social justice
disability , religion , sex or gender that have been posted online at Pioneer Life , and receive points for engaging in them . Due to the pandemic , the program has been conducted virtually .
Because WP� serves adiverse student community — it has been designated as a “ Hispanic-Serving Institution ” since 201� — there are plenty of occasions for receiving SJLB training , and to practice lessons learned .
Last �ovember , aHolocaust survivor spoke about the family separation and genocidal policies of the �a�i regime ; after the Jan . 6 insurrection at the Capitol Building in Washington , D . C ., students were invited to take a follow-up workshop on anti-Semitic hate symbols as they were used by the �a�is , and then again by the insurrectionists . Participants talked about how that event made them feel , even if they didn ’ t identify with specific groups being attacked .
A series of events surrounding �orean culture included a�orean dance performance on campus that was streamed to viewers . Students from the Go Japan group and �orea Club each made adish using one common ingredient and shared the experience on �oom . After each demo , which included a narrative on the culture , students asked and answered questions via chat . “ We talked about the culture and customs , how the pandemic has affected restaurants ,” says Gonell . “ We don ’ t just eat !”
Shawn Gaffney is a rising senior and political science club leader who took in the �orean dance show . “ My church is �orean , and I ’ m glad to see these people on campus , but I ’ m also going to talk about church and LGBT� issues , which is highly sensitive , and I ’ ve never seen a space for this before ,” she says . “ The conversations I have with other students get to your heart and help you heal , too .”
She describes the Student Justice Leadership Badge as a “ shield .” Though a cultural event like the
�ERTIFIE� �EA�ER Nupur �atel , whose family came from India , says that the S�L� program has helped her better understand issues surrounding immigration and racism .
�orean dance performance is more likely to attract �orean students , she says , the program gives participants outside the culture permission to talk about unfamiliar subjects , even if that means risking the occasional verbal gaff . “ For people who want an introduction to these topics , it gets a foot in the door ,” she says . “ You know there are people who want to talk about this with you , and you won ’ t get your face mauled !”
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�upur Patel , arising sophomore and honors student majoring in nursing , came to Bergen County from India a decade ago . “ My parents kept me sheltered , and I was a little naive ,” she says . In fall 2020 , at the beginning of her freshman year , Patel attended a virtual conversation led by LaTosha Brown , cofounder of the advocacy group Black Voters Matter .
COURTESY OF C�RIS LACCETTI��ILLIAM �ATERSON UNI�ERSITY
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