91吃瓜网

By Valerie Mikell

鈥淭he Trayvon Martin tragedy is a wake-up call for me, but it鈥檚 also a wake-up call for听society,鈥� Jamal Wyse says. The Adelphi junior and was a panelist听at the event, Who Are We as a Nation? The Trayvon Martin Tragedy: A Town Hall听Panel Discussion for Students, Faculty, Staff and Administrators.

Mr. Wyse addressed the standing-room-only crowd with honesty and candor. The town听hall, which evoked critical discussion and a sharing of knowledge and personal stories,听brought the Adelphi community together in the spirit of understanding. The event was听one of many organized recently in response to the wake-up calls to which Mr. Wyse听referred. In the age of an uncertain economy, the ever-present pain of prejudice in many听forms and the struggles for peace around the world, Adelphi students and the University听community are addressing the causes they care most about.

Members of the Adelphi community share their stories and show their support for victims of sexual violence during Take Back the Night: Speaker, Speak Out and March.

On Adelphi鈥檚 campus, the notion that the Net or Millennium generation is apathetic听rings untrue. One-hundred-and-fifty participants attended the Take Back the Night:听Speaker, Speak Out and March event to bring awareness and provide support to听victims of sexual violence. The social media phenomenon known as KONY 2012,听a viral campaign to put an end to warlord politics in Uganda, took root on Adelphi鈥檚听campus with a screening and open discussion. During the height of Occupy Wall听Street, students and faculty gathered for Occupy Adelphi to discuss the direction of the听economy and how it would directly affect their futures. The National Coming Out Day听Vigil, the Know Your Rights Workshop, the Dream Act Workshop and so many more听events prove that students know what鈥檚 going on in the world around them, or at the very least, they want to know.

Students today also understand that activism will provide听opportunities to further their communication, organization and leadership skills.听鈥淚鈥檝e learned as much as an activist as I have in the classroom,鈥� says Christopher听Ladka, a senior and . An active participant in numerous campus听events focused on issues of diversity and social change, Mr. Ladka says he has 鈥渇ound听that once you find a cause you鈥檙e passionate about and connect with other people,听you鈥檒l find yourself part of the solution and not a subject of it.鈥� Today, activism may begin听with an eye-opening Facebook post or a tweet.

鈥淎ctivism looks different now than in my parents鈥� generation,鈥� says Anna Zinko,听assistant director of the Center for Student Involvement (CSI). 鈥淪ocial networking and听other forms of technology can really help to further the cause鈥攜ou can really connect听with people across the world.鈥� But, Ms. Zinko admits that taking action is necessary听to bring about real change. 鈥淭he technology may make it easier to focus on issues on听the other side of the globe rather than tackle those right outside your front door,鈥� she听says. 鈥淯sing social media to bring attention to a cause you鈥檙e passionate about is great,听but you have to realize that activism doesn鈥檛 end there.鈥�

CSI is leading the charge in the creation of a think tank-like environment where听students can brainstorm solutions to social justice issues. In Fall 2012, CSI will launch听the Social Justice Training program, a semester-long leadership opportunity. 鈥淥ne-time programs around issues of diversity and social justice are important, but it鈥檚 also听important to create a safe place for people to examine issues in an engaged, sustained听environment,鈥� Ms. Zinko says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful addition to the educational experience听and helps students to think critically and engage in the world around them.鈥�