Division of Student Development
2 East South Street
Galesburg, IL 61401-4999
Fax: 309-341-7077
Knox student clubs and organizations, academic departments, and many offices host guest speakers, lectures, and events dedicated to issues of diversity and inclusivity throughout the year.
Recent diversity and inclusivity events include:
The Global Learning Retreat is an opportunity for students to learn about global citizenship and to reflect upon their own experiences in the context of an increasingly globalized world. The two day retreat filled with workshops, speakers, activities, and discussions was created in collaboration with Augustana College and exposed students to the relevance of intersectionality.
Biologist Tyrone Hayes, a professor at University of California-Berkeley, spoke on his research on the effect of herbicides (atrazine specifically) on frog health, during Knox's annual Spring EquiKnox celebration in April 2016. Hayes spoke of his own professional struggles during the talk and the importantance of using scientific findings wisely. His appearance was sponsored by Knox Advocates for Recycling and Environmental Sustainability.
As Knox's 2016 Steylles Distinguished Lecturer in Global Affairs, Hala Jadid Al Kash connected with students on campus to help educate and spread awareness of the dire situation faced by Syrian refugees. She is a professor of media and Arabic Language, and founder of the organization Syrians without Borders, a group of women dedicated to assisting the refugees of Syria. Her week-long visit in April 2016 to Knox was sponsored by the Eleanor Stellyes Center for Global Studies.
Reza Aslan, scholar of world regions, professor, and author, came to Knox in April 2016, to present a talk on the various religions and their conflicts between each other. His lecture "Rethinking Religious Conflict: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam at Home and Abroad" captured the concept that Islamophobia is not a Muslim problem, but an American problem. His presentation was part of the Honnold Lecture series, which brings in leaders of various fields to talk to students and faculty about their area of expertise.
University of Minnesota Professor Carol Klee gave a presentation called "Quechua and Spanish: How Migrants are Changing the Spanish Language in Lima, Peru" focused on understanding how language is changing with the influx of new migrants and generational differences.
Stacy Gibbs, a leading American arranger of African American spirituals and songs, came to Knox to talk to members of the community about the way that diversity and racial issues are expressed through music. His appearance was supported by the Knox College Choir, A.B.L.E., the Music Department, the Center for Intercultural Life, and the Cultural Events Committee.
Ashley Tate, the artistic director of the Ashleyliane Dance Company, taught classes in hip hop, contemporary, and jazz during her week-long residency at Knox in February 2016. She also guest-taught courses Contemporary I and III and choreographed a piece for Dance Ensemble to perform in their spring concert. This residency was sponsored by the Knox College Dance Program.
Chicago-based artist Fereshteh Toosi visited Knox in January 2016 to discuss her various approaches to art and the materials that she uses in her artwork, such as oyster mushrooms, New Orleans restaurants, and Persian pickles.
A 2014 film by Sam Feder, Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger followed performer and artist Kate Bornstein on her personal struggles related to bigger issues within the trans and queer communities. During Knox's screening of the event in November 2015, Sam Feder was available to talk about the documentary showing and took questions from audience members.
Samba expert Dill Costa visited Knox for a one day residency of music and dance and presented a free workshop with her collaborator Heitor Garcia on October 2015. Raised in Rio de Janeiro, she is one of the only performers in the Midwest who holds a solid background of Samba dance and performance. Her performance was supported by the Knox College Dance Program.
Christine Herbes-Sommers visited her alma mater for Fall Institute Day 2015 and screened her documentary, American Denial, on racial bias as seen through the narratives of historians, psychologists, and sociologists. She is the president and executive producer of Vital Pictures, Inc, and has produced award winning documentary footage in her work with PBS.
Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case is a documentary by Andreas Johnson that talks about the struggle of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and his revolt against the Chinese government that was screened for the Knox community on October 2015. His example was a rallying call rooting for free speech and human rights around the world.
Maria Gonzalez, advocate for undocumented youth, came to Knox in September 2015, and talked to students about her work in advocacy for students who are undocumented. In her presentation, she explored the multitude of struggles that families face while being categorized as "undocumented", and discussed her initiatives to help combat and mitigate the negative effects living as an undocumented person. This appearance was sponsored by M.E.Ch.A.
Brianne Donaldson, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Monmouth College, came to Knox in September 2015, to talk about Midwestern changes in the employee demographics of local slaughterhouses near the Iowa and Illinois border. The influx of new religious communities in the surrounding areas is also leading to a renewed need for better training in cultural sensitivity by area officials. This presentation was sponsored by the Anthropology-Sociology department.
1870
Barnabas Root receives degree
Knox was one of the first colleges in Illinois to award a degree to a black student
https://www.knox.edu/about-knox/our-values/diversity-and-inclusivity/recent-events
Printed on Sunday, June 30, 2024
