萝莉社

Tag: Social Sciences

North Park Serves as Case Study for Diversity

萝莉社 is cited for efforts to diversify its student body and faculty in a recent book that examines the populations of 150 Christian colleges and universities across the country.

萝莉社 has been cited for its efforts to diversify its student body and faculty in a recent book that examined the populations of 150 Christian colleges and universities across the country.

The book, Diversity Matters: Race, Ethnicity and the Future of Christian Higher Education, cited North Park鈥檚 specific mission to 鈥渦se Chicago as a classroom, a strategic effort to connect with the faith communities鈥� in the city.

Diversity Matters, edited by Karen A. Longman, features North Park as a case study. The book notes that North Park promotes its city-centered, intercultural academics by requiring faculty candidates to demonstrate how they would use Chicago as a classroom.

The book finds that the percentage of nonwhite students attending schools that are part of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities had increased by about 10 percentage points between 2004 and 2014. However, most of that growth was at urban-centered universities such as North Park. Such schools tend to be more inclusive.

鈥淚t should be noted that despite the media鈥檚 painting of evangelicals with a broad brush, the tent of Christian views is quite broad,鈥� Longman said in an interview with Inside Higher Ed.

For instance, Longman noted, 68 percent of evangelical Christians support a legal path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Earlier this year, North Park鈥檚 then-president, David Parkyn, joined 600 public and private colleges and university presidents in signing a letter supporting its DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] students.

Longman noted that many Christian universities, North Park included, are naturally inclined to see social justice issues as a Biblical imperative.

鈥淏ecause of their mission and theological heritage, [Christian colleges] emphasize the practice of social justice and are intrinsically motivated to work for racial harmony and interethnic healing,鈥� Longman said.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags

萝莉社 Students Form Social Justice Living Learning Community

North Park student, Deanna Crosby, shares the inspiration behind the new Social Justice Living-Learning Community established with her housemates.

Story by聽Deanna Crosby, a politics & government major, senior senator, student assistant聽to the vice president for Student Engagement, and founder of the Social Justice Living Learning Community.聽

It has been said that once you know some things, you can鈥檛 unknow them. And with that statement comes the story of how North Park鈥檚 Social Justice Living-Learning Community (SJLLC) came about. In February of 2017, I went on the Sankofa experience with University Ministries, and those of us on the trip were shaken to our core. Some of us knew that racism and white privilege existed but felt that it didn鈥檛 have an effect on us, some believed that racism and segregation ended long ago, and some didn鈥檛 know what to think. I spent a good amount of time during Sankofa reflecting on my experiences as a straight, white female with white privilege. The question that continuously went through my mind was, 鈥渨hat can I do with what I have?鈥� I approached Jackie Strapp, Director of Diversity and Dr. Barrington Price, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement with the idea of creating an intentional space where people can 鈥渢alk across the aisle鈥� and effectively communicate in a cross-cultural environment.

The SJLLC sits at 5017 N. Spaulding Ave, one of North Park鈥檚 houses. Seven students live in this residence representing various ethnic and racial backgrounds, including West African, African American, Hispanic, and White. Each student brings their story and experiences with them and engages in monthly dialogues relating to topics including but not limited to LGBTQ awareness & affirmation, mass incarceration, white privilege, and conflict transformation. Once a month, we gather around the table to have our 鈥淜itchen Convo鈥� with one special guest and discuss that month鈥檚 topic. Speakers include Kim Edstrom Schiller, Health and Wellness Education and Title IX coordinator; Hannah Barbosa, academic advisor and Academic Services coordinator for the School of Professional Studies; Dr. Helen Hudges, associate professor of music; Dr. Barrignton Price, assistant vice president for Student Engagement; Dr. Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom, professor of theology and ethics and Dr. Michael Emerson, provost of 萝莉社.

The purpose of having these conversations is to break down barriers and stigmas around these topics. So often we are faced with challenging situations but lack the skills to effectively communicate across the board. By breaking bread with these speakers and the individuals in the house, and using storytelling as a means of connecting, we will be able to engage in cross-cultural dialogue and actually listen to understand; not listen to respond. The SJLLC is not politically driven. It is not a place to demonize, harass, nor point fingers. It鈥檚 a place where individuals can gather with differing opinions, share a meal, and be with one another while simultaneously tearing down walls and shattering the stigmas around these topics.

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags ,