Category: Stories

Student Blog: Scooting Around San Salvador, Bahamas Biology Trip 2

This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.

This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.

Over these past two days through these experiences and countless others, our team was more excited than ever to see what San Salvador had in store for us.

Upon arrival at our home for the trip, the Gerace Research Centre (GRC) on the island of San Salvador, we once again encountered Bahamian island time contrasted with the military-style scheduling of GRC. At GRC, meals run like clockwork at specified times, no exceptions. If you show up too late for a meal, you won’t be eating. Further, there are other specific times such as quiet hours as well as the return of GRC vehicles. All this precise timing facilitates smooth function, courtesy, and even safety (many vehicles lack working headlights, wipers, speedometers, doors that latch shut, and other “unnecessary” luxuries). Additionally, the GRC guests are mostly scientists from around the western hemisphere with multiple research foci; strict schedules allow for better coordination across campus. Passing through the gate of the GRC puts you in a different temporal space than the laid-back style of the islanders, who never seem to be in a rush or even on a specific schedule.

Further, there seems to be a more welcoming attitude on the Bahamian islands than you would find in many US cities. This is most apparent while traveling the roads. Driving up to GRC following our arrival on San Salvador, we were told by the campus director to wave as cars pass each other on the Queens Highway, the one road around the island. Waving is part of the culture here on the island, as everyone knows each other and therefore there is an almost obligatory friendliness. Perhaps it is because everyone on the island is family, in some sense.

On Nassau, as well as San Salvador, honking on the road is more of a friendly ‘hello’ than an annoyed ‘what do you think you are doing?’

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Student Blog: International Flights and Bites, Bahamas Biology Trip 1

This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.

This is a student blog post submitted by Leslie Nelson C’19. Leslie is a Biology major.

“The first time is the worst.” The mini heart attacks subsided as we remembered that Bahamians do indeed drive on the opposite side of the road. Meanwhile, we were still trying to comprehend why half of the cars have steering wheels on the left side and the other half have them switched to the right. This is one of the first examples of merging cultures we experienced on arrival in Nassau in The Bahamas.

Another striking cultural difference noticed early on was between the leisurely island style and the bustling tourism industry. Tourism is the largest industry found on the Bahamian Islands. Once again, a merging of these two worlds became apparent in Nassau during dinner time at “Da Fish Fry,” the local seafood strip. The restaurant owners persistently pursued us to get us to eat at their establishments. One owner even picked up a Chicago Cubs t-shirt worn by one of our group members, using this as a segue to talk us into his establishment. This kind of personalized attention is not as common in North American cities. We snacked on local delicacies like conch fritters and some members of our group even enjoyed a full conch meal!

However, there were also tastes of home. Dunkin Donuts. This time, donuts at the Lynden Pindling International Airport were the method by which cultures were fused. Dr. Rholl was the only brave soul who was willing to give a guava donut a try . . . he loved it. And these donuts appeared once again when multiple people traveling on our small flight from Nassau to San Salvador brought a box full of donuts to the island with them, a commodity which can’t be found on the out islands.

Beyond experiencing the unique culture of the Bahamas, we also found time to work on our snorkeling and identification skills. Two snorkeling sessions have already been squeezed in between flights and meals and catching up on sleep. To begin we checked out Junkanoo Beach in the heart of Nassau which is right next to the shipping lanes and a public beach. For our second session, we waited until San Salvador and walked across the street from our lodging at the Gerace Research Centre to the boat launch at Graham’s Harbor.

In just 24 hours, our eyes have been opened to a new world. In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the tiny Bahamian island of San Salvador. 525 years later, we are excited to see what else “Columbus’ Isle” has in store for us, both culturally and ecologically.

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A Message from Board Chair, Dr. Kristine Strand and ECC President Gary Walter

Carl Balsam has been appointed by the Board of Trustees and approved by the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church to serve as Interim President of the University, with all rights and responsibilities as president.

CHICAGO, June 5, 2017 — As North Park University undertakes a presidential search in the 2017–2018 academic year, Executive Vice President Carl Balsam has been appointed by the Board of Trustees and approved by the Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church, to serve as Interim President of the university, with all rights and responsibilities as president.

“The Board is grateful to Carl for agreeing to continue his deep dedication to the University by serving as president, beginning July 1. Because Carl has so generously stepped up to serve, we will benefit from his decades of experience and his steadfast commitment to North Park’s mission.  With his leadership, we will continue to move forward with our goals and aspirations during this transition period,” said Dr. Kristine Strand, Chair of the North Park Board of Trustees.

Reverend Gary Walter, president of the Evangelical Covenant Church, added, “Carl is a well-respected and trusted leader in the campus community and beyond.  I am grateful for his openness to serve.  This provides important continuity for initiatives underway.”

Carl Balsam joined North Park in 1988.  As EVP and Chief Financial Officer, he has managed North Park’s annual budget and finances, and has overseen the University’s endowment, continuing its strategic growth to a current value of $75 million. Additionally, he directed architectural planning for significant additions to North Park’s campus, including Anderson Chapel, Brandel Library, Helwig Recreation Center, the Holmgren Athletic Complex, and most recently the Nancy and G. Timothy Johnson Center for Science and Community Life.

Balsam has committed three-and-a-half decades of professional life to Christian higher education.  Prior to coming to North Park, Carl served for six years at Barrington College, Barrington, R.I.  He holds a BS in Engineering Science, Pennsylvania State University; Master of Divinity, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; and an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.  Carl also serves on the Board of Directors for Covenant Trust Company.

Carl and his wife Barbara are active members of Winnetka Covenant Church.  They have two children, Aaron and Ashley, both graduates of North Park University, and six grandchildren.

Spring 2018 is the target date for the identification of a permanent president to succeed Dr. David Parkyn, who retires effective June 30.

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Six Soon-to-be Faculty and Staff Alum Dedicate a Combined 110 Years of Service

President Dr. David L. Parkyn celebrated the accomplishments and meaningful impact of the six soon-to-be North Park faculty alum: Whipp Johnshon, Carol Martin, Mary Adams Trujillo, Rupe Simms, Jay Phelan, and Les Carlstrom. Combined, these six leaders dedicated 110 years of service to North Park University.

May 16, 2017—North Park University celebrated Gathering Day Spring 2017. Faculty and staff gathered in Hamming Hall to socialize, enjoy lunch together, and recognize the years of service of long-time educators and leading administrators who will soon enter the next phase in their lives–retirement. President Dr. David L. Parkyn celebrated the accomplishments and meaningful impact of the six soon-to-be North Park faculty and staff alum:  Whipp Johnson, Carol Martin, Mary Adams Trujillo, Rupe Simms, Jay Phelan, and Les Carlstrom. Combined, these six leaders dedicated 110 years of service to North Park University.

Some Background on the Faculty and Staff Alum

Whipp Johnson

Dr. Johnson loves to teach, and in the second half of his career he discovered that he also loves to instruct others to teach.

Following 25 years of teaching social studies in high schools in Maryland and Illinois, Dr. Johnson came to North Park in 2007 as a member of the faculty in the School of Education.

Dr. Johnson views teaching as a combination of practice, profession, and calling. As a teacher of prospective teachers, he takes time in his classroom to develop in his students a bonded commitment to hard work and persistence. He is fond of telling his students: “The journey to the other side of the desk will challenge you in unexpected ways. At the same time, it’s a journey well worth making because of the difference you can make in the lives of students.”

Carol Martin

Dr. Martin’s calling in life brought her to North Park in 2003 as professor of communication arts, yet her students know her best, and love her most deeply, as director of the writing center.

Dr. Martin leaves a legacy of strong writing advisors with majors from across the whole of our academic program. She is called on often for counsel, is colleague to many—and especially colleague to her students.

Dr. Martin’s expert contribution to teaching at North Park was recognized a year ago with presentation of the Zenos Hawkinson Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Mary Adams Trujillo

TrujilloDr. Trujillo has served as professor of communication arts at North Park since 2003. Her courses build on a belief that a combination of service, experiential learning, and cultural immersion helps students engage with the world—starting with the city of Chicago.

Dr. Trujillo’s primary interest, and her scholarly expertise, is in conflict transformation. Throughout her teaching in this area Dr. Trujillo promotes opportunities for cultures and communities to meet—within the classroom and far beyond. One example comes from her course in Conflict Transformation, in which she brings together 24 high school students to a retreat with her North Park students to nurture within all an understanding of how to transform violent environments.

Dr. Trujillo’s scholarship is well-illustrated through a volume she co-edited in 2008 with colleagues from across the country, a book titled Re-Centering: Culture and Knowledge in Conflict Resolution Practice.

Rupe Simms

Dr. Simms joined North Park University as professor of Africana studies in 1997. He brought with him an impressive set of academic credentials: two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree, and two doctorates.

Dr. Simms has taught many students what it means to have our voice, our story, and our identity, validated – which has uplifted students through their educational journey at North Park, and has encouraged many of his colleagues.

In Dr. Simms’ classroom, students expanded their worldviews, along with their understanding of social injustice and the discrimination that groups of Americans experience because of race, class, or gender. To reach these outcomes, Dr. Simms has always built on Chicago as classroom, infusing student learning with the current culture and long history connecting African Americans and Mexican Americans to the city.

Dr. Simms’ scholarship is centered on the politics of religion in the history of African people, as well as the sociopolitical and religious experiences of Afro-Americans and Mexican-Americans. In 2010 Rupe wrote a substantial text on these topics, A Gramscian Analysis of the Role of Religion and Politics: Case Studies in Domination, Accommodation, and Resistance.

Dr. Jay Phelan

Dr. Phelan finds it is easy to divide seminaries into the categories of “academic” or “practical.” One prepares for ministry through a rigorously intellectual process without the life of the church. The other is a training program that teaches “how,” but not “why.” As a pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church, Dr. Phelan knows the value of theological education, particularly in the serious study of the biblical text. He came to North Park because he believes their Theological Seminary has found a way to combine both. According to Dr. Phelan, “The intellectual, the practical, and the spiritual come together here. And I wanted to be a part of this process of engaging text and culture.”

Having served as the Seminary’s dean of students from 1981 to 1986, Dr. Phelan then returned in 1996. He served as the seminary’s president and dean until 2010, when he became a full-time faculty member. Dr. Phelan oversaw the Seminary’s chapel program. “Worshiping together is critical,” says Dr. Phelan. “This is a place where we come to pray, sing, break bread, and celebrate.” From 2010-2017, Dr. Phelan served as Senior Professor of Theological Studies.

Les Carlstrom

Les Carlstrom (middle) began his time at North Park as a student in 1972.

Les Carlstrom graduated from North Park in 1976 and returned to North Park in December 1990 as Controller and Director of Finance. The need for good financial accounting and controls were paramount, and Les’ arrival proved to be an incredible blessing.

Over the intervening years, Les has demonstrated keen financial acumen, keeping impeccable financial records and executing financial policy and financing initiatives with unusual skill. “Les’ high character and commitment to North Park’s mission will be remembered, and he has always remained a kind, respectful, and compassionate professional,” says Executive Vice President Carl Balsam and Les’ close colleague during his entire time at North Park. His Business Office colleagues would describe Les as a joy with which to work. Les has had an amazing, maybe historic, run as controller of North Park University. “We are incredibly blessed by Les’ presence with us these past 26 years” expresses Executive Vice President Carl Balsam.

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Student Blog: Aesthetic of North Park Art

This is a student blog post submitted by Frank Roberts, C’18. Frank is an English major with a concentration in creative writing.

This is a student blog post submitted by Frank Roberts, C’18. Frank is an English major with a concentration in creative writing.

I am one of those transfer/commuter students you only ever see bolting in and out of classrooms. Being new to the scene at North Park, I am thrilled by the ever-evolving senior art exhibitions. I often catch a streaking color of newly-installed artwork as I hustle toward the Carlson lobby elevators and vow to take a more deliberate look after class. It is not as if I need the reminder. On my way back down, I am always hooked by the fullness of these works.

Every inch of space in the room seems to be used to make a statement. Some student’s work take a minimalistic approach, letting blank space speak for itself while others choose to immerse it fully in fanciful color and complex arrangements.

A few of the pieces have had interactive elements to them. One in particular had an array of sharpies and a large banner poster asking  you to draw your favorite childhood memory. I drew myself perched in a large mango tree with friends in Ghana where I was born. Right before that, I stood in front of it looking over the mosaic of memories left by others. I pondered the meaning of this exercise. Zoe Larson, the artist, later on shared with me that the intent was to focus on memory and memory loss inspired by her grandmother who has Alzheimer’s. “I started looking back on my own memories in an attempt to document and catalogue,” she said. Zoe had spent hours on end painting, drawing, carving, and crafting items that made the room look like a child’s bedroom or rather an elderly person reliving their childhood.

I can’t help but wonder which part of my past my mind will be drawn to as I reach my end. Will it be my childhood in a now foreign land? My years in college? Or some time in-between? It is an arresting thought that the interactions, decisions, and everyday moments of my life I often let pass without regard might be all I have to cling to when life is almost said and done.

(Several years after leaving my childhood home, I visited and saw that mango tree we had spent lots of time in. It is very tiny. Only a few feet tall. But I wanted to draw it how I always remembered it.)

Coming down the elevator one afternoon, I caught a piece by senior art major Tatum Hendrickson. Tatum chose to use pieces of material sewn together to depict the meditative hours she had spent focusing on the deep friendships and community she had created here at North Park. She described these as relationships that helped her overcome hardships in her college career. The yarn and other sewn material seemed to be color coordinated according to the person represented. Some were a more cohesive color scheme while others  seemed to be a varied scheme that probably characterized a more eccentric person. In response, I reflected on the connections I have made throughout my life. Some do not make sense at first. There might not be obvious similarities in personality and life experience and so I don’t always recall how they begun. Yet, I am grateful for the myriad of colorful individuals that makeup the tapestry that is my life.

There was another I stumbled upon late on a Monday after an evening class. On the furthest wall was a monochromatic scene of contorted hands rising towards the heavens. It was harrowing in the dim light in a way that made me think about it throughout the week. It was as if a skeleton were reaching out of the grave, into sunlight.

I think it a fabulous idea that childhood wonder and understated macabre can occupy the same space. It feels a little bit like stepping into a labyrinth; a bewildering maze of a right-brained person’s head. I have found it a transcendent experience walking through these living, breathing galleries. They are always fresh and insightful.

There is, however, an impression of “work in progress” I’ve gathered about every one of these projects. They seem to be at an end and a beginning at the same time. I think that is because good art tells a story of personal journey. In the same way that these artists are ending their time at North Park but going into new frontiers, a journey is never done. Real stories do not move in a linear fashion but have a starting point that continues along an unpredictable direction within the storyteller as they grow, and also branches off to the listener as they carry it into their own story.

Personally, my life in and outside of school this semester has included lessons on the importance of memory and meditation in spirituality. Anxiety and constant change has plagued my spirituality. I’ve craved harmony in the twisting emotion of blank space and overstimulating color. The present has unfolded parts of my life journey I do not feel prepared to manage. I feel like a mess in progress. I’ve been learning in those moments, though, to take time to slow down and meditate on the various experiences and people that have given to me and taught me to be steadfast when the world around me is in flux. I access memory that otherwise lay forgotten in my subconscious. And then breathe it to life. I find I know things I was certain I did not know – the misplaced words of others, the minuscule moments that did prepare me for the here and now.

(Photos by Timothy Lowly, Artwork by Zoe Larson)

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Student Blog: My SVF Exchange Program Experience

This is a student blog post submitted by Kaylyn Sweitzer, C’19. Kaylyn is an English Literature and Creative Writing major.

This is a student blog post submitted by Kaylyn Sweitzer, C’19. Kaylyn is an English Literature and Creative Writing major.

Never have I felt so filled, yet so empty. Charles Dickens explains my situation well in the opening line of A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I felt completely torn between having the time of my life and wanting nothing more than to go home. Studying abroad is, in fact, the most fulfilling and rewarding thing you can do in college; however, I will be the first to say that it is also the most draining and difficult. But just because it was hard certainly does not mean that it wasn’t worth it. And I have to say . . . it was completely worth it.

Upon my return from studying at SVF in Sweden, I was frequently asked the convenient conversation starter, “How was Sweden?” To which I found myself providing a variety of answers. I openly shared personal details and anecdotes with some people, while shielding aspects of my experience with others. No one knows the true story of my time in Sweden–not even me. It already feels like a distant memory. I look at the photos see the familiar faces of the friends I spent both the most rewarding and challenging four months of my life–and it just doesn’t feel real. I have pictures of me standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, the Roman Colosseum, and Big Ben, but I am still struggling to process the fact that I was there just a few months ago. I spent a semester on another continent, in a different country, learning an unfamiliar language, and eating cultural food; however, since I’ve been back at North Park, that experience has felt like more of a fantastical adventure. And in a way, it was. I was living in a dream–my childhood dream of traveling Europe. It was euphoric, incredibly brilliant, simply life-changing. But it was also taxing, strenuous, and exhausting.

In the wise words of Bilbo Baggins, “It’s a dangerous business going out of your door. You step into the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to” (LOTR). By moving to a different country, I had exposed myself to the elements of the world. In America, I know what to do, where to go, what to say . . . for the most part. I am comfortable. Living in Sweden, I was surrounded by a new language and culture. By the end of the day, I was exhausted and not just from the wear and tear of going through the day. It was partly due to having to adjust to a different environment and way of life. Even trying to process the Swedish language wore me out. I was uncomfortable, but I was thankful to be. We grow and change when we’re uncomfortable and when we’re challenged and pushed to our limits. In those moments, we don’t break–we rise. So even though I felt strained and overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity, I knew that the familiarity and comfort would come with time.

With each passing day, I appreciated the country and culture of Sweden, along with my overall experience, more and more. I appreciated walking out of my dorm every morning to see the sun rising over the city of Jönköping and Lake Vättern, Friday fika and Ica runs, the peace and quiet of SVF, having late night talks with my roommate, FaceTiming my family from the basement of my dorm at midnight, Pepparkakor and glögg, having to use a converter whenever I needed to charge my phone, daily morning fika, and having to wear reflective bracelets to avoid being hit by cars since it would get dark by 3:00. It would’ve been so easy to take the little things for granted, but the little things are what made the opportunity so special.

I really enjoyed getting to know Sweden’s lifestyle. Generally speaking, life in Sweden simply happens at a slower pace; people aren’t in as much of as rush. They multitask less and focus on the moment more. Swedes also tend to be more reserved and humble and not as showy and flashy as Americans. I love how Swedes routinely pause throughout the day for fika breaks; they’re very good at being communal and forming deep relationships over time. And that’s another thing I appreciated about Sweden—they take all relationships seriously.

Studying abroad pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated beforehand. I grew in my confidence and independence, and I learned to rely on myself in a whole new way. It was the longest I have ever been away from my family, meaning that I had to accept the fact that I couldn’t always rely on them to hold my hand. Apart from relying on myself, I also had to rely more heavily on those around me. I had to accept the fact that I needed to place my trust in my peers and to accept the idea of vulnerability. Sweden did leave me vulnerable—vulnerable and raw, my protective walls peeled away. Shedding these skins hurt, but it allowed new ones to replace the old, and these new skins have made me stronger and more resilient than ever before. And I owe all of this change to my decision to leave my comfort zone and take on an adventure of a lifetime, my adventure in Sverige.

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Student Blog: The Sankofa Experience

It’s been two months since Charlotte Manning and I traveled with 42 others on the University Ministries-led “Sankofa” trip. This blog post is a reflection on our experiences.

STEPHEN_NIELSEN

This is a student blog post submitted by Stephen Nielsen, C’19 and Charlotte Manning, C’17. Stephen is an English (creative writing concentration) and Media Studies double major. Charlotte Manning is an English major with a concentration in creative writing.

It’s been two months since Charlotte Manning and I traveled with 42 others on the University Ministries-led “Sankofa” trip. The bus ride from Chicago, Illinois to Montgomery, Alabama alone took 12 hours. Why were we subjecting ourselves to this? We can talk about the bathroom situation later, but suffice it to say, the men didn’t smell anything for days after the trip. Here, Charlotte and I share our thoughts about the experience.

Charlotte

The trip is designed with such intention. We were assigned with partners of different races and ages, so experiences were quite naturally formed. It is so much more than an educational field trip or a simple act of social justice; rather, the experience and purpose of Sankofa is about as complex as the word “race.” No matter how uncomfortable we may have felt amongst our peers, we could not escape the conversation of race. And trust me, I know that the mere thought of that makes people want to run for the nearest hills, and although that fearful feeling is valid, discomfort is the whole point.

I am a half-black, half-white, Swedish-American, and even I cringed at the thought of mourning my own history and race. My whole life I preferred to disconnect the past from my own personal experience as a middle-class, privileged, millennial woman of color, but Sankofa changed that. We all felt the heavy burden of ignorance in some way in those three days, but the beauty of our group’s dialogue came from those realizations.

The ability to choose to stay out of the race conversation is ignorance in its most murderous form.

As badly as we all wanted to get off that bus and vow to forever say that “we don’t see color,” because it would have been easier that way, we quickly learned that the ignorance we had always heard of and shrugged our shoulders to was in us. The way we all had chosen to ignore the painful part of the conversation, those times we did not speak up when we should have, the times we denied our privilege, and the times we swore we had a black friend who swore we weren’t racist. We’ve heard it all, we’ve done it all and yet, our lack of presence in the conversation has only been the water to the roots that have perpetuated racism and furthered the evolution of slavery and oppression, unending.

Stephen

We were unprepared. I was unprepared. I saw things I didn’t want to see; things I needed to see, and was treated in ways I’ll never be treated, but other humans have had to endure, and much worse. It’s been two months; why did it take so long to get this piece written? It wasn’t because other deadlines were pushed up, it was because we weren’t taught how to process everything. The number of conversations I’ve had about race have surged. I had nothing to say before, now I thought I had everything to say after this trip. I still have a lot to say, but there is so much I still don’t know. We were taught of systematized racism. “But systematized racism is illegal, why would it happen?” some have asked.

1 in 17 Whites in America will go to jail, while 1 in 3 Blacks in America will go to jail. Is this an example? “No, that’s just black culture,” some have said. “If you look at them, they’re fatherless, men get women pregnant and then leave them. It’s black culture, it’s not racism.” So, does this then still have to do with privilege? These numbers still don’t accurately represent the American population. There is something wrong, but is it in the Black or White community? Is it a result of oppression, or irresponsibility? But then isn’t that incorrectly stereotyping, to say that Black people aren’t responsible? We know that’s not true. If racism is only on the individual level, then that’s where we must tackle it. But it’s not, is it? Biased medias don’t portray lives correctly; they produce a fear of color.

The trip left me with more questions than answers. It opened my mind to massive amounts of information and ideas that have never occurred to me, being in America. I have noticed if, how, or where race has been playing a role in our country, and what roles race is playing. I was downtown the other day, and walked into four different clothing and accessory stores. Only one of those had about an equally mixed race staff during the two-hour time span I was there. The rest of the stores had primarily or only Black staff members. What does this mean?

Charlotte

We learned that privilege is being white. We learned that slavery hasn’t ended; rather it has evolved into what we now know as the criminal justice system. We learned that socioeconomic discrepancies are the way they are because of the blueprint that our forefathers used to build our cities—with intention to divide and segregate. We learned that tolerance is not the same thing as love and acceptance. We learned that even once we recognize the ignorance, the privilege, and our individual role in being an advocate for people of color, the conversation of race is never easy, and never gets easier. But that does not mean it has to be a conversation of hopelessness. Racism is not dead. We witnessed it in Selma, Alabama where the streets were once covered with Civil Rights protestors, we heard it in the preserved voices of Martin Luther King and Angela Davis who refused to be quiet, we felt it with the old slave shackles we wrapped around our ankles, and we felt it in the conviction and sympathy of God’s words, over ours, every time.

Stephen

“How was Sankofa?” I was asked just about a gazillion times after I got back. There were no words to describe my feelings; the hurt we all experienced, the sadness and empathy we all felt sitting in the Equal Justice Initiative, the laughs we shared on the bus or over a meal, and the silence after watching the documentary “13th”. I have only been able to talk about my experiences with those who were on the trip. Two months later, I still haven’t told my family everything about the trip, I don’t know how.

What can be done? We all know that going up to an intentionally racist person and telling them off probably won’t change their worldview or actions. Something you can do? Be aware of the types of people you surround yourself with. What are their backgrounds? In your workplace, who are the people who are or aren’t speaking up? Why? Who is over or underrepresented? Why? Can something be done? If you have the power to direct the conversation, or know you won’t be shot down for speaking up, use that to get the underrepresented voice out there.

Charlotte

The ability to choose to stay out of the race conversation is ignorance in its most murderous form. And I encourage everyone with a beating heart, especially those with ivory skin, to try and do the same thing in the conversation of race. Whether or not you believe in the kingdom of God, compassion is a universal notion, one we all hope to receive at one point or another, but I believe that true compassion is a selfless act and an effective weapon against injustice.

Stephen

Regardless of your stance on racism, especially in America, we want to challenge you to listen to someone who isn’t like you, who doesn’t look like you, or come from a similar background as you. Go somewhere you wouldn’t normally go, hang out with someone you wouldn’t normally hang out with because of a preconception you might have of the place or them. It can’t hurt to hear another side. And find out the why in history. Ask: “Why. . . ? ”

Charlotte

Enter into it, feel the discomfort in others’ experiences, and open up your eyes to the possibility that human suffering does not have to directly affect you to move you.

Portions of this piece also appear in Spectrum issue published May, 2017.

Read More:

Equal Justice Initiative
National Civil Rights Museum/The Lorraine Motel
University Ministries, Sankofa Trip

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories Blog, StoriesTags ,

TEDx Recap: Paradigms Shifted

Shifting Paradigms, the theme of the event, challenged the attendees’ views on social and political issues.

CHICAGO, May 18, 2017 – “When I first heard the title Shifting Paradigms, I had to look up what ‘paradigm’ meant,” began Mark Gavoor’s speech, a professor in the School of Business at North Park University. “See here’s what I thought it was,” he said, pointing to a pair of dimes at the top of the screen. The next slide showed the dimes move to the bottom of the screen, “and now they’ve shifted!”

North Park University held its inaugural TEDx event. The “x” is an indicator of an independently organized TED event. Students spearheaded this first of a promising many annual TEDx events. Student Paul Clines along with Faculty member Dr. Christopher Hubbard were the initiators of the event.

“This is a great day at North Park,” Dr. Hubbard stated in his opening remarks to kick off the event of the first session. Speakers such as North Park’s Drs. Soong-Chan Rah and Michelle Clifiton-Soderstrom spoke alongside change-makers Dominique Jordan Turner and Amy ‘Hope Dealer’ Williams. Shifting Paradigms, the theme of the event, challenged the attendees’ views on social and political issues such as making “Peace Profitable,” the Silent Movement of disability, labels such as “thugs, gangster,” and poverty. “Poverty has the power to change the world,” was the premise of Turner’s argument for highlighting the skills of those surrounded by poverty.

Interlaced among the live speakers were videos of other TED talks in which speakers from around the globe gave five-minute talks on a variety of topics. Three of North Park’s own students were also among those who spoke: Seanna Wong, Melanie Lofgren, and Azat Toroev. Seanna Wong, a theater and communications double major and ethnographic storyteller, presented her piece about the “Listening Loop” and performance, stating that her passion “weaves together lives.” Azat Toroev, an exchange student at North Park with world-wide experience, gave a compelling speech on those with disabilities, and how disabilities do not limit possibilities.

North Park University was proud to see students take initiative, and is excited for the next TEDx event held on campus likely to be held in 2018.

Related:

INAUGURAL TEDX NORTH PARK UNIVERSITY NURTURES TALENTS OF ITS STUDENTS

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Over 500 Donors Participated in #NPUBlueandGoldDay, Raised Over $130,000

On May 3 North Park held its annual day of giving, #NPUBlueandGoldDay. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends rose to the challenge and made #NPUBlueandGoldDay a huge success.

CHICAGO, May 18, 2017 — On May 3 North Park held its annual day of giving, #NPUBlueandGoldDay. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends rose to the challenge and made #NPUBlueandGoldDay a huge success.

A total of $137,388 was donated. “I had a number of people tell me they kept watching and refreshing our Giving Day website. It was so encouraging. The energy was high on and off campus,” said Shena Keith, assistant vice president for advancement. The “Wear it. Give it. Share it.” campaign caught on and spirits on campus were high.

The Office of Advancement had a goal of 503 donors for the May 3 event, which was surpassed with a total of 526 donors.  Alumni accounted for 52% of the donors, but faculty/staff (14%), friends (6%), parents (4%), and students (4%) also made substantial gifts.

Ragnar the Viking, the student body mascot, helped to rally support for #NPUBlueandGoldDay with appearances in videos and at campus events on May 3. He also joined nearly 400 students, faculty, and staff to take a giant N-P-U photo in celebration of the day. “Best Giving Day ever!” proclaimed Ragnar.

www.northpark.edu/bluegoldday

Author Ana FundukPosted on Categories News, StoriesTags

Dr. Stephen Ray Makes 40 Under 40 List as Consulting-Specifying Engineer

Named to the 2017 Consulting-Specifying Engineer 40 Under 40 list.

CHICAGO (May 16, 2017) North Park’s Assistant Professor of Physics and Engineering and Director of Sustainability Dr. Stephen Ray has been named to the 2017 Consulting-Specifying Engineer 40 Under 40 list. According to their web site http://www.csemag.com/, a Consulting-Specifying Engineering is, “dedicated to encouraging and recognizing the most talented young individuals in the engineering community supporting the building industry.”

Nominations were judged by the editors of Consulting-Specifying Engineer and anonymous industry experts seeking to identify accomplished individuals with outstanding academic credentials and in-the-field professional experience. Award recipients met such important criteria as being actively involved with the engineering community and supporting the building industry.

Other qualities the awards committee looked for included community service—Dr. Ray began a mentoring program that has paired 45 students with professional mentors; innovation and inventiveness —Dr. Ray contributed to the design of 28 domestic and international buildings totaling over 38 million ft2 and individually conducted 20 urban climate studies for building campuses and urban districts; and leadership—Dr. Ray spearheaded North Park’s BS in Mechanical Engineering degree which began Spring 2017.

With a specialty solving complex problems related to sustainability and airflow, Dr. Ray approaches his field as both an engineering professor and a practitioner. Dr. Ray plans to attend a congratulatory networking dinner this Fall where he’ll have the opportunity to meet fellow 40 Under 40 winners.

STEPHEN RAY

ENGINEERING AT NORTH PARK

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