Whitman Today
 

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Social Justice: A New Concentration

A group of students in a casual setting, each working on their respective laptops.

Photo: Introduction to Social Justice students working on a group writing project.

Whitman students have always cared about making a difference. Now, they can formally integrate that passion into their studies with the new Social Justice Concentration launched in Fall 2024. This concentration can be added to any major, allowing students to draw together social justice issues across disciplines like Psychology, Politics, Film and Media Studies, and more.

The Social Justice Concentration is led by faculty members including Lisa Uddin, Associate Professor of Art History and Paul Garrett Fellow. 

“We’re providing a flexible but structured pathway,” says Uddin, who’s teaching the first course, Introduction to Social Justice (SJ 110). “Students will study systems of oppression, interrogate their own relationship to injustice, and learn models for liberation and change, all while connecting theory and history to hands-on practice.”

Introduction to Social Justice lays the groundwork for students by covering core topics like structural oppression, power and positionality, and social movements. 

“This course is all about developing our social, political and moral imaginations towards liberation and justice,” says Uddin. “We study conceptual tools, historical precedents and ourselves in the classroom with the goal of making knowledgeable and valuable contributions to social change.” 

Read more.

Noteworthy

Golf Teams Place Second at NWC Fall Classic

Both of Whitman’s golf teams placed second in the recent two-day Northwest Conference (NWC) Fall Classic tournament. On the men’s team, Ben Sweet ’26, Alexander Knox ’25 and Eshan Singh ’26 all finished in the top 10 on the individual leaderboard. On the women’s team, Ellena Jeong ’27 and Cindy Luo ’26 finished in the top 5 on the individual leaderboard. The Blues will close the fall portion of their schedule by hosting the Confluence Classic Oct. 20–21.

Submit a Noteworthy Announcement

Announcements

Art & Soul Gathering Today

The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life continues to host Art and Soul on Thursdays at 4 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center All Faiths Room. Each week features a different facilitated art project and corresponding conversation topic as a way to quiet the mind and build community. (Flyer attached.)

 

Meditative Reading Today

The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will host a meditative reading of “Old Turtle and the Broken Truth” on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. at Kimball Theatre in Hunter Conservatory. This 2003 children’s book written by Douglas Wood and beautifully illustrated by Jon J. Muth offers readers of all ages inspiration, hope and a healing vision for peace. (Flyer attached.)

 

Press in Times of Peril Event Tonight

The Center for Global Studies will host the second event in the Press in Times of Peril series with a screening of “Lyd” (2023) on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Kimball Theatre in Hunter Conservatory. The film is a feature-length, sci-fi documentary that explores multiple pasts, presents and futures of a 5,000-year-old city in Palestine/Israel. A discussion following the screening will be led by Tarik Elseewi, Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies, and Lauren Osborne, Associate Professor of Religion. (Flyer attached.)

Photo Finish

Four students pose with a person in a squirrel costume holding a sign that says “I’m All In”.

A giant squirrel was recently spotted on campus spreading the word about the upcoming All In for Whitman giving days—happening next week (Oct. 22–23).

Happening Today

 

Noon–12:50 p.m.

Movement That Matters: Step Aerobics

Sherwood Athletic Center

4 p.m.

Art & Soul

Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room

4–5 p.m.

Information Table: CCEC Career Coaching

Reid Campus Center, Lobby

5 p.m.

Meditative Reading: “Old Turtle and the Broken Truth”

Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre

6:30 p.m.

Lyd: A Sci-fi Documentary by Rami Younis and Sarah Ema Friedland

Hunter Conservatory, Kimball Theatre

7 p.m.

KWCW Talent Show

Reid Campus Center, Basement

Whitman Events Calendar

Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

Produced by the Office of Communications, Whitman Today is emailed to Whitman College staff, faculty and students each weekday during the academic year and twice a week during breaks. An archive of previous issues is available online.

All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other Whitman content to share, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon for the following day’s newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.

Mountain graphic

Find us on social media: @whitmancollege

instagram TikTok YouTube twitter facebook LinkedIn