News
Antiracist reading group registration now open
Continuing our goal of fostering education on race and dismantling racism, IUPUI DEI is pleased to announce our fourth cycle of the antiracist reading group professional development series. This program is open to all faculty and staff of any race -- people of color and white people are both encouraged to participate. This program is also open to all IU campuses, and anyone serving as faculty, staff or IU affiliate is welcome to participate. Registration open until each group begins. Register now.
IUPUI Multicultural Center staff is expanding
Welcome our newest additions:
- Maria Paula Acero as Latinx Student Services Specialist
- Azira Fisher as LGBTQ+ Student Services Specialist
- Je’ Nobia Smith as Assistant Director for Multicultural Education and Research
- Dr. Katherine Betts as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student DEI
A few offices are also changing names:
- Adaptive Educational Services is now Accessible Educational Services
- Office of Equal Opportunity is now Office of Institutional Equity
New sensory corner for neurodiverse students
IUPUI Today
Accessible Education Services created a controlled sensory environment for neurodiverse students who are sometimes easily overstimulated. It has bins stocked with calming, pressure and multi-sensory items. Read more.
New mental wellness resource on campus
IUPUI Today
Faculty, staff, students and even visitors who need to take a break, be alone or decompress are encouraged to use a new Mental Wellness Resource Room in University Hall, created by the School of Social Work. Read more.
Events
Politics in the Classroom: Who Decides?
Sep. 14 at noon
Online webinar
In this expert discussion explore how political debate is affecting teaching, academic governance, and campus climates now, and what’s likely to happen next. Presented by Chronicle of Higher Education. Free and open to the public. Register now.
POW/MIA Day
Sep. 15 from noon to 2 p.m.
Indiana War Memorial
Sponsored by the IUPUI Veterans Faculty and Staff Council. More info: vfsc@iupui.edu
La Plaza’s FIESTA Indianapolis
Sep. 16 from noon to 8 a.m.
Richard G. Lugar Plaza
Hispanic Heritage Month celebration featuring live music, dancing, cultural performances, authentic food, children's activity stations, information booths and more. Family friendly. Free and open to the public. Volunteer to help out or register to attend.
Vet to Vet Kayaking
Sep. 16 from 2 to 8 p.m.
10979 Florida Road in Fortville
Sponsored by the IUPUI Veterans Faculty and Staff Council. More info: vfsc@iupui.edu
Talk About It Tuesday
Sep. 19 at noon
Online webinar
Welcoming a healthcare professional or certified community advocate to present and discuss relevant health and wellness topics within underserved communities, specifically impacting Black and other underrepresented communities. September’s topic: Alzheimer’s support. Presented by Martin University. Register now.
Indiana Latino Expo
Sep. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sep. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Indiana State Fairgrounds
Volunteers needed: IU Faculty, staff, and students from all campuses and key departments such as admissions, 21st Century Scholars, financial aid, and new student orientation, are all needed to support students and families joining us at the IU booth. Register now.
Yom Kippur Break Fast
Sep. 25 at sundown (approximately 7:30)
Taylor Hall 101
IUPUI is hosting the inaugural Yom Kippur Break Fast! Yom Kippur is the day of atonement, and it is the holiest day of the Jewish year. During this holiday, we fast from the night before to sunset the day after, as a way to reflect and repent. All faiths invited to join us in breaking the fast! Free food and drinks provided. Free and open to the public. More info.
Veteran Brown Bag Lunch
Sep. 27at noon
IUPUI Campus Center 031
Sponsored by the IUPUI Veterans Faculty and Staff Council. More info: vfsc@iupui.edu
COVID-19’s Influence on Hispanic Social Networks
Sep. 29 at noon
Online webinar
Dr. Gerardo Maupome and his team of researchers collected data from 558 Hispanics from Central America and Mexico to examine the evolution of social networks, health beliefs and health-related behaviors among these population groups. Free and open to the public. CEU’s available. Presented by IUPUI Center for Translating Research Into Practice. Register now.
Coffee with a Vet
Sep. 30from 8 to 9 a.m.
SchoolHouse 7 Café
Sponsored by the IUPUI Veterans Faculty and Staff Council. More info: vfsc@iupui.edu
Heather McGhee at Faith & Action
Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.
Shelton Auditorium at Christian Theological Seminary
An economist who focuses on what she has dubbed “drained-pool politics,” McGhee is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. The book highlights ways that racism costs white people at the same time it costs Black people, and how policies and practices with racist overtones – such as low minimum wages, union busting and housing discrimination – make life harder for poor whites as well as poor minorities. Presented by Christian Theological Seminary. Register now.
Volunteer Opportunity: Urban League drive-thru food distribution
Oct. 10 from 7 a.m. to noon
Indianapolis Urban League parking lot
Volunteers assist with setting up meal distribution sites, bagging meals, directing traffic, distributing community resources, loading food boxes and uplifting the community. Two shifts available: Packing from 7 to 10 a.m., and distribution from 10 a.m. to noon. See attached flyer. Contact kteague@indplsul.org for more info.
TRIP Awards and Fall Showcase
Oct. 11 from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
IUPUI Campus Center 450C
Featuring Dr. Holly Cusack-McVeigh’s presentation “Poisoned Past and Contaminated Present: Challenges for Indigenous Communities Bringing their Cultural Heritage Home." Presented by IUPUI Center for Translating Research Into Practice. Zoom option available. Register now.
Kat Lazo at IUPUI
Oct. 12 at 6 p.m.
Madam Walker Legacy Center
The internet’s favorite no-nonsense Latina who tells it how it is -- in front and behind the camera. As a video producer for the Latino digital platform Mitú, she's most known for her series "The Kat Call,” debunking taboos and misconceptions about the Latino community. She currently produces content for MTV. Free and open to the public. Part of the Chancellor’s Diversity Speaker Series. Register now.
Dr. Susan Hyatt on Invisible Indianapolis
Oct. 13 at noon to 1:30 p.m.
Online webinar
“Invisible Indianapolis: Race, Heritage and Community Memory in the Circle City,” uses ethnographic interviews and archival research to illuminate how otherwise “invisible” neighborhoods provide powerful insights into revealing the histories of the class, cultural, religious, and racial inequalities that continue to shape our city. Free and open to the public. Presented by IUPUI Center for Translating Research Into Practice. Register now.
Harvey Milk Dinner
Oct. 19 at 7 to 9 p.m.
Tower Ballroom
Each year the dinner honors the memory of Harvey Milk and the LGBTQ+ community and beyond through performances by community members, student speakers, and an awards ceremony recognizing student leaders creating an impact. Presented by IUPUI LGBTQ+ Center. See attached for more info. Register now.
Anneliese Singh at IUPUI
Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.
Madam Walker Legacy Center
Proud Sikh and out queer woman, Dr. Anneliese Singh is a scholar of multicultural and social justice counseling competencies and author of The Racial Healing Handbook and The Queer and Trans Resilience Workbook. Free and open to the public. Part of the Chancellor’s Diversity Speaker Series. Register now.
Indiana AHEAD Conference
Oct. 27
Ball State University
Theme: Navigating the New Normal. Presented by Indiana Association of Higher Education and Disability. Save the date; additional details forthcoming.
Justice Juice Social
Oct. 30 at 4 p.m.
Taylor Hall 101
The term “juice” is used to refer to energy characterized by respect, power, or influence. Building on this colloquial understanding, the Justice Juice Social holds space for expansive, immersive, dialogue and reflection on social justice issues. Presented by IUPUI Social Justice Education. Free juice beverages.
OnyxFest theater festival
Nov. 3-5, 10-12
IndyFringe Basile Theatre and Crispus Attucks High School
Indy’s first and only theater festival dedicated to the stories of Black playwrights. Presenting five never-produced, one-act plays at this year’s festival. Tickets now available.
Volunteer Opportunity: Urban League drive-thru food distribution
Nov. 14 from 7 a.m. to noon
Indianapolis Urban League parking lot
Volunteers assist with setting up meal distribution sites, bagging meals, directing traffic, distributing community resources, loading food boxes and uplifting the community. Two shifts available: Packing from 7 to 10 a.m., and distribution from 10 a.m. to noon. See attached flyer. Contact kteague@indplsul.org for more info.
Justice Juice Social
Nov. 27 at 4 p.m.
Taylor Hall 104
The term “juice” is used to refer to energy characterized by respect, power, or influence. Building on this colloquial understanding, the Justice Juice Social holds space for expansive, immersive, dialogue and reflection on social justice issues. Presented by IUPUI Social Justice Education. Free juice beverages.
Cultural Calendar
September:
- Sep. 15: Rosh Hashanah begins (Judaism); Hispanic Heritage Month begins
- Sep. 17: Rosh Hashanah ends (Judaism)
- Sep. 19: Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism)
- Sep. 21: International Day of Peace
- Sep. 23: Autumn Equinox; Bisexual Visibility Day
- Sep. 24 and 25: Yom Kippur
- Sep. 26: Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam)
- Sep. 30: Sukkot (Judaism)
October: Domestic Violence Awareness Month; LGBT History Month
- Oct. 9: Indigenous People’s Day
- Oct. 11: Coming Out Day
- Oct. 15 Navaratri begins (Hindu)
- Oct. 16: Birth of the Báb (Baháʼí)
- Oct. 27: Birth of the Bahá’u’lláh (Baháʼí)
- Oct. 19: Spirit Day
- Oct. 31: Halloween
NOTE: Most religious holidays not affiliated with Christianity begin at sundown the night before. See links for specific details.
Apply
Call for Nominations: Advocate for Equity in Accessibility Award
Honors IUPUI faculty and staff who go above and beyond in service to and in support of students with disabilities. Letters of nomination should include staff or faculty member’s name, department, position and direct supervisor’s title (for notification purposes), as well as a 1-2 page narrative detailing the ways in which the nominee is as an advocate for equity in accessibility. Submit nominations to kdace@iupui.edu by Sep. 25.
Call for Nominations: Multicultural Impact Staff Award
Recognizes outstanding IUPUI staff members who promote a climate where diversity—broadly defined—is valued, accepted and energizes our understanding of one another across multiple differences. Letters of nomination should include staff or faculty member’s name, department, position and direct supervisor’s title (for notification purposes), as well as a 1-2 page narrative detailing the ways in which the nominee is as an advocate for an inclusive campus climate at IUPUI. Submit nominations to kdace@iupui.edu by Sep. 25.
The Great Admissions Redesign
To transform how potential students get into college, Lumina Foundation is launching a new funding effort to find and support the best ideas on how to simplify the admissions process. Nearly $3M in grants available. Due Oct. 6. Read more.
Grant available for bias and discrimination research
Provides $200K over two years to any of its core programs and special initiatives that address the effects of social movements, and the effects of racial/ethnic/gender bias and discrimination on a range of outcomes related to social and living conditions in the United States. Administered by Russell Sage Foundation. Due Nov. 7. Read more.
Innovative Research to Advance Racial Equity grant
Evidence for Action prioritizes research to evaluate specific interventions (e.g., policies, programs, practices) that have the potential to counteract the harms of structural and systemic racism and improve health, well-being, and equity outcomes. Administered by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Applications accepted on rolling basis. Read more.
Mental health first-aid training
IU faculty, staff and students can take mental health first-aid training courses to learn how to identify and help students who need support. Free. Open to all IU campuses. Read more.
Call for Proposals: Disability and/or higher education presentations
The Indiana Association of Higher Education and Disability is requesting proposals for monthly webinars. These webinars will last one hour. Proposals considered on monthly basis. Read more.
Enhancing Diversity Training for Mentors
Five modules designed to improve participant recognition and responses to bias and harassment, with the long-term goal of reshaping biomedical training environments nationally. Joint project of IUPUI Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program and the NIH. Available through IU Expand through April 5, 2024. Read more.
Read
Education was once the No. 1 major for college students. Now it's an afterthought.
CBS News
Reasons for declining interest in education as a college major extend beyond the greater career options for women, experts note. A big issue is the relatively low pay earned by teachers compared with other college-educated professionals. Read more.
Biden administration urges colleges to pursue diversity despite affirmative action ban
NY Times
In its first guidance since the Supreme Court decision, the administration says many recruitment programs are still allowed, but other questions are left unanswered. Read more.
The untold history of affirmative action — for white people
Washington Post
To remain exclusively white after Brown v. Board of education, universities created scholarships to send qualified Black students to out-of-state HBCUs instead. Read more.
State budget creates $24 million ‘intellectual diversity’ centers at five Ohio universities
Forbes
The bill requires Ohio State, Miami, Toledo, Cincinnati, and Cleveland State to create the centers, higher faculty members and appoint an academic advisory council, with the consent of the conservative-controlled state Senate. Read more.
Why unpaid internships still exist despite hardships for young workers
PBS News Hour
47 percent of U.S. interns were unpaid in 2022, creating tough decisions and disparities for many students. Read more.
Indiana launches website meant to help high schoolers track college-level courses
NWI Times
Indiana Commission for Higher Education announced the launch of the website My College Core, a tool for students, families and school counselors to get information regarding college-level classes, including dual credit, enrollment, Advanced Placement and the College-Level Examination Program. Read more.
Student supports only work if students know they exist
Lumina Foundation
Though colleges often say they offer all the resources students need to be successful, many students are unaware of these services, don’t realize that they need them, or don’t know how to access them. Researchers at Tyton Partners decided to take a closer look at this disconnect. Read more.
Can medicine diversify without affirmative action?
U.S. News and World Report
After the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, concerns have arisen that a pathway into medicine may become much harder for students of color. Read more.
Students accuse elite institutions of limiting financial aid
Business Insider
University of Chicago agrees to pay $13.5 million to students after being accused of participating in a 'price-fixing cartel' with other prestigious schools to limit financial aid. Read more.
Female leaders explain why higher ed’s glass ceiling hasn’t cracked
Chronicle of Higher Education
Many have ascribed the gender inequity in higher-ed leadership to a “leaky pipeline,” meaning women give up their pursuit of leadership roles to have children and raise a family. Read more.
How once-controversial theory of trauma became dominant way we make sense of our lives
Intelligencer
Breaking down the cultural phenomena around the Body Keeps the Score, exploring trauma as a state of the body, rather than a way of interpreting the past. Read more.
Early peek at how admission applications are changing
Chronicle of Higher Education
Colleges’ supplementary essay prompts are changing in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision on race-conscious admissions. Read more.
Bias Inside Us educator toolkit
Smithsonian
The Bias Inside Us educator toolkit is a free educational resource, which contains a set of posters, and an educators guide used for facilitating conversation, and is intended to be used in conjunction with The Bias Inside Us online exhibit. Read more.
If you incur a paywall while accessing news links, try accessing the publication from your campus library.
Watch and Listen
Legacy admits call for end of practice
NY Times
Five recent university graduates, all legacies, wrestle with the advantages they enjoyed in the college admissions process. Watch the video.
Rebel Music with Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez
WFYI
Prisca speaks with Karla López Owens on the Cultural Manifesto segment about everything from being a Brown Girl to visiting Indiana to some of her favorite rebel music. Listen now.