Wednesday, March 28, 2012

REAL WOMEN

Friday, March 16, 2012 – 5:30pm-8:30pm
TRAINA CENTER FOR THE ARTS





Real Women, formerly known as Ladies’ Night, is an annual event hosted by the Office of Intercultural Affairs that aims to bring attention to the role of women in society. This year’s event focuses on the way women are portrayed in the media, and the heightened standards of femininity that are impossible to achieve. We seek to challenge such concepts by highlighting the beauty and diversity of women through a nude portrait exhibit of Clark students. Our hope is for people to see past what society and the media deems as “imperfections” and look at how all those elements are what make up a real woman. We believe that part of what makes women beautiful and unique is the diversity and range and even the blemishes and scars women are often taught to hide.

This event was not an attempt to define what makes a “real woman”, but rather to break through the societal constraints and broaden perspectives. 





Special thanks to Sue and Megumi, and their amazing models, for designing beautiful posters!


The photography exhibit was coordinated by Ariana Foster, and the photographs were taken by Caitlin O’Brien. In addition to the exhibit, we also screened a movie – “Miss Representation”!


Like drawing back a curtain to let bring light stream in, Miss Representation (90 min; TV-14 DL) uncovers glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, that make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself. (source)

WHITE PRIVILEGE AND RACE IN AMERICA

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM





Robert Jensen, professor in the School of Journalism at University of Texas at Austin discussed white privilege and race in America. Among other things, Professor Jensen's work puts a critical focus on American society to help with understanding the persistence of institutional and unconscious racism within it. His opinion and analytic pieces on subjects such as foreign policy, politics, race, and gender have appeared in papers and on websites around the world, both mainstream and alternative.

HOW TO GROW UP? – Teacup discussion

Thursday, February 23, 2012 – 12:30pm-1:30pm

The Office of Intercultural Affairs invited all children, big and small, for a discussion on growing up. Chocolate milk and cookies accompanied a debate on the pros and cons of being a grown up, what it means to be a grown up, and what growing up really entails. We also looked at the societal and cultural differences in perceptions of adulthood, parental supervision, and independence. For those who were worried about the seriousness of the conversation, we provided coloring books and crayons.

And the crayons helped a lot, as the discussion moved from lighthearted chat on who we wanted to be when we grew up to a serious debate on when one is emotionally mature enough to call oneself a grown-up. We reached no conclusions, but thinking about these issues made us – especially graduating seniors - look differently at what could possibly happen to us in June…

We also had a ton of really cute posters, courtesy of Annalise! Which one is your favorite?





Black Is... Complicated / MELISSA HARRIS-PERRY

Monday, February 13, 2012


Melissa Harris-Perry investigates the challenges facing contemporary black Americans. She works to understand the multiple creative ways that African American find agency in response to these challenges. Her latest book, Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America (Yale 2011), argues that persistent harmful stereotypes - invisible to many but painfully familiar to black women - profoundly shape black women's politics, contribute to policies that treat them unfairly, and make it difficult for black women to assert their rights in the political arena.
As well as a contribution to the African American Intellectual Culture Series, Melissa Harris-Perry's talk is a Clark Presidential Lecture and part of the university's celebration of Black History Month. The theme for the month's programs - "Black is..." - is both a statement and a question. It is designed to explore the complexities, challenges and opportunities of African American identity today.

This event is part of the African American Intellectual Culture Series.
Co-sponsored by Higgins School of Humanities, the Office of the President, Speakers Forum, the Black Student Union, Dean of the College, the Office of Intercultural Affairs, and the Martin Luther King and Black History Month Program Committee. 

INTERCULTURAL FASHION SHOW

Friday, February 10, 2012 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM


OIA’s very own fashionista, Deviyani Dixit, pointed out that clothing is much more than what we wear. The fabric, patterns, and designs tell so much about a person and the culture they are from. The multicultural fashion show was a fun way to exhibit the different cultures represented on the Clark campus.

ASIAN NEW YEAR

Saturday, January 28, 2012 – 2:00pm-5:00pm
TILTON HALL





The Year of the Dragon has come, and OIA invited all Clark students to join us in celebrating Asian New Year! This year, along with co-sponsors from ACS and individual students, we presented individual stations showcasing culture and food from Bhutan, China, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. As each country celebrates New Year differently, we presented a variety of traditions and perspectives on Lunar New Year. Thank you to all who attended and celebrated with us!

INSIDE THE HOT POT: BHUTAN

Friday, December 2, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM





OIA and Clark's Asian Cultural Society (ACS) held an interactive learning experience centered around the Kingdom of Bhutan. Students enjoyed traditional Bhutanese food while learning about the country's religion, culture, and society.

Teacup Discussion: Capital Punishment and the U.S.

Led by: Professor Mark Miller; Professor of Political Science & Director of Law and Society Program
Thursday, December 1, 2011; 4-5pm
Persky Conference Room, University Center



There are currently more than 3,000 prisoners on Death Row in the United States. Should Capital Punishment be legal? Who makes that decision, and how?

The Office of Intercultural Affairs invited Clark Professor Mark Miller to lead a discussion on Capital Punishment in the United States, addressing these questions and more! Professor Miller, a Professor in the Political Science Department, and Director of the Clark Law and Society Program, provided insight to this discussion on a topic which is widely contested in the U.S.

Telling Her Story: PROFESSOR YUKO AOYAMA

Thursday, December 1, 2011


Many Clark students may recognize her as the flamenco dancer from International Gala, while some may have had her as a professor in a class. Professor Yuko Aoyama from Clark’s Geography department talked about how she became interested in Flamenco dance, how she went from being a student like us to doing research on global markets, and how she decided that this area of Geography was her passion.

Professor Aoyama charmed her audience with a very honest and open introduction, in which she emphasized three points: that college, regardless of common assumptions, may not be the best time of your life, because you work so hard there is usually little time to enjoy yourself; that youth is overrated; and that there is no such things as a right choice, but that you need to make your choices right for yourself. She touched upon the issues all of us think about, but are too shy to speak of: stress, uncertainty, and not knowing if we are on the right path. It was extremely comforting to know that reaching goals and fulfilling objectives is in fact a struggle, and we should never believe people who say otherwise. All of professor Aoyama’s audience were very touched by her honesty and openness, which made this event one of the most successful and intriguing discussions hosted by OIA this year.

"THE CARRIER" - documentary screening

Wednesday, November 30, 2011


The Office of Intercultural Affairs joined ONE Campus Challenge and the Dean of Students Office to co-sponsor a screening of “The Carrier,” a Tribeca Film Festival documentary by Maggie Betts, for World Aids Week. This truly moving documentary was followed by a discussion with Dr. Ellen Foley, and Dr. Patrick Derr, as well as Clark student Champo Mapulanga.

SOULPANCAKE

Led by: Maryam Esmaeili
Tuesday, November 29, 2011


OIA student programmer Maryam Esmaeili realized that the best discussion happens when people have good food and good company. Students came together and ate pancakes (the ultimate comfort food) and discussed life's big questions...

•    Do we need religion?
•    How do thoughts affect reality?
•    How do you reconcile differences between reason and faith?
•    What is the interplay between fate and free will?
•    How do you define spirituality?

Inspired by SoulPancake.

DREAM ACT - Teacup Discussion

Led by: Michael Masters
Wednesday, November 16, 2011


DREAM Act legislation:
The purpose of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, also called the DREAM Act, is to help those individuals who meet certain requirements, have an opportunity to enlist in the military or go to college and have a path to citizenship which they otherwise would not have without this legislation. Supporters of the DREAM Act believe it is vital not only to the people who would benefit from it, but also the United States as a whole. It would give an opportunity to undocumented immigrant students who have been living in the U.S. since they were young, a chance to contribute back to the country that has given so much to them and a chance to utilize their hard earned education and talents. (source)

Michael Masters, a Clark University undergraduate students and a great supporter of the DREAM Act legislation, explained the issues raised by the bill and led a discussion on why (or why not) the bill should be legislated, possible implications of the DREAM Act, and other issues related to US immigration policies. 

Telling Her Story: ABIR BUKHATWA

Friday, November 4, 2011


Abir Bukhatwa, a Ph.D. student in Clark’s Economics department, sat down with a group of students, faculty, and staff to talk about her choice to pursue a doctorate degree in the United States and her experience leaving her home in Libya.

NOCHE LATINA

Friday, October 21, 2011
The Grind, 6pm-8pm


Our Office celebrates Latino Heritage Month by presenting a variety show of dances and musical performances prepared by Clark students and community members. This year we enjoyed dance presentations by the Salsa club , professor Yuko Aoyama, and Worcester's Ritmos Academy, poetry readings, and a musical performance by Inca Son. Special thanks to Latin American Students Association, Spanish language program, Dean of Students office, and Study Abroad for joining us in this celebration!

Home Alone? No Problem! - OIA TO THE RESCUE

Friday, September 23, 2011
5pm-11pm, New Admissions Center



Nothing to do for family weekend? You’re not alone!!

The Office of Intercultural Affairs held a potluck in the New Admissions Center for students whose families could not attend family weekend. Students from the U.S. and abroad brought their favorite comfort foods to share, and we all hunkered down on a rainy Friday night and watched Home Alone!! Great food, friends, and Macaulay Culkin! What more could you ask for??

THE SOCIAL (?) NETWORK

Thursday, September 22, 2011
4:30pm
OIA kicked off its series of Teacup Discussions with the Social (?) Network, which was a discussion about our habits when it comes to the use of social networks. Questions that were discussed were:

 ·         How is the internet changing the way that we interact with each other?
·         What is facebook doing to our society?
·         Are social networking sites making us less or more social?
·         How does this affect our friendships with those who live overseas?
·         Is it strange that we can know someone from a facebook page rather from real life interaction?
·         When is a relationship official?... When it's on facebook?