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introduced to PLU’s Green Dot program, which tells bystanders how to safely intervene when they witness an abusive situation. First-year students also are counseled on safety tips in and around campus when attending social events, he said. Green Dot recently has joined forces with the ROTC’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program to talk with PLU’s cadets about standing up for victims, and about steps each individual can take to prevent sexual assault. Another new program also

’04 used to be PLU study buddies with seventh-grade Social Studies teacher Brent Anderson ’97; •    Brooke Gustafson ’05 and Tawana Bens ’05 not only graduated from PLU the same year; they now teach together in a combined English/Special Education classroom; and •    one current Lute—who is a Ferrucci graduate!—to this day credits Leifsen and teacher Ron Baltazar ’00 with, basically, changing the course of her life. Ferrucci’s extraordinary concentration of Lutes could be coincidental (or

rally will include speakers, music, refreshments and entertainment. PLU’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) is heavily involved with promoting the rally at PLU and working to get students involved. “This event is important because it shows that we, as a community, care about our peers and neighbors, and that we will not let them go unnoticed,” says Caitlin Dawes, Social Justice Director for the RHA. “By putting on such a public event, we hope to gain publicity, showing our community solidarity to the

-founder Marcie Lazzari, Ph.D., said the annual event is meant to facilitate difficult conversations and examine diversity. “It’s about providing opportunities for people to self reflect, gain new knowledge, dialogue with others and, hopefully, change in a positive way,” said Lazzari, a social work and criminal justice professor and graduate studies coordinator at University of Washington Tacoma. The South Puget Sound Higher Education Diversity Partnership formed when faculty at UWT realized that many

university to pursue a Master of Arts in Social Science. “It just seemed to be natural,” she said of her first degree. “I always thought politics were interesting.” During her master’s program, Blagg worked at PLU’s Office of Minority Affairs for three years. There she worked on a grant to direct more students of color and women into STEM in higher education  — an experience that set up the trajectory of her career, culminating in her work at Pierce.DJS at PLULearn more about the university's commitment

different connotations at different times over the years, both positive and some negative. Through the addition of a new minor, Innovation Studies, PLU students will now get to explore what the concept means conceptually, historically and as a process that builds businesses and unlocks human potential.“We study a range of fascinating topics but our main focus is on social innovation, which is all about making the world better,” said Michael Halvorson, the university’s Director of Innovation Studies. “We

world.”Early on, Mosa struggled at Foss High School in Tacoma and didn’t think college would be an option for him, so he set his sights on applying to be a seaman with the coast guard. Even with this plan, Mosa applied for college scholarships, at the encouragement of his high school counselors. Days before he enlisted into the Marines, Mosa learned he was the recipient of an Act Six Scholarship, a leadership program that connects local students with faith- and social justice-based colleges to equip

officer in Minnesota, topped newspapers and social media news feeds. Cunningham watched as friends from a wide range of backgrounds struggled to engage the challenging topic of systemic racism. To address the need for a deeper understanding of race relations in her own backyard, Cunningham founded an event series now known as The People’s Gathering: A Revolution of Consciousness. It’s an initiative designed to provide a supportive space for the PLU community and the broader Puget Sound community to

thinking of anti-trans movements, white nationalist movements, etc. So in my classes, I think it’s important to connect those kinds of dots and consider how violence is compounded across different identities. It’s all about thinking about intersections. That sounds like a great discernment approach for news and social media engagement as well. I think so. One thing that students —  and all of us —  can ask ourselves is what kind of information am I consuming? I find that when students are asked to

technology skills and higher education knowledge, along with his desire to uplift others, and forge his own career path at PLU. We chatted with him to learn more.What do you love most about your job? Because my position is systems-focused, I get to look at and help contribute to PLU improving the student experience on campus. How do the PLU residential life teams support students with mental, physical and social health? Our whole Campus Life department does a lot to support students. Through our learning