An ASUSF Social Justice Update

Hello!

I am posting the letter I sent in to the Foghorn today. It may or may not be printed in the hard copy of the newspaper (I’m crossing my fingers that it will though!) The letter is as the title suggests is an ASUSF Social Justice Update. Since the article will not be featured until Thursday, I speak about events as if they are already happened. I hope that doesn’t make the article confusing to read.

So here you are, a sneak peak at the letter!

Thanks!

Alia

Dear USF Community,

I hope you have had the opportunity to attend the many events and exhibits that have been displayed on campus this week, brought together as a strong community effort to stand up against Sexual Violence. These efforts included the Visual Responses in Crossroads art gallery, the Clothesline Project in Harney Plaza, and the Create Against Rape event held on Wednesday in McLaren. Additional events will continue this week including The Clothesline project, Sexual Violence: A Display of Library Resources, Take Back the Night, leading up to the SFWARS Walk Against Rape this Saturday.

The Sexual Violence: A Display of Library Resources this week is a continuing event located in the Study Lounge behind Thatcher Gallery in the Gleeson Library. The Take Back the Night event, originally established in London in 1877, is a candlelit march in which women protested in solidarity against sexual violence. Our Take Back the Night event will be held in Harney Plaza on Thursday April 23rd, from 6:30-9:00PM. There will be an open mic, giving you the opportunity to speak your mind about Sexual Violence. Please come support, and let’s be there for one another and truly create an aware campus community.

Other collaborators this week continue to fundraise for the Walk Against Rape, by selling baked goods in Harney Plaza. If you would like to participate in SFWAR Walk Against Rape Saturday April 25th, it’s not too late! Join the USF Team in front of Gleeson Library at 9AM. The group will head to Justin Herman Plaza to participate in the Walk at 10AM. Following this, walkers will arrive at Dolores Park where there will be many exhibits proclaiming against Sexual Violence, in addition to speakers, performances, and resource information. You can join the USF Team by registering at firstgiving.com/sfwar. Onsite registration is also available for this event! These events hope to unite the campus community in solidarity against Sexual Violence, I hope you are able to participate and be a part of the stance against Sexual Violence.

To continue with the ASUSF Social Justice update I would like to inform you of a couple of the current ASUSF Social Justice Committee initiatives. This Tuesday, April 28th from 6-8PM Senate is hosting their annual Spring Summit for all clubs and organizations, and at this gathering the Social Justice Committee will present information on the Social Justice climate throughout this year, comparing first and second semester, in addition, to evaluating the entire climate, and illustrating what is necessary to improve our current climate. On Tuesday, April 21st the Social Justice Committee presented a resolution to the Senate that strives to increase our safety on this campus. This resolution includes attaining a Public Safety Tab on USF Connect, a Public safety text line and hotline, and Muni monitors around campus that will reveal bus times in the main buildings. The resolution will be voted on by the Senate on May 5th, if you have any strong feelings for or against any of these initiatives I urge to attend the Senate Meeting on May 5th. You can also send me an email with any questions or concerns you may have. University Ministry will be celebrating Earth Day this year, through their April Action Project taking place this Saturday, April 25th from 7:30AM-12:30PM. If you would like to take action with UM please contact Emily J Katz ejkatz@usfca.edu to sign up!

Not for Sale week, “Live Differently: Stop Paying for Slavery” is scheduled to begin this Monday, April 27 until Thursday, April 30. On Thursday, April 30th Not for Sale is planning on hosting their annual press conference in War Memorial Gym. This press conference will display projects created by Erasmus students and will include the display of projects of four groups, including the “Massage Palor group,” the “Chocolate group,” “Sweatshop group,” and the group researching farm workers in the Bay Area. The campus community will have the opportunity to ask questions concerning how the companies each group have been examining use or condemn slavery. Not For Sale continues to fight against modern-day slavery and human trafficking, and these students have become fully aware of their existence, and continue to uncover ways that they can make a difference toward ending the injustice. You can learn more about the Not For Sale campaign at the notforsalecampaign.com.

Finally, I would urge you to please participate and take the opportunity to see how your peers have responded to sexual violence, human trafficking and modern day slavery. As an institution, I hope together we can stand up for social justice and establish a campus community where we acknowledge the injustices of the world and strive to end them!

Thank you for your time.

Alia M. Al-Sharif

Vice President of Social Justice, ASUSF Senate

alia.alsharif1@gmail.com

iFuture

Its always nice to see school offices utilizing online outlets to reach the students they serve. The Career Center just launched a blog that you may want to keep tags on. Check it out here.

-Jon Coon, Off-campus Rep

Preliminary Budgets are Out!

Hi everyone!
I just want to give you a update regarding Funded Accounts budgets for ’09-’10. Budgets were due on March 20th and the Funded Accounts presented to the Finance Committee this past Friday and Saturday. The presentations were very informative, which really helped the Finance Committee during the decision making process. One Funded Account was very creative with the presentation by producing a video showcasing reasons why certain requested items are necessary for the success of the organization.
After over 22 hours of presentations and deliberation, the Committee had diligently and carefully allocated $750,000 across all 17 Funded Accounts, including accounts for non-funded clubs such as Superfund and Club Funding.

A few main factors that Finance Committee considered this year were:

- With the current economic crisis, the Committee balanced the budget this year to reflect the possible decreased revenue from student activity fees. The Committee understands the decreased revenue may extend to possible decreases in the future.

- A high scrutiny was put on stipend amounts, and the awarded stipends were based on information provided regarding responsibilities of each position and how it compares with other Funded Accounts.

- A high scrutiny was also evaluated for travel and staff development expenses. To be fair across the board, the Committee awarded similar amounts for meals and expenses across all groups.

- Collaboration was one of the main goals from many Funded Accounts this year, which heightens the Finance Committee expectation that groups collaborate on events (with other student groups and departments) and not duplicate efforts.

- A reduced number of color posters for events were implemented across all Funded Accounts. The Committee would like to see all groups utilize electronic media for their publicity, in addition to posters and handbills.

- Each Funded Account’s performance from this past year was also taken into consideration, such as expected revenue or attendance at events, general operating costs such as copying and phone expenses, and completing requirements such as the submittal of budget proposals.

- Increased funds were provided for direct benefit to non-funded clubs, in light of the increased number of clubs next year.

The preliminary budgets are available for pick up in SLE office. All Funded Accounts are welcomed to submit an appeal. Appeals are to be submitted no later than Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 5:00 pm. Final budgets will be released Tuesday, April 21st at 5:00 pm along with a revised budget stipulations. The final budget will be proposed to Senate that night at 6:00 pm. Funded Account representatives are highly encouraged to be at the meeting to answer any questions Senate may have. If any student is interested in learning where his/her student activities fee go towards, April 21st is a great meeting to attend. Please check the Senate’s website for more details on the meeting location.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding budgets, please feel free to contact me at mdnguyen@usfca.edu.
Thanks! –Michelle My Nguyen, Vice President of Business Administration, Finance Committee Chair

President’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women Forum- Meeting Notes by Alia M. Al-Sharif VP of Social Justice

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday, April 7th during dead hour I attended President’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women Forum. This Forum was hosted by Leslie from the Advisory Committee and included a panel of speakers Father Privett, a senior student representative Nadia, and two representatives from SF WAR Isaac Brown and Amal Kouttab.

Below are my notes from the forum. If you have any questions or concerns please let me know. You can email me alia.alsharif1@gmail.com.

Meeting Notes:

www.sfwar.org
Crisis Line: 415.647.7273 (RAPE)
3543 18th Street, San Francisco, CA 94116

Leslie- Committee Chair for the Women’s Advisory Committee

Father Privett:
-Religion and the world both struggle with sex, but in different ways.
-The common ground we stand on today, secular and culture, violent and sexual activity traumatic for victims, dehumanizing.
-This marks the beginning of the sustained effort

Nadia:
We are at risk two fold

Isaac Brown
-A way for us to address the pain, the shame, and the difficulty that comes from this.
Power point presentation:
about sfwar, oldest rape crisis center in the nation, 20 hour hotline led and volunteer run, women of color led organization.
24 hotline
support groups
medical and legal advocacy
prevention training in schools serving every area of san francisco ORIENTATION

Statistics:
60-80% rapes are unreported (why)
75% of rapes are committed by someone the survivor knows
1:3 girls will be raped before reaching the age of 18
1:6 boys will be raped before 18
1:4 women will be raped after 18
1:11 men
25% weapons are used in attempted raped

What is sexual violence?
Sexual violence is any unwanted or non-consensual exploitation, or act of intrusion into the physical, emotional or spiritual realms of a persons sexuality.

RAPE, is a crime motivated by a need to control, humiliate and harm. Perpetrators use rape as a weapon to hurt and dominate others. Rape is sexualized violence. A violent crime in which sexualized violence is used as the weapon.

Sexual assault VS rape

Sexual assault is a much broader category then rape.

Sexual Harassment —————————– Rape———>
Continuum of sexual violence

Playing into a bigger part to control, intimidate or have power over someone else.

Consent:
actively participating in giving your consent.
submission under the influence of fear, intoxicants or coercion is not consent.
going along with someone because of wanting to fit in, to get along with someone.

How to support a survivor:
2/3 college students it was disclosed to a friend (66%)
Listen
Believe
Support- not to say you should do this, or follow up with the police, leave it. How can I support you? Present them with options. Whatever you choose, I will support you.

-Be patient- don’t try to rush the process or “make it better”

-Let the survivor know you are not to blame.

You may feel: Impatience, guilt, fear, anger.

Rape trauma syndrome
-Three times more likely to suffer from depression
-six times more likely to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder
-13 times more likely to abuse alcohol
-26 times more likely to abuse drugs
-four times more like to contemplate suicide

(Resource Center is a necessity to educate the safe ways for people to get the right kind of help. )

Forensic Evidence Collection
San Francisco General Hospital
1001 Potrero Avenue

What is a rape kit?

(Lucky, the book.)

Tolerance of Sexual Violence
Rape Culture- condones sexual violence
98% of perpetrators are never held accountable for their actions. only half of those who are serve more than one year in prision. sends out the message that it is okay.
Violence is sexy, sexuality is seen as violent.

Social Conditioning:
Accept images the are embedded into our culture psyche
rape and fear of rape, social controls

Rape Culture:
a complex of beliefs that encourages sexual aggression and violence.
Mainstream images you see everyday, deconstruct images you see. Living in a rape culture. Gang rape situation.
Dolce and Cabana
-rape of the saban women, rape in a combat situation
objectification of women
the axe effect women as a puppet, very passive and can be controlled.
Idea for crossroads exhibit.

images and the history that we are living in, used as a tool to control communities. recently said that rape is not okay. going back would say it is allowable for men to have the choice over women, standing over a long legacy of men controlling power.

Where can we go from here?
Notice your own behavior that perpetrate violence internal and externally
talk with your friends, classmates, and community about sexual violence
educate yourself about ways to support yourself, be a strong ally, and interrupt violence.

People use their own community and language.

(It’s important to make sure the information gets to Transfer students)

Finance Committee

I spent last Friday and Saturday with a couple of my fellow senators and at large members of the student population evaluating budget requests for the 2009-10 school year. Some funded accounts fared better than others but overall it was a smooth couple of days and I have come away with an in-depth understanding of campus activities. – Jon Coon, Off-campus rep

An International Student Representative at USF

Hey everyone,

My name is Erick Irigoyen, an international student at USF, currently a junior majoring in International Business. I started my studies at USF back in Spring 2007, and since then I became very active with the USF international community. During the orientation I met other international student leaders at USF, such as Nadiany Diarra, ISA’s President at the time. She was very active at school and always helped us international student with our questions and doubts about living in the US. I looked at her as an example, and became an active student at different USF clubs and organizations.

For the past three semesters I served as a student leader at USF. First,  I served as the Public Relations Chairperson for the International Student Association, ISA; as International Student Representative in the USF’s Student Senate;as the Secretary of the Latin American Study Organization, and as the Event Coordinator at the CFCC.

As you can see, I am usually very busy, but I don’t mind. I believe that as a student representative is my duty to set the example for future international students coming to USF. Hopefully, there will be more international students interested to participate in the different clubs and organizations at our school.

I have posted some of the pictures from the last CFCC’s general meeting and ISA’s meeting. Hopefully, I will be able to post more pictures from tonight’s senate meeting.

Looking forward to be in touch with of all you.

Best,

Erick Irigoyen

Random Stuff by Casey Atud

Hello!

I never really know what to write in these things, but I figure I’ll write about what I know best, ME! (:

And it wouldn’t hurt to know a little bit more about your Senate VP of PR would it? Just nod your head, thank you, it makes me feel better.

So anyways, my full name is Casey Baluran Atud.  My ethnicity consists of filipino and hawaiin and I wouldn’t be able to give you an exact percentage of each, ever.  I am a native here to the area of norcal, Milpitas to be exact, so if you ever want to know some of the best places to eat, I am your girl! I haven’t gone to USF  all 4 years.  I transferred here in the fall of 2007 from DeAnza College in Cupertino and I love the decision I made.  In my spare time, besides eating, I just love being with my family and friends.  My favorite past times are jamming with all of the great, talented friends I have, as well as playing videogames.  If you want to check out some of my friends’ stuff you can always check out youtube.com/loveandrob or youtube.com/jstizzel03.  I can kick your butt in Guitar Hero. I wouldn’t underestimate me if I were you!  I’m not much of the cliche college party girl, but I LOVE hanging out.  I have a lot of Catholic church roots, but I mostly just believe in being the best person you can be and I think alcohol can most times inhibit that fact, that’s just me though.  I actually just really don’t like throwing up either, yucky!

I came to USF because of the brochure that they sent to me when I was a senior in high school.   I was originally going to come here to be a nursing major, but when I was a senior and in my engineering class one day, my teacher pulled me to the side for a private conversation.  He asked me what I was planning on majoring in and when I told him nursing because my mom told me to do it, he said that would be a huge waste of my life and talents.   Haha.  He told me that I was needed in the marketing field and since then I have never regretted my decision.  I got involved in Senate because I was always one of those kids who like being involved and taking charge of my school career.  I was president and vice president of all of my classes from 5th grade to high school.  I never grew fond of being in power, I just really like seeing people have a great time and that’s why I love my position here at the University.  My plan was and still is to help make the line between Senate and the student body non-existent. After all, we’re all students here right?

So all in all, this was a quickie random look into me.  If ever you want to know more, just ask!  I love meeting new faces.  And I promise I’m really nice(:  And if I look otherwise, it’s probably because I’m hungry.

Have a great day everyone.

<3Casey.