A blog reflection written by Women’s Center Staff Member Meagé Clements

“You’re in a sorority? You don’t look like a sorority girl!”

Since becoming a member of Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority Inc., this has become something I’ve grown quite used
to hearing. Intrinsically, I politely answer with, “Yes, I am in a sorority” and disregard the latter microaggressive statement, while thinking to myself what does a sorority girl look like?

With such encounters occurring more frequently as I approach my one-year anniversary of being in a sorority, I’ve begun to think more about “what a sorority girl looks like.” Specifically, I’ve begun to think about what it means to be a woman of color in what seems to be a predominantly white subculture.

A lot of TV shows and movies portray only one side of Greek life and I suppose this is where a lot of these stereotypes are perpetuated; of course, it also doesn’t help that 99% of the images found on a Google image search of for “sorority girl”
are white blondes and brunettes “sorority-squatting” behind their letters. Oh, and don’t get me started on that viral “recruitment” video a sorority at the University of Alabama thought it was a good idea to share.

Students join Greek life for many different reasons but in my experience most people don’t bother to ask about our motivations for joining a Greek organization and instead just make assumptions. We often see people’s experiences in Greek life being boiled down to only negative media attention rather than also seeing their service projects or community involvement. Needless to say, this limited representation does not reflect the true of the diversity of sorority women, and it especially is not representative of the number of women of color who also happen to have gone Greek.

As a member of a multicultural sorority, I can’t help but notice that the increasing diversity in Greek life is not being reflected in the media. There are countless articles online about less-than-inclusive Greek organizations discriminating against people of color, but little coverage regarding the successes of organizations that embrace women of color and diversity.  And because there are so few representations of women of color in sororities in particular, this stereotyping can be even more detrimental.

Being a member of Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority Inc. means acceptance and knowing that although my sisters come from different backgrounds, they are accepting of me and all women. A large part of what drew me to this sorority were the vlaues of service and social justice, the diversity of the organization, and the fact that ALL women were accepted regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Although this may sound cliché, my sorority sisters motivate me to be a better me and I’m proud to be part of this community — that’s why I want everyone else to have a chance to see the side of Greek life that I see.  

While I’m not here to convince everyone to go Greek, I’d like people to acknowledge and embrace the diversity of Greek organizations and more of the positive aspects of Greek life.

I am a Black woman, an introvert, a self-proclaimed “awkward Black girl,” and a member of Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority Inc., and this is what a sorority girl looks like.

As we count down to the Critical Social Justice: Baltimore 365 keynote event “Baltimore in Action: Always Rising” on Tuesday, October 20th, we’ll be profiling all of our keynote speakers in our “What You Need to Know” series. 

Marisela B. Gomez, activist, public health professional, and author

Marisela B. Gomez is a community activist, author, public health professional, and physician scientist. She received a BS and MS from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, a PHD, MD, and MPH from the Johns Hopkins University. Of Afro-Latina ancestry, she has spent more than 20 years in Baltimore involved in social justice activism and community building/health research and practice.

Meet Marisela!

Some of her most notable work includes working on and leading the Save Middle East Action Committee which was created by residents living north of the Johns Hopkins Medical Center in an area called Middle East in response to learning the area would become the future site of a $1.8 billion redevelopment project known as the John Hopkins Biotech Park. Marisela was interestingly positioned in this battle as she was a resident of the area and a community member of the Johns Hopkins Medical Center. She would later go on to write a book about the organizing experience, the historical disinvestment of Middle East, and the ongoing consequences of race, economic, and institutional power inequities faced by marginalized communities.

“Supposed you learned about your community like they did, through The Sun [paper]?… You don’t stop big projects initiated by Johns Hopkins University. But you can slow it down, you can seek to change the dollar amount of those whose homes are to be used and you can still struggle for the right of re-entry. You can still fight to make sure the residents who are to be moved out can stay in the neighborhood.” †

Since 2004, she has been studying and practicing mindfulness and other forms of meditation around the world. Most recently, she’s been sharing her meditation practices with activists doing racial justice and social justice work through retreats and workshops with the Baltimore community.

An important read about the confrontation between the fragile and distressed Middle East neighborhood of Baltimore and the city’s most powerful institutions, including the closest neighborhood, Johns Hopkins Medical.

Much of the conversation about Baltimore — especially in the aftermath of the April uprisings — centers around West Baltimore while little attention from national and local media is given to the issues facing East Baltimore. The Critical Social Justice planning committee is excited to have Marisela join our keynote panel and give voice to the experiences of the East Baltimore community. Moreover, we are eager to learn ways in which we can add to our self-care toolkit and learn ways to combat burnout when engaging in important social and racial justice activist work.

For more on Marisela, check out:

• Her website – A Path: Race, Class Power, and Organizing in East Baltimore 
• This segment on the Marc Steiner Show where Marisela discusses her book entitled Race, Class, Power, and Organizing in East Baltimore: Rebuilding Abandoned Communities in America  
• Listen to this podcast interview on the Importance of Listening and Community Involvement in Rebuilding Cities featured on Indypendent Reader
• For more information on the rebuilding of the Middle East and SMEAC. 
• Visit the Baltimore and Beyond: Mindfulness Community to learn more about the mindfulness retreats Marisela facilitates for social justice activists.

Blue Waters seeks undergrads and mentors for internship program

This NSF-funded project is designed to help prepare the next generation of supercomputing researchers. The Blue Waters project offers paid internships to undergraduate students across the country. To be eligible, students must be enrolled as an undergraduate through spring 2017 at a U.S. accredited, degree-granting institution. To see available internship projects and to apply, visit shodor.org/petascale/participation/internships/. Applications must be submitted by Feb. 1, 2016, and notifications will be made by March 1, 2016.

Are you a faculty member who would like to mentor an undergraduate intern in a year-long project about the use of high-performance computing to address problems in the sciences, engineering, or mathematics? Follow the link above to post a description of the internship project you would like to supervise and by Feb. 15, 2016. You will be able to indicate whether the internship is intended for a particular student or is open to all applicants.

As we count down to the Critical Social Justice: Baltimore 365 keynote event “Baltimore in Action: Always Rising” on Tuesday, October 20th, we’ll be profiling all of our keynote speakers in our “What You Need to Know” series. 

Tawanda Jones

Tawanda Jones speaks at the 111th consecutive West Wednesday demonstration. (Baltimore BLOC)

Since her brother Tyrone West was murdered by Baltimore police on July 18th, 2013, Tawanda Jones has emerged as a leading voice in the movement to end police terror. Recently named Best Organizers in City Paper’s 2015 Best of Baltimore, the West family has led 113 consecutive West Wednesday demonstrations demanding justice for victims of police brutality.

I’m tired of meeting grieving families. But I do so that people can know it’s real. †

In their tireless efforts to seek answers and accountability following Tyrone’s death, Tawanda and the West family have be credited with increasing local awareness of police violence and thereby setting the stage for the Baltimore Uprising after the murder of Freddie Gray.

I’m here to be the voice of the people that can’t speak, and that’s the victims of police murder. It’s not a ‘Tyrone thing.’ It’s a worldwide thing. ‡

For more on Tawanda, check out:

• Revolution Newspaper’s interview with Tawanda where she talks about her ongoing fight for justice, what she’s learned about the system, and what keeps her from losing faith
• Videos of West Wednesday demonstrations and interviews (by Baltimore BLOC)  
• Follow the Justice for Tyrone West Facebook page for the latest updates and events

Image Source

Image Source: http://www.davidrumsey.com/maps2596.html

Special Collections Invites Applications for Undergraduate Research Award

The Friends of the Library & Gallery is inaugurating a $500 award for undergraduates to do research in the library’s Special Collections.  Projects that make substantial onsite use of the Special Collections in any area ranging from the photography collections to the biological sciences archives, and from the rare books to the science fiction holdings are eligible for consideration by the committee charged with judging the applications.  Applicants must submit a project statement, a writing sample, and a letter of recommendation for them and their project from a faculty mentor.  The applications and accompanying materials must be submitted to Chief Curator Tom Beck by November 12, 2015 for funding during the spring semester 2016. 

Lois Kuhn Romeo, Chair of the Friends Council, said that the group is delighted to offer support to student researchers in Special Collections.  “UMBC is nationally recognized as an innovator in undergraduate research, and the Friends wishes to recognize talented students by giving them support in doing their research,” Ms. Romeo remarked.  Acting Director of the Library & Gallery Joyce Tenney said: “The Special Collections have excellent holdings and superb staff that will be pleased to give the Friends award winners the benefit of their expertise.”  

Questions may be sent to Tom Beck by telephone (x53827) or email (beck@umbc.edu).

Baltimore Marathi Mandal presents: Rahul Deshpande

Saturday, October 17, 2015 from 5:30 PM 
1550 Scaggsville Rd, Fulton, MD 20759 

Rahul Deshpande: Grandson of Pt. Vasantrao Deshpande, and disciple of Pt. Kumar Gandharv. Rahul got his early training from Pt. Gangadharbuva Pimpalkhare. Rahul has performed all over India and internationally. Along with singing, Rahul recreated treasure of Marathi Plays like Manapman, Katyar Kaljat Ghusali, and sang in movie Balgandharv. Rahul has performed in prestigious Savai Gandhar festival and with Shankar Mahadevan on Zee TV.

Nikhil Phatak: Tabla. Received his training from Pt. Suresh Sawant., Pt. Yogesh Samsi. He has accompanied Pt. Birju Maharaj, Rohini Bhate, Kishori Amonkar, Malini Rajurkar, Ajay Pohankar, Shaunak Abhisheki, Jayatirth Mehundi, Raghunandan Panshikar and Rahul Deshpande. He has performed in many cities in India and internationally in US, Canada, Singapore, UK, Japan, Shrilanka, and various concerts like Savai Gandharv.

Chaitanya Kunte: Harmonium. He received his training from Dr. Arawind Thatte, Pt. Mohanrao Karve, and Ashok Ranade. He has accompanied Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Kishori Amonkar, Prabha Atre, Birju Maharaj, Pt. Rajan Sajan Mishra, Ustad Rashid Khan. He is a composer with more than 400 scores in classical Raga and dance background, title songs, documentaries, and TV serials

For more information and tickets email : info@baltimoremarathimandal.org

Call:

Sameer Ahirrao: 240 466 1726

Vivek Patil: 410 746 8659

Meet Maggie,

She is an Environmental Science major currently working in the Molecular Characterization and Analysis Complex (MCAC) laboratory. She is also a current Undergraduate Research Award (URA) Scholar.

Maggie’s research passion is chromatography (a collective term referring to the laboratory techniques involving the separation of mixtures). She has utilized chromatography to analyze samples from the National Aquarium in Baltimore.