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she would be an advocate for social justice – even if, as she said, “I didn’t know the language [of social justice] yet.” PLU helped her figure that out. As a diversity advocate, Pierce played a primary role in coordinating the Students of Color Retreat, which is in its seventh year at PLU. It is a chance for students to come together and talk about their experiences with identity development. As a student who struggled with some of the same issues, Pierce wanted to make sure there was a safe

table to table, stopping periodically to answer a question, assist with tying on a bracelet, or simply chat about the music being played as the kids assemble their crafts. In fact, the majority of the kids sing along loudly as they work on their jewelry. “This song is ‘House of Memories’ by Panic at the Disco,” says Kaila Harris ’24, AMP student director and elementary education major. “We were surprised the kids knew it — it’s an older song.” This is what an average morning at the AMP Camp looks

that changed when she came to PLU. Putnam was introduced to the Rieke Scholarship program, which is awarded to students who are committed to raising awareness about issues related to diversity, multiculturalism and social justice. It was then that Putnam realized her passion. “Being a Rieke Scholar absolutely opened my eyes to a world much larger than myself,” she said. For her, that meant becoming familiar with cultures and traditions that she never saw back home. As a diversity advocate, Putnam’s

here I was forced to become aware of it.”   Eckstein said that he felt thrust into the realm of studying social justice when he realized he could identify with the African-American community because of his appearance. Back home, in his very culturally diverse Caribbean nation, his appearance didn’t cause him to stand out. Here, that wasn’t always the case. It allowed him to look at issues in ways he might have never considered before. For instance, Eckstein has been wrestling with concept of

buses that crossed state lines “We didn’t always understand what we were involved in or it being such a significant movement of history,” Zellner said. “Wherever the worst problem was, was where we’d go.” Advocates of social justice are still needed today, he said. At places like PLU and through places like the Diversity Center, that work can flourish to go out into the world. “I just got out of the home room of the Diversity Center and it sure feels like home,” Zellner told the students at the

Communication & Theatre Chair Amy Young Discusses New PLU Podcast Series Posted by: Zach Powers / August 24, 2015 Image: Amy Young, Kevin O’Brien and Justin Eckstein discuss “advocacy” in KPLU’s Tacoma studio. [Photo by Zach Powers/PLU] August 24, 2015 By Zach Powers '10PLU Marketing & CommunicationsTACOMA, WASH. (August 24, 2015)- This week, PLU introduced “Open to Interpretation,” a new podcast devoted to exploring the meanings and implications of words commonly used in the news, on social

struck out to New York City to work as a freelancer, where he worked Broadway shows, recording studios and brushed shoulders with famous musicians such as violinist Itzhak Perlman. “But I found I didn’t like it very much,” Ronning said of his life in the Big Apple – “you were just a cog in a big machine.” Ronning turned back to university life, where he landed on the faculty at the University of Virginia, which carried with it the job of Concertmaster (lead violinist) of the Charlottesville Symphony

. “One guy was from the New York Philharmonic and had played chamber music with Albert Einstein at Princeton,” Ronning remembered. “We were intimidated and inspired at the same time to have the concertmaster of the National Symphony give us a lesson in the Lake Yellowstone Hotel lobby,” he laughed. Graduating from PLU in 1989, Ronning won a fellowship to Yale and earned his masters and a doctorate at the university. Ronning loved the university setting, but struck out to New York City to work as a