/27 @ 11:00am.

Racial Profiling in Rhode Island. Dr. Leo Carroll, Professor, Sociology & Anthropology. Focusing on the impact of race and economics on the criminal justice system, this workshop examines the report of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Task Force on Racial Profiling. 1)What is the statistical portrait of racial and ethnic minorities compared to the majority in Rhode Island? 2)Are there obstacles to racial parity in the criminal justice system in Rhode Island? 3)What reforms in public policy, if any, should be enacted to promote equity, and to overcome the effects of race and class inequality? Wed, 9/27 @ 12:00pm.

Role of Political Parties in the Civil Rights Movement. Ryan Bilodeau, Chairman, College Republicans. During US history, have Republicans contributed more than Democrats to the development of an inclusive society? Are “Republican core values”, e. g., pessimism about human nature, traditional/patriarchal models of society, law and order, elite governance, belief in authority, militarism, and nationalism, more suited for the progress of African-Americans than “Democratic” values, e. g., optimism about human nature, adaptive/nurturing models of society, humanism, populist governance, belief in freedom of choice and information, civility, and internationalism? This panel compares the contributions of the Republican and Democratic parties in supporting the Civil Rights Movement and promoting inclusive citizenship. Wed, 9/27 @ 10:00am.

Seoul Train (Video): Human Rights in North Korea. Facilitated by Dr. Donna Hughes, Professor, Women's Studies. Mixing hidden-camera footage with personal stories and interviews of activists, academicians, politicians, and government officials, this video focuses on the plight of an estimated 250,000 North Korean refugees who fled government repression and starvation via an Underground Railroad-like network of safe houses and safe routes through China to a neighboring “safe haven” country. In violation of international law, China seeks to forcibly repatriate these refugees classified as “illegal immigrants” to North Korea, where they face imprisonment, torture, and death. Special attention is given to the widespread flouting of international law, the inertia of the United Nations, and the heroism of the refugees and the activists who staff the escape routes. Tue, 9/26 @ 2:00pm.

Stress Reduction for Everyone. Dr. Celina Pereira, Physician, and Laurie Johnson, RN, Health Services. This workshop will teach you to use your inner resources to relieve stress through practical mind and body awareness techniques, including meditation and breathing to increase mindfulness. Participants may gain the ability to experience life more fully and to respond more effectively to their surroundings. Wed, 9/27 @ 12:00pm.

Taming the Wild Mind: Engaged Buddhist Practices for Being At Peace with Ourselves and Each Other. Facilitated by Joanne Friday, Buddhist Chaplain, and Dharma Teacher, Tiep Hien Order. Taught by a disciple of the celebrated Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, this gathering provides an introduction to the observance of “mindfulness”, elevating the quality of awareness brought to every activity and each moment in daily life. Since the Vietnam War, Hanh and other “engaged” Buddhists have led efforts to apply the insights from their meditation practice and dharma teachings to situations of social, political, and economic suffering and injustice. Atmosphere is informal; all are welcome. Wed, 9/27 @ 12:00pm.

There Is No ‘Clash of Civilizations’: Islam and Christianity. Dr. Nasser Zawia, Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences. Colorfully restating a theory in international relations that advocates the superiority and dominance of Western culture and values over those of the East, Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington’s “The Clash of Civilizations?” (Foreign Affairs, Summer, 1993) provided a rationale that has influenced current American foreign policy, resulting in the perception that conflict between a “unified” West and a “militant” Islam is inevitable, absolving Western militarism and notions of empire from responsibility. Utilizing photographs from recent Fulbright-sponsored research in the Middle East, this workshop comments on crosscultural collaborations between Western and Muslim academicians, and Muslim and non-Muslim governments. Tue, 9/26 @ 3:30pm.

Understanding Blended Families: Real Life Stories of Struggle and Triumph. Dr. Susan Trostle Brand, Professor, Education, and guests. As four members of blended/ diverse families tell their stories of struggle, realization, adjustment, and ultimate triumph, participants will glean insight and understanding about the new role of “family” in the 21st century. Related literature selections, enabling adults and children in diverse or traditional families to gain understanding about their own circumstances, will link with the presenters’ stories. Active audience involvement will be encouraged in discussion and in questions and answers with presenters. Wed, 9/27 @ 11:00am.

Understanding Differences through Empathy Training.Ted Boyett, Coordinator, Aquatics. This workshop held at the Tootell Aquatic Center, Keaney Gym, will educate participants in empathy training by engaging them in recreational activities, play and discussion in a warm, shallow water pool. Empathy training can be defined as educational practices that develop the affective capacity to share in another’s feelings, the cognitive ability to understand another’s perspective, and the ability to communicate one’s empathetic feelings and understanding to another. Wed, 9/27 @ 12:30pm.

White Racial Identity and Political Affiliation Among College Students: A Preliminary Analysis. Dr. Arthur D. Kemp, Associate Professor, Central Missouri State University (CMSU); and Chris Boeding, Undergraduate Research Assistant, CMSU. Based on an application of the White Racial Identity Social Attitude Inventory developed by Drs. Janet E. Helms and Robert T. Carter, this workshop discusses the results of a study of racial attitudes among white college students, and the relationships to political attitudes, such as Conservative, Moderate, and Progressive. Wed, 9/27 @ 3:00pm.

Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics:- Where are They? Dr. Joan Peckham, Professor, Computer Science, Dr. Barbara Silver, Assistant Professor, Women Studies, and Director, NSF Advance Program & Karen Stamm, Graduate Student, Psychology. This discussion will focus on the reasons women are underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, and the need for change. By examining assumptions about ability and interest in the STEM fields, discussants will increase awareness of cultural forces that result in unequal career opportunities for women. Wed, 9/27 @ 12:00pm.

Women's Rights and Democracy: What's the Connection? Dr. Donna M. Hughes, Professor, Women’s Studies. This workshop will address the impact of the international campaign for democracy on the political status of women in the world today. Have the rights of women improved over the past few decades? What are the greatest challenges (or threats) to women's rights and well being in the world today? Will pro-democracy policies and movement likely improve the lives of women? Wed, 9/27 @ 10:00am

World and its Companion Animals, The. Clarissa M. Uttley, Graduate Student, Psychology. This workshop examines the place of animals in culture, society, and the home and explores the complex and contradictory relationships between humans and animals across generations and across cultures. Do we understand the benefits of companion animals to human health and psychological well-being? Do human relationships with and perceptions of animals provide insights into human-to-human interaction and perceptions? Motivated by human practices and the threats they pose to the animal kingdom, the global environment, and the human species, the social sciences have begun to expand their studies of human culture to include animal studies. Wed, 9/27 @ 2:00pm.