Unity Days Will Focus on Social Justice
“Social Justice” is the theme for this year’s Unity Days, which will feature a screening of the documentary film War Child and a keynote address by its subject, former Sudanese child soldier and current hip-hop artist Emmanuel Jal. The annual event, held this year from October 14 to 19, brings students, faculty and staff together, and celebrates all the diverse elements that make up the Rider community. Unity Days will also offer workshops that aim to celebrate social change and progress in civil rights and diversity.
Jal will present his keynote address on Monday, October 19, at 7 p.m. in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater following a 4:30 p.m. screening of War Child. The documentary, winner of the Audience Choice Award at the 2008 Tribeca International Film Festival, chronicles the story of Jal from his days as an automatic-weapon-toting 7-year-old fighting in Sudan’s brutal civil war. Today, Jal is a successful hip-hop artist fighting a new battle: bringing peace to his beloved Sudan and building schools in Africa.
Interspersing original interviews, live concerts and rare footage of Jal as a child soldier, “War Child will make viewers cry, laugh, dance and celebrate the power of hope,” according to the official War Child Web site at http://warchildmovie.com/. War Child will also be shown on Thursday, October 15, at 4:30 p.m. in the BLC Theater, followed by a post-film discussion led by Dr. Frank Louis Rusciano, professor of Political Science, and Dr. Roberta Fiske-Rusciano, adjunct assistant professor of Political Science.
Unity Days will kick off on Wednesday, October 14, with the Multicultural Lunch, featuring a performance by The Steel Kings Band, on the Cranberrys Patio from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Following the lunch, a series of workshops focusing on domestic and international issues will be conducted:
Impact of Music on Social Change
1:10 to 2:40 p.m. in the BLC Fireside Lounge
Learn the impact of Woodstock on music in society, led by Larry Johnson, associate dean of students at Westminster Choir College; Dr. Jonathan Millen, chair of the Department of Communication & Journalism; and Anna Friars of the Westminster Choir College chapter of Circle K.
Photojournalism During the Civil Rights Movement
1:10 to 2:40 p.m. in the Commuter Lounge
Features a screening of the 30-minute documentary Stills of the Movement: The Civil Rights Photojournalism of Flip Schulke, coproduced by Patty Wittenburg ’09 and Shawn Kildea, professor of Communication, followed by a discussion with Kildea.
Leadership in a Time of Social and Political Change: Impact of Obama’s Election
3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge
Led by Dr. Hazel-Anne Johnson of the Department of Management and Human Resources; Dr. Harvey Kornberg of the Department of Political Science; and Ben Dworkin, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics.
The Service-Minded Leader
3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Rider Pub
Learn the advantages of bringing service-minded leadership to your organization or class, led by Laura Seplaki, associate director of the Center for Development of Leadership Skills and director of the Leadership Development Program (LDP); and LDP student members Nicole Addesso, Allyson Cook and Kenneth Jacobs.
The evening of October 14 will bring the Multicultural Food Fest, sponsored by the Student Entertainment Council (SEC), from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Cavalla Room, followed by the Rock for Darfur Concert from 7 to 10 p.m., also in the Cavalla Room.
Unity Days is student-led and driven, and involves the leadership of 10 cultural groups, Student Government Association and the SEC.
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