University Marks Social Justice Week On Campus

Clubs plan and carry out readings, discussions and other activities

Sacred Heart University students marked Social Justice Week at the end of March with events sponsored by campus clubs to educate fellow Pioneers about topics ranging from mental health awareness to microaggressions and gender inclusivity.

SHU’s English club celebrated Women’s History Month with an afternoon of readings from the works of Edith Wharton, Kate Chopin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Adrienne Rich, Alice Walker, Flannery O’Connor and Sylvia Plath, among others.

“The event was a great opportunity for Sacred Heart and the surrounding community to appreciate the literary influence female authors have had on various social justice movements,” said Kailey Blount ’23, English major and English club president. “It was important to me to choose authors whose works are being silenced now, like Toni Morrison. Although we still have a very long way to go in terms of equality and acceptance, I believe that in lifting the voices and the messages of minority authors, we can continue to make a lasting difference.”

Meanwhile, the campus chapter of To Write Love on Her Arms organized “table time” discussions to raise mental health awareness and decrease the stigma of mental health issues for those who stopped by.

The social work club conducted a panel discussion about microaggressions that featured students Aleksandra Dauz ’22, Alyssa Gonzalez ’22, Shikeda Paucar ’22 and Olivia Delgado ’23.

“Although this discussion is rather uncomfortable for some, it's definitely a topic that needs to be and should be spoken about more,” said Grace Glennon ’22, social work major and president of the social work club. “Our world nowadays is increasingly becoming more and more polarized, which silences the voices of those who identify in marginalized groups, which only continues the cycle of microaggressions occurring. By having this discussion, not only are we allowing students’ voices to be heard but also informing and educating others on how to not be a bystander and to create a safer and more inclusive campus. Creating change is difficult, but all it takes is one person to be that change in making a difference―or, in our case, the four students on our panel.”

The College Democrats educated students about the war in Ukraine and discussed how college students in Connecticut can help support Ukrainian residents by offering financial support, donating supplies, volunteering and boycotting Russian goods, media and services. They also raised donations for organizations providing front-line relief for Ukrainian citizens.

In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) sent forms around Sacred Heart’s community asking, “What does being transgender or the Transgender Day of Visibility event mean to you?”

“We were not expecting such a massive response,” said Delgado, president of the GSA. Responses were written anonymously on post-it notes and placed on the windows of the Multicultural Center to create a Transgender Day of Visibility Wall replicating the transgender flag. “We had over 200 submissions from the SHU community, many of which came from transgender students themselves who shared positive affirmations regarding gender identity and inclusive support for all.”

Members of the campus ministry presented multiple talks during the week about the intersectionality of faith and social justice and how the scriptures can both unite and divide people of different faiths.

“Being part of a minority group, I think it’s important to stand up for what you believe, to stand out and not just be another number,” said Cithlaly Palacios ’22, a pre-med track biology major and president of La Hispanidad, who helped organize Social Justice Week. “It’s important to educate my peers on these topics; they have to be talked about.”

Photo caption (top): At the microaggressions panel discussion are, from left, Rob Johnson, director of the Multicultural Affairs and students Shikeda Paucar, Olivia Delgado, Aleksandra Dauz and Alyssa Gonzalez.