Last term, students from across IGR dialogue courses came together for our final celebration, where they were honored with certificates and spoke about the impact of the program on their lives. Students shared stories of individual growth, a deeper sense of social understanding, and an appreciation for dialogue in not only their academic studies, but their personal development.
Ever since the return from spring break, life has not been the same for University of Michigan students. My name is Smitty (they/them), a first-year RC-LSA student, and the Writer/Photographer Student Lead for IGR, MESA, and the Spectrum Center. As I work on finishing my first year, the new lifestyle brought on by the coronavirus pandemic has been a difficult one for me to navigate, along with focusing on my studies and managing my mental health. When news of the university switching to virtual classes was sent out, every day after that for the next couple weeks had been a whirlpool of information and anxiety as every department started planning next steps for the uncertain future ahead...
This season, think critically about which spaces are decorated for a holiday and how you can open conversations about the topic. Are you installing a Christmas tree in the office and playing Christmas music every day without thinking twice? Ask yourself the following questions when deciding whether to put up decorations or when you notice symbols in other spaces.
Elsa Ramesh and Hoai An Pham speak on the presence of microaggressions on campus, as well as the best practices to tackle them.
Alex Kime discusses the importance of dialogue around cultural appropriation and Halloween costumes.
