That’s a wrap. January Recap.

That’s a wrap. January Recap.

Below are highlights from our January events.

Videos will be available for each coming soon!

 

Coming to Terms With The Past:

Marcia Chatelain highlights:

Walks through the process of Georgetown acknowledging its part in institutional racial injustice, and seeking reconciliation with the descendants of the 272 slaves sold to preserve the university. Through this process Dr. Chatelain and …. Are working towards using Georgetown as an example for establishing foundational practices that transform college campuses into places where racial justice work is both generated and modelled. Below are a few action items and points to reflect on in order to continue this critical conversation:

  • Opening up historical information for those outside of LMU
  • Reflecting on how LMU is connecting with various communities in the area to promote justice
  • Reflecting on LMU’s practices today that have been shaped by our historical past
  • Georgetown is a part of Universities Studying Slavery to look at practices in 2018 that have been shaped by 1838. Could LMU be a part of a similar group?
  • Turning our attention to other marginalized groups such as the incarcerated or the uneducated

The past wasn’t hidden, but known and heavily recorded through historical documents. Saw the process as more than an academic exercise ending in renaming buildings, but an interaction with descendents and others who are interested.

Traci Voyles highlights:

Dr. Voyles took us on a journey with the story of Toypurina a healer and leader within the Kumivit community, her connection to the land inherited by LMU, along with sharing the multiple injustices of colonial violence that occured here in the Tongva Basin. She discussed the conflicts of the late 1700’s between the Spanish missionaries and indigenous people’s. Here are the action items she highlights in hopes to begin reconciling with LMU’s institutional legacy.

  • Recruiting Native faculty
  • Invest time and money into Indigenous studies, curriculum, and research
  • Establish a scholarship program to bring Native California students to our campus
  • Reverse break alternative programs that invite native high school and community college students to experience LMU, meet with faculty, and apply or transfer to study here

Here is a link to a webpage that highlights artwork that has honored Toypurina, which has the images used in Dr. Voyles presentation: https://www.kcet.org/history-society/toypurina-a-legend-etched-in-the-landscape-of-los-angeles

Amanda Wixon highlights:

Amanda’s presentation focused on the injustices that occurred at the Sherman Institute, a boarding school designed to strip the cultural identity from Indigenous students. This included forcing students to only speak english, assigning a religious affiliation upon entrance, and using students as labor for white families. The Sherman Institute has been able to transform troubling practices by acknowledging their history and establishing new practices meant to embrace indigenous and student culture.

 

Archbishop Gomez:

Archbishop Gomez highlights on Catholic University in 21st century-

Archbishop Gomez, in a beautifully stated and eloquent speech, gave four main points for Catholic Universities to consider when engaging with students, staff, faculty, and outside communities:

  1. Holy Reality-The Catholic University must acknowledge how the world is rather than what it desires the world to be. The world is holy.
  2. In regards to immigration, every human person needs a family and community. Immigration is not about a single person, it is about families and relationships, and this reality needs to be taken into account. How can LMU as a Catholic University be a voice and supporter of embracing family unity, specifically regarding immigration?
  3. Every life is sacred and every person is endowed with dignity.
  4. What makes a society great is not its military power but ultimately its quality of mercy and its ability to open itself up to the other.

Archbishop Gomez encouraged the LMU community to educate the intelligence of the heart as part of the holistic formation of students as complete spiritual persons and future leaders.