Monthly Memo, June 3, 2020
Dean's Message
Dear A&S Community, The local and national uprisings of the past week remind us in a stark and painful way that racial violence and injustice remain deep fissures in our society. As President Bendapudi said in her recent social media post, “the declaration that Black Lives Matter is a rallying cry, a plea and an exhortation to acknowledge that black lives matter, too.” It is an undeniable reality that black and brown people live daily with a disproportionate risk of violence and death. This has been a reality in our nation for over 400 years--and it is not acceptable. We can do better. We must do better. We in the College of Arts & Sciences are committed to caring for one another, and now is the time to be our best selves. The recent killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery have re-opened deep wounds and many are hurting, angry, and frustrated. I hope you will join me in the struggle to dismantle white supremacy and to create a world where racial justice prevails and where black lives matter. For concrete ways you can become engaged, see the recent statement from UofL's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Directors on our website.
Sincerely, David S. Owen, Ph.D. Interim Dean, and Professor of Philosophy
Announcements
Pivot to Fall Forum
Friday, June 5, 2-3:30 PM The Provost will be holding a Pivot to Fall forum this Friday at https://uofl.edu/pivot2fall Please note: the link will not be available until Friday.
Upcoming Training Sessions
Thursday, June 4, 11 a.m. –12:30 p.m. Creating A More Inclusive Environment through Microresistance
Facilitated by Dr. Cynthia Ganote, Assistant Dean for Diversity and Community Engagement, College of Arts & Sciences
Whether an observer of, the target of, or the unintentional perpetrator of microaggressions, we often don’t know how to respond to them in the moment. This session will offer participants an understanding of microaggressions and their impacts on students and colleagues, along with microresistance strategies to use when they occur. The goal of the workshop is for participants to feel more comfortable responding to microaggressions with microresistance. Employing microresistance to counter microaggressions can not only contribute to individual well-being, but also serve as one part of a systemic approach to transforming oppression on our campuses.
Register here.
Thursday, June 4 from 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m.Black Faculty and Staff Association Town Hall: Right In Our Town
Thursday, June 4, 2020 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Zoom — Email bfsa@louisville.edu for event link. (This session is exclusively for black faculty and staff only)
Friday, June 5 at 2 p.m.Learning Café: What the Protests Can Teach You About Being An Ally to People of Color
Angela Davis said, “In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist; we must be antiracist.“ But for many white people, it can seem hard to become an active ally and bravely confront the racism we see. In this café, we talk with Cate Fosl, director of the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research, and learn steps everyone can take to start the journey. And like all learning cafes, we’ll include time to share experiences, questions, and stories to illuminate this important issue.
Co-sponsored by the university’s employee resource groups. Register here.
Monday, June 8 at 2 p.m. Learning Café: Talking to Kids About Racism, Police Violence, and the Protests
Especially during the pandemic when families are home together all day, children see the news and ask important questions about protests and racism. How do you respond in age-appropriate ways and encourage open dialogue about difficult issues? In this café, teachers from the JCPS CARDS program will share tips for talking to your kids about racism and offer tools to help them navigate their feelings with your support. You’ll leave feeling more prepared to have a productive conversation.
Co-sponsored by the university’s employee resource groups (ERGs). Register here.
Great Place to Learn
Women's Club of the University of Louisville - Minority Single-Parent Scholarship
This scholarship fund is in the amount of $22,000 This fund will be used to establish two (2) undergraduate scholarships in the amount of $11,000 for in-state tuition, fees, and books. In recognition of the need to support those in financial need within underrepresented communities. It is the donor's preference to support single parents within minority populations with preference given to African-American single mothers.
The deadline to apply is June 5, 2020. Submissions can be emailed to Phyllis Webb or mailed to the Women's Center 2010 N. Avery Court Walk - Strickler Hall Louisville, KY 40292.
Scholarship Criteria (PDF)
Scholarship Application (WORD)
Cardinal Compositions undergraduate journal published
The English Department's Composition Program is pleased to announce the publication of Cardinal Compositions, an undergraduate journal that features outstanding work from composition courses and that is now available on ThinkIR. The pieces in this issue range from pop culture criticism to genre analysis of workplace writing, and they include three video essays as well as student artwork. The editors have included the assignment sheets that inspired these essays and teaching suggestions for each piece.
Writing Center providing virtual feedback and video chat appointments
Summer is great time to start (or re-start) writing projects such as journal articles, job application materials, personal statements, theses, and dissertations. Now through August 11th, the University Writing Center has virtual written feedback and live video chat appointments available Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm to assist students, faculty, and staff with any type of writing. Visit our website to learn more and to schedule an appointment.
Great Place to Work
2020 Green Threads Faculty Workshop
August 14, 2020; applications due July 15 Prepare for a greener fall at the 2020 Green Threads Faculty workshop! The date is set, and application deadline extended for full- or part-time faculty and GTA Academy members from all disciplines who are interested in weaving themes of ecological, social & economic stewardship into your courses. Explore ways to embed sustainability in your curriculum and receive a $500 honorarium, course development resources, information on local sustainability issues, and a network of colleagues from across UofL. Apply by July 15th with Chair’s approval.
Andrew Rabin featured on McConnell Center podcast
Prof. Andrew Rabin (English) was the special guest on the May 19 episode of the McConnell Center Podcast. Rabin discusses Plagues, Pandemics, and Perspectives with McConnell Center director Dr. Gary L. Gregg II. Listen here.
In the News
Opinion: Beshear must cancel rent payments, or Kentucky will face mass evictions (Courier-Journal, 5/1/20) Profs. Lauren Heberle (Sociology) and PKelly Kinahan (Urban and Public Affairs among co-authors). A pandemic of boredom (Oxford University Press blog, 5/2/20) Authored by Prof. Andreas Elpidorou (Philosophy). KAMPERS: Bioproduction of Organic, Conductive and Biodegradable 3D Print Materials (3Dprint.com, 5/4/20) Prof. Mark Running (Biology) among researchers involved in Bioproduction of Molecules for Structural 3D Printing Filaments project. Leaders discuss COVID-19 impacts on black communities, disparities in access to vital resources (WAVE3, 5/6/20) Prof. Emeritus Robert Douglas (Pan African Studies) quoted. Why Women Find "Bad Boys" So Attractive, Even Though We Know They're Trouble (Good Housekeeping, 5/11/20) Prof. Michael Cunningham (Communication) quoted. Southern Police Institute has first female CVE officer to graduate (Kentucky Today, 5/11/20) Lt. Emily R. Horton was among 48 graduates of the Southern Police Institute's Administrative Officers Course. Jupiter Looks, Um, Different (The Atlantic, 5/14/20) Prof. Tim Dowling (Physics and Astronomy) quoted. Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbury deaths highlight public health crisis (Courier-Journal, 5/14/20) Op-ed by student Quintez Brown (Political Science) Ghost in the Machine: An Interview with Matthew Bieberman (This Motorcycle Life, 5/15/20) Prof. Matthew Biberman (English) interviewed about his memoir Big Sid's Vincati and its forthcoming publication in Spanish and Italian translations. Kentucky’s Reopening Brings Health Fears, Hope For Economy (WFPL, 5/20/20) - Prof. Adam Enders (Political Science) quoted. Former Florida pastor runs with flat-screen TV to prove point and raise awareness about racial injustice (WDRB, 5/20/20) - Prof. Ricky Jones (Pan African Studies) quoted. UofL interior design students gain experience through homeless veterans project (UofL News, 5/21/20) - Prof. Valerie Fuchs's (Fine Arts) interior design students design housing for homeless veterans. Growing Mainstream: How Gardeners are Becoming the New Influencers (Modern Farmer, 5/25/20) - Prof. Karen Freberg (Communications) quoted. Experts Suggest Reducing Campus Dining and Housing in the Fall. Here’s How That Could Impact Low-Income Students (Diverse Education, 5/26/20) Prof. Carson Byrd (Sociology) quoted.
