race pedagogy culture academy community history education race CONFERENCE > RACE & PEDAGOGY CONFERENCE by Sierra Smith RACE & PEDAGOGY CONFERENCE University of Puget Sound hosts landmark event to help educators understand connection between race inquality and poor educational outcomes F or University of Puget Sound’s Dexter of the conference after many discussions Gordon, students who are educated with faculty and staff since in his arrival in high school and college on race in 2001. “It is true that public education, espe- and racial issues will be better equipped to deal with the world outside of campus. cially higher education, has been the “To help students know about what ques- gateway to progress for poor and work- tions to ask in the real world is important ing-class folks and the primary means by because without highlighting race and which people advance socially and eco- pedagogy, for example, students of color nomically,” Gordon says. “And that was feel that there are questions that cannot the motivation for the conference.” be asked about race and history,” Gordon Gordon says that connecting academia says. “What does slavery have to do with with the rest of the community is critical. the making of the U.S., the economy, the “The community element is very impor- moral conscious of the nation, the present tant,” Gordon says. “The initiative began statistics about dropout rates in high schools out of African American Studies, which in the state and in the Tacoma region?” has a discipline that focuses on academic 46 work with a community component. the University of Puget Sound (UPS) has There is the commitment that what we do taken the initiative to host the first Race inside the academy should have a direct and Pedagogy National Conference in September. The mission of the event is to impact on marginalized communities, Dexter Gordon mount a sophisticated and credible discus- communities of color, working-class and low-income communities. Academics are sion of what has always been a sensitive and diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. More than difficult topic in the United States: the issues of 50 sessions will be held on issues related to stu- race and education. dent achievement. The groundbreaking national conference will Gordon, the director of the African American discuss best practices for teaching students from Studies Program at the Tacoma school, conceived not distinct and separate from real life.” While many influential scholars will attend and speak at the conference, the weekend-long event will begin with Cornel West, a noted professor at Princeton and author of acclaimed works such Coutesy of UPS CO LO RSN W SE P TE M BER 06 To begin to answer these questions, as “Race Matters” and “Democracy high-school students as the right to Now.” West will present the 2006 vote was to political access and citi- Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture in zenship for sharecroppers and day Public Affairs and the Arts, which is laborers in Mississippi in the 1960s. Black scholars and writers have of UPS. After earning degrees from been grappling with these types both Princeton and Harvard univer- of issues for long periods of time. sities, West has spend more than Before, white institutions wouldn’t 20 years researching and teaching even acknowledge that the black issues of race, philosophy, and community was worthy of study, religion. West is a former professor adding to the tension of the subject. of African-American studies and Though positive changes have been philosophy of religion at Harvard made in terms of race and educa- University. tion and no official legal stipulations In addition to West, three plenary are blocking people of color from speakers will be featured through- any institution, Gordon says there out the conference: Lucius Turner are still hidden barriers. Outlaw, Beverly Daniel Tatum and “Cost and recruitment practices Robert (Bob) P. Moses. Outlaw is are some of the hidden barriers a professor of philosophy and of to college entry among people of African American and diaspora stud- color. So that’s why if you are ies and associate provost for under- going to study race in higher edu- graduate education at Vanderbilt cation, you must consider race in University. He also teaches, grades K-12,” he says. “If you ask, researches and writes about African ‘why are there so few black men philosophy, African-American phi- in college?’ you must ask ‘why are losophy, Marx, critical social theory, there so few graduating from high social and political philosophy, and Transgender (GLBT) Today’s Empowering the history of philosophy in the West. Scholar, teacher, author, administrator and race-relations expert Girls to be Tomorrow’s World Leaders Tatum is the ninth president of Spelman College. Tatum is also a clinical psychologist whose areas of research interest include black families in white communities, racial identity in teens, and the role of race in the classroom. Moses has his own unique approach to teaching. As a young adult, Moses was a pivotal organizer for the civil rights movement as a field secretary for the Student NonViolent Coordinating Committee. at a school in Tanzania, Moses used his fellowship with the MacArthur Information session & activities begin at 3 pm tours: Foundation to develop the concept Every Thursday at 10:45 am October – February for the Algebra Project. This project (RSVP required) mation age as important to educational access and citizenship for U.S. urban and rural poor middle- and seattle girls’ school 2706 S. Jackson St. 206-709-2228 admissions@seattlegirlsschool.org www.seattlegirlsschool.org On September 9th and the 30th, from 8:30am -1:30pm Safeco, CADA and community volunteers will be performing exterior improvements on two homes in the Squire Park neighborhood. Surrounding neighbors are invited to join in.Volunteers, yard tools and beauty bark will be available so that you can spruce up your yard. Please join us! For event details or to volunteer, please call Erica at (206) 328-6987. CO LO RSN W makes math literacy in today’s infor- Safeco Insurance and Central Area Development Association (CADA), a Neighborworks® America affiliate, are working to support and strengthen the Central Area. SE P TE M BER 06 Chairman of the math department open house: November 5, 2006 & January 6, 2007 3–5 pm Working Together AZ O J C K A S O N SARFEEAC CIH I N G O U T URING OUR COMMUNITY STREETNSC ENTER named after the president emerita 47 about that, most times it is worse.” school?’” ������������������������� ������������������������ ������������������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������� ������������� ������������� ����������������������������������������� ������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������� However, Gordon has had opposite The history of the issue is immense. Race relations can affect experiences at other universities. students’ learning as well as teach- “I had the experience of having a ing. “In some instances, this issue white student come to the door happens in obvious ways,” Gordon on the first day of class and turned says. “A student of color walks away because that could not be her into a classroom of 28 and she is class,” Gordon says. “She told her the only student of color and there friend who chased after her that is an immediate culture shock and she had never had a black professor cultural adjustment.” before.” On average, most students at UPS These experiences are not con- would prefer to see more diversity fined to the classroom. Gordon says in their classes. “The biggest chal- the greatest diversity on campus lenge with UPS is that the minority is often in athletics. “That is a enrollment continues to be rela- dynamic challenge that small liberal tively low,” says Gordon. “Between arts colleges have to confront,” 14-17 percent, a large portion, Gordon says. “On the one hand, are Asian American and Pacific the university does an excellent job Islander. African American students of highlighting the fact that it has are slightly more than 1 percent, student athletes and that student Native American students less than status comes first to their athletics, 1 percent and others are just about so their education is stretched.” the same. White students are con- Outside of athletics, diversity sistently around 86 percent. That still lacks in social clubs on cam- is the major challenge we face and pus. Recruitment efforts at the the faculty percentages are best university are embracing the issue ����������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� ����������� CO LO RSN W SE P TE M BER 06 ����������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������� 48 ��������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������ ����������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� Full-time Pullman MBA • Develop leadership skills • Manage innovation in global economy Engage in spirited discussions led by nationally prominent faculty. Participate in corporate consulting projects, service learning projects, and live case policy studies that bring business to life. Watch yourself develop ��������������������������������� ������������������������������������� �������������������������������� ����������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� �������������������� • Join a top corporation or create your own into a highly capable leader with the skills to manage innovative ideas. To learn more, visit the WSU College of Business booth at the Qwest Exhibition Center on Saturday, September 16th, before the WSU vs. Baylor football game. www.wsu.edu/mba 509-335-7617 Developing Leaders. Driving Innovation. �������� ������� ����������� ������� ������� ������ ����� ������� ������� �������� ���� �������� ������������ ��������� �������� ����������� ������������ ���������� ���������� ������� �� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������� CO LO RSN W ������������������������������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� SE P TE M BER 06 ������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 49 of racial diversity more and more and recruiting students in groups SE P TE M BER 06 CO LO RSN W The Puget Sound community as well as faculty, so that people do plays an important role in the con- not feel isolated on campus. “It’s ference. An array of organizations different experience for students and institutions are involved with when you are the only Latino or the conference to help ensure that Native American women,” Gordon it has local, regional and social says. “Then, you don’t have the implications. Also involved are local mass of friends that share your art museums that will have coincid- concerns so that you can influence ing exhibits. Works by John Hall the programs to reflect your culture and Jacob Lawrence will grace the on campus and ask questions about halls of Kittredge Gallery, public that. The question of faculty role events will be held at the Museum models is important as well, stu- of Glass, Tacoma Art Museum, and dents need to see minority faculty.” Washington State History Museum. Since December 2005, faculty, 50 quality educations. The organizers also have invited students, community members, 300 community leaders, scholars civic leaders, business leaders, state and educators from the community, employees and other affiliates have the region and across the country been addressing the state of educa- to present papers, which will help tion for communities of color and the community consider how to found that there was an urgent improve the racial-cultural experi- need for common interests across ence of all students in our diverse the greater Puget Sound region, to world. begin an open dialogue about the The Race and Pedagogy importance of race and education Conference is affiliated with to ensure that all children receive University of Puget Sound’s Civic SE P TE M BER 06 CO LO RSN W 51 Scholarship Initiative. CSI supports Race & Pedagogy Conferece programs that join together the Sept. 14-16 local region and the university’s 253/879-3483 faculty and students in projects of www.ups.edu/rpc.xml mutual concern, partnering with local organizations to solve prob- resentative showings in all levels of lems, develop policy, and educate education. the public on issues of regional and national significance. “It’s here now,” says Gordon of the first Race and Pedagogy In each area, people of color are National Conference. The Race and underrepresented in institutions of Pedagogy Conference is not an end higher learning. The conference is point, but the beginning of a new a way to bring together the various age. groups across the nation that are “Race remains a central issue that making efforts to have this conver- all of us need to explore and educa- sation and encourage collaboration tion remains the primary gateway to start programs of research in this for success or failure, Gordon says. area. “If the students of poor and work- Another important objective is ing-class families of color do not to maintain the momentum long gain access to the great benefits of after the conference. Gordon, higher education, we will replicate Bristow and others would like to the injustices of the past.” n see continuing conversations on this topic, curriculum changes, increased recruitment and retention efforts for people of color and more rep- Explore our current employment opportunities! Take a trip without the traffic. For an inexpensive and relaxing way to travel, take the train. Amtrak Cascades travels between Eugene, OR, and Vancouver, B.C. To make reservations, log on to www.AmtrakCascades.com, CO LO RSN W SE P TE M BER 06 call 1-800-USA-RAIL, or visit your nearest 52 staffed Amtrak station. Travel As You Wish. For more information: • Visit www.cascadia.ctc.edu • Call the Human Resources Job Line (425) 352-8881 • Email your request to register for our job vacancy notification to applicant@cascadia.ctc.edu • Visit our campus and explore all that Cascadia has to offer!