Eighteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

In the aftermath of the 2015 conflicts at the University of Missouri that culminated in the departure of UM System President Tim Wolfe and MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin, movements led by #ConcernedStudent1950, Jonathan Butler’s hunger strike, Mizzou football players boycott, and graduate student protests against loss of medical benefits, Mizzou remains more divided than ever. This is due in part to claims that “public perception concerns” led to budget cuts and reduced student enrollment. While much of the country was celebrating a renewed spirit of student resistance which challenged social inequality, conservative media (among others) rewrote a positive progressive narrative of unity of people working together as agents of change for the betterment of Mizzou, into a “lamentable” chronicle of blame that scapegoated the most vulnerable voices. And in so, doing, erected boundaries and barriers to true community. This colloquium’s participants, present papers from several perspectives including race and citizenship, gender, Trans Activism, and intersectionality, residential separation and segregation, ableism, and healing, offering viable models for dismantling the resurrected boundaries that attempt to put “others” out of living and learning spaces. Instead, this panels’ research and practical experiences open walls, windows, and doors to bring the diverse community back together. April Langley, Associate Professor of English and Black Studies, will present “Redistricting Intersectionality from Cooper to Crunkfeminism: Teaching to Transform.” Stephanie Shonekan, Associate Professor School of Music and Department Chair Black Studies, will present “Race and Citizenship at Mizzou.” Maya Hernandez, Area Coordinator Residential Life, will present “Challenges of Creating Affinity within Systemic Ism/Schism: Residential Life and the dilemma of self-separation vs. de facto segregation.” Shane McClure Stinson, Coordinator, Guest Relations Missouri Student Unions, will present “Trans Activism in Higher Education.”