FYI- Senator Officer Hours are held in the office when not in the Breezeway
If you would like to meet with Senator or just learn about SGA in general then, come up to Commons 2B-20!
The International Pronoun Day campaign encourages everyone of any gender to share their pronouns on social media as a way to celebrate and support the day.
Pronouns are terms we use to describe ourselves in the third person in place of our name. These can include:
• he/him/his
• she/her/hers
• they/them/theirs
• gender-neutral pronouns, such as ze/hir/hirs
Everyone has the right to be addressed by the name and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity. For many - though not all - people who are trans, a shift in pronouns is an affirming part of the transition process and can have positive health outcomes. It can help a trans person and the people in their lives start to see them as their affirmed gender. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns, otherwise known as misgendering, particularly affects trans & gender nonconforming people and can be devastating. Using the right pronouns is a critical step in acknowledging the humanity of trans and gender nonconforming individuals.
Sadly, anti-trans violence is on the rise and disproportionately affects trans women and femmes of color. It is our shared responsibility to make sure that the most vulnerable members of our communities are respected, supported and feel safe. Sharing your pronouns, regardless of your gender, normalizes the practice so it’s not just on transgender and non-binary people to do it. In solidarity, you can also add your pronouns to your email signature and social media profiles year-round. Sharing pronouns might seem like such a small thing to do if your pronouns align with the gender identity you were assigned at birth, but it can be life-changing to someone who constantly has to deal with being misgendered.
Respecting people’s pronouns is an important part of making UMBC a safer, more inclusive and supportive community. International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. It’s really just about recognizing the dignity of another human being.
For more information or to pick up your own pronoun buttons come visit us at The Mosaic or join us later today for Bagels and Banter Pop-Up #1.
For more information on Mosaic LGBTQA+ centered events, please email Heidy George, Program Associate for Student Diversity and Inclusion at hmg@umbc.edu, or mosaic@umbc.edu.
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Washington DC along with several other cities and states across the nation recognized Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day. This holiday has been celebrated for over 30 years, South Dakota was the first state to do so in 1987.
But why not Columbus Day?
For centuries, Christopher Columbus has been celebrated in the United States as the person who discovered the New World in 1492. However, this is both wrong and erases the dark history that still impacts the Indigenous community today. The truth is that Columbus was not the first European explorer to discover the Americas. Additionally, he was responsible for the brutal treatment and slaughtering of countless native people, including children. 400 years later, in 1892, Columbus Day was first recognized in school systems across the nation, despite the fact that Columbus never set foot on U.S. soil in his four voyages to the New World.
So, how did Columbus become an American Icon?
During the war of Independence, American revolutionaries looked for a figure to symbolize the rebellious nature of the war, ignoring the brutality against Indigenous people. Italian immigrants in the coming decades would further celebrate him as a hero who shared both their Italian and Catholic identities in a time where these identities were being marginalized. Since then, much of Indigenous history has been omitted from history books.
Why does it matter?
Indigenous People have continued to be erased from American history, and are continually ripped away from their lands and their families for the benefit of colonization and westward expansion. They have been used as mascots for Major League Sport teams, carelessly reduced to caricatures of their culture.
“So if Columbus was a bad person, how can Italians celebrate their heritage?”
There is nothing inherently bad about celebrating any culture. However, we should all reflect on and reevaluate who we cherish as our idols. Christopher Columbus is only one part of the vibrant contributions of Italian Americans. There are many other ways to celebrate heritage while being thoughtful about the impact on other communities.
What should I do as a non-Native person?
Although we should not speak for Native people and their experiences, we should be aware of ways we can help elevate their voices and include them in our conversations. Do we include them in discussions for people of color, or do we default to the other large panethnic groups (i.e. Black/Africana, Latinx/a/o, Asian and Pacific Islanders)? Are we considering inclusive procedures to respect their spiritual and cultural practices, such as smudging? These are just a few examples on how we can move the needle to a more inclusive society.
Upcoming Indigenous Centered Events
November 5th - Mundo Lingo: More Than A Word Film Screening
December 5th - How to Be A Better Ally?: Local Indigenous Communities
Hello Treasurers!
Budget requests for Finance Board funding for all events during the spring semester are due this Friday, OCTOBER 18th! The Treasurer Support Team, along with the Treasurer, are hosting Budget Workshops Wednesday 12-1. Thursday 11:30-12:30, and Friday 12-1 all hosted in the SGA office, Commons 2B20. You must attend a workshop if you have not already attended Treasurer Training this semester.
If you cannot make these workshops and would like help completing any budget request, please contact your liaison or visit a representative’s office hours for help. If your event falls within the scope of having to meet with ECS, an Event Planning Form is required in the budget submission process as backup documentation for the Commons fees requested. We are trying to put in every effort to support you all during this process, please let us know of any questions or concerns!!
Best,
Lasya Tallapragada,Treasurer Support Team
Princess Sara Njemanze, Treasurer Support Team
Scott Buchan, SGA Treasurer
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