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Association of University Women, sponsored by Pantene to implement the My Language My Choice: Gender Edition Campaign at PLU and Keithley Middle School as well as bringing poet-activists collective DARKMATTER to PLU. “I was only able to implement and manage this program with a diverse team, mentors and supervisors. Shout out to Angie Hambrick, Lace Smith and Jen Smith—without each of you this wouldn’t be possible. These experiences have shaped me to be a stronger, more loving, vulnerable and passionate

lived in Sudan, Kenya and Uganda combined.” David still speaks the language of his Dinka tribe, but has forgotten many words and “elements of conversation,” he says. He worries that America’s influence on him, and his struggles with his native language, will lead family members to question his identity. My family members are going to be disappointed in me if they feel as though I’ve forgotten my values and what it means to be a Dinka and to be from our part of the world. That’s when I will be hurt

with you, as I think the message is very relevant to the challenges we face as a community and as a country. Some of you may have seen billboards on the highways or posters on campus bulletin boards in the past year that reference the “My Language, My Choice” campaign, which started in PLU’s Diversity Center as a way to call attention to words and expressions that are hurtful to other people.  It started with a poster campaign featuring pictures of students—many of them student-athletes—holding

for granted or aren’t aware of it. But it is an incredible gift for which we should be grateful and which we should seek to use on behalf of a world in desperate need of it. Remember that the Lutheran Reformation began in a university. Martin Luther was a teacher committed to making sure people could read and write and study the Scriptures in their own language so that they could learn for themselves about the same steadfast and loving God that Solomon prayed to.  That commitment to critical study

from Happy Valley, Ore. He plans to study away in Oaxaca, Mexico, this fall. Josh was a typical candidate for the honors program. He’s a strong student with a desire to study away. He’s pursuing advanced language study. He’s very interested in social justice issues. When he saw the opportunity to view some of the issues he cares about from many different perspectives, he couldn’t pass that up. In some ways, he got more than he bargained for. But he’s enjoying every minute of it. “I’m humbled. The

where you are? I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, until we immigrated to Portland when I was 13 years-old, seeking better educational and career opportunities. (At that time) I was consumed with learning the new language as well as adjusting to this new culture while my parents relentlessly worked 14 hour days to pay for our rent and to put food on the table. Given my family’s finances, even a community college – let alone a 4-year university – was never an option for me. My post-high

-white institution and Eurocentric curriculum had damaged her own cultural understanding due to lack of representation within textbooks or classroom leadership.“In middle school, I disassociated with being Asian. In high school, I had to work harder to be confident in my cultural identity,” Chan says. “I reflected on what I’d been through, the microaggressions that piled up.” Students asked if she ate dogs; a teacher asked her to contribute thoughts on China. The language arts curriculum presented

middle school, I disassociated with being Asian. In high school, I had to work harder to be confident in my cultural identity,” Chan says. “I reflected on what I’d been through, the microaggressions that piled up.” Students asked if she ate dogs; a teacher asked her to contribute thoughts on China. The language arts curriculum presented just two books for her Asian identity, more specifically her Chinese culture — through “Joy Luck Club” and “Born Chinese” — but in-depth classroom discussions on