Social Justice Week February 13-17, 2023
Week Events and Challenges
Social Justice Week kicks off ongoing education throughout the semester. Every day is a social justice opportunity day. Events are sponsored by the University's community: Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Social Justice Center, River Hawks Scholars Academy, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, Department of Psychology, and Student and Family Support Services.
Week Events
Monday, February 13, 2023
Beginning of Social Justice exploration challenge - topics, reflections and resources are different each day.
- Asian American Center for Excellence & Engagement (AACEE): Documentary & Discussion - 12 p.m., AACEE Center Cumnock Hall 2nd floor
- When filmmaker Grace Lee discovered that her name is very common among Asian-Americans, she also found out that it carries with it a stereotype of the "good" Asian; a quiet, well-behaved hard worker. To see if this stereotype holds any water, the director travels the country interviewing other women who share her name. She discovers a wide range of women, and while some fit the image of the name, others, like a goth artist and community activist, certainly do not.
- Beyond Borders: The Immigrant Experience - 6 p.m., Alumni Hall
- Join us for a fruitful discussion by student leaders about the immigrant experience, starting over, and the importance of community and belonging.
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
- Pronoun Primer Tabling - 9-10:30 a.m., Fox Dinning Hall
- Want to brush up on your pronoun education? Join the LGBTQ+ Resource Center during tabling to learn more about pronouns and the importance of usage
- Love Thy Self Valentine’s Event (Co-sponsored with A.C.E and the Office of Student Life and Wellbeing) - 11 a.m.-2 p.m., University Crossing (UCC) Atrium
- Participate in different love language-themed tables and remind yourself to take care of your emotional well-being.
- First Gen Focus: A Moderated Conversation (Co-sponsored with R.H.S.A) - 3 p.m., ETIC Atrium
- Join us for a fruitful conversation with faculty and student leaders about creating equity for First-Generation college students.
- Everything You Know About Sex is Wrong: Part 1—The Gender Binary - 7 p.m., Lydon Library Multipurpose Room 110
- Why does sex exist? What are males for? Is the gender binary real? And why does a microbe have the swingingest sex life of all? The answers to these and other crucial questions are answered in this presentation.
- In debunking the gender binary, Abby Hafer, Ph.D. starts by talking about how sex evolved in the first place, and then talks about sex and gender in the zoological realm, and the vast array of relationship and reproductive arrangements to be found in nature. She then ends by talking about how morality regarding women’s reproductive rights, the rights of LGBTQ people, and indeed morality, in general, should not be based on the say-so of supernatural beings and their supposed interpreters.
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
LGBTQ+ Book Display begins at O’Leary Library.
- Let's Talk About It! The Disability Dish: The UMass Lowell (UML) Perspective Live Podcast Recording - 12:30-2 p.m., Coburn 245
- Join Disability Services and guests from prior episodes for a live podcast recording and discussion. Learn about the office and some of the common themes about disability that have arisen among episodes.
- Social Justice Bingo - 3-5 p.m., UCC 255
- Learn about concepts and terminology interactively. You never know, you may come out with some cool prizes!
- Free on Three: Social Justice - 5-7 p.m., 3rd floor, UCC 370
- Activities around Social Justice, games, and therapy dogs.
Thursday, February 16, 2023
- Civic Engagement Tabling - 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Cumnock Hall
- Stop by to see the initiatives that MassPirg UML and Student Activities are working on around civic engagement for the campus.
- RISING 360° Mental Health & Radical Self Care (It’s for Black People too!) - 12 p.m., Social Justice Center UCC 370.
- A dive into Mental Health and RADICAL Self-Care. Spend your lunch hour learning the history of Radical Self Care in the context of Mental Health, especially in the Black community.
SAVE THE DATE
- Now We See You: The Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration of Yosef Salam – 4 p.m., UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center (ICC)
- In 1989, Yusef Salaam, Khory Wise, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana and Kevin Richardson were arrested, tried and wrongfully convicted for the brutal attack on and rape of Trisha Meili, the Central Park Jogger. Yusef was incarcerated for 7 years, and upon release was able to find gainful employment. For years, these men were social pariahs, as they were all listed on the registry of sexual offenders. In 2002, another person came forward, Matias Reyes, and admitted to the horrific crime. His DNA matched the DNA found on the victim in the case, and all 5 men were exonerated with little fanfare. Ken Burns and his daughter Sarah Burns made the documentary “The Central Park Five” in 2012 (available on PBS and Amazon Prime). Subsequently, these men settled their lawsuit against the city of New York for 40 million dollars, or 8 million dollars each. Yusef has been featured not only in this documentary, but also in the award-winning documentary from Ava Duvernay, “When They See Us”, which is available on Netflix. Yusef and the other 4 men were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, and he has also appeared on CNN, MSNBC, NPR Atlanta, and Revolt TV. Yusef is a New York Times bestselling author of “Punching the Air” a story that he co-wrote with Ibi Zoboi. He received a lifetime achievement award from former President Barack Obama, and he remains an advocate for criminal justice reform. More specifically, he is focused on ending mass incarceration, stopping police brutality, abolishing juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment. Yusef’s represented by an Agent through CAA. He is now running for City Council in New York City.
Friday, February 17, 2023
- Self Care, while Doing the Work - 10:30-11:30 a.m., Social Justice Center UCC 380
- A workshop unpacking advocacy fatigue and how to combat burnout through self-care.
- Lunch & Learn: Undocumented Student Support - 12-1:30 p.m., Social Justice Center UCC 380
- A Lunch and Learn discussing how to support and empower undocumented students.