To schedule an Our Space session, please contact Jen Foxman in the Dean of Students Office (814-332-4356).
Social justice is a concept that ordinary people use to describe the movement towards a socially just world. In this context, social justice is based on the idea of human rights and equality. So a very broad definition of social justice is "social justice reflects the way in which human rights are manifested in the everyday lives of people at every level of society".
It can be further defined as working towards the realization of a world where all members of a society, regardless of background, have basic human rights and equal access to their community's wealth and resources.
"Our Space" is a series of programs designed help students engage in face-to-conversations on such topics as class identity, gender identity, racial identity and sexual identity.
Through these programs, students will explore and upon various aspects of diversity and social justice. As part of our commitment to build an inclusive welcoming community, the conversations will be designed so that all voices are affirmed in a respectful setting. You choose from four topics, and two trained presenters from Allegheny will facilitate a discussion.
Socio-economic identity
Through discussions and films, we will explore the ever-expanding
gap between rich and poor in our country, the link between class and
status, the history of the "American Dream" and the impact of
economics on our daily lives. Participants will be encouraged to
consider how their own family and community history has been
influenced by class structures in our country.
Gender identity
What role does gender play in influencing our
decisions and interactions? How does society and the
media impact how we are socialized about gender
roles? A lively conversation about gender issues both
on and off campus.
Sexual identity
Throughout the world, on university and grade school
campuses, in communities and homes, and in the
media, issues of homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism
are increasingly "coming out of the closet."
Hate-motivated violence against LGBT people is on
the rise.* These discussions will help raise awareness
and understanding of the issues and consider the
impact on our community and its members.
Racial identity
Now, more than ever, racial discrimination is not only about skin
color and other aspects of our identity, such as ethnicity, national
origin, language, accent, religion, and cultural customs. The
challenge is to ensure that none of these factors continues to affect
the quality of life choices so that we can finally treat each other with
dignity and respect regardless of our differences.* How will we all
respond to this challenge?
