PCB?aims to revive passion for culture and diversity
My Tien Huynh
Issue date: 9/16/09 Section: Features
The Pugh Community Board (PCB) hopes to put an end to passive silence this year at the College. PCB, whose mission is to organize events that promote multicultural communication, awareness and understanding, is composed of a self-governing student board, Pugh Center director and Dean of Students Noel James, and their recently acquired faculty advisor, Associate Professor of Psychology Tarja Raag.
The board maintains an office in the Pugh Center, a community space where several other organizations working to promote diversity and cultural understanding are also located.
Organizations under the Pugh Center umbrella include the Colby Bridge, Students Organized Against Racism (S.O.A.R) and Students Organized for Black and Hispanic Unity (S.O.B.H.U.). In collaboration with these other organizations, PCB schedules talks, concerts, workshops and special events it believes would work toward promoting diversity and understanding on campus.
The Pugh Center serves as an oasis where students and members of the Colby community can feel comfortable "discussing issues of difference," says James. As a result, the College is equipped with student leaders capable of handling conflict when it arises. "When there are situations that come up on campus, there's a hope and a student body that's already in place to address those issues."
PCB hopes to further address difference and create understanding by being more visible on campus. "We want the campus to know that we are here," says chair of PCB Sonia Mahabir '11. The Board will maintain office hours where students are encouraged to stop by and discuss issues that may be affecting them and the Colby community. The Board also intends to hold open lunches. Mahabir hopes that these efforts will create a comfortable environment where students can express their concerns and not feel silenced.
James agrees, adding that "having a self governing board such as PCB is so critical in making sure that they always have their finger on the pulse of what's happening on campus and what's important to students."
To maintain their goal, this year PCB will continue in the tradition of holding frequent PC coffee gatherings where students can come to converse with board members about the month's assigned topic. The first PC cof held on Tuesday, September 26 at 8 p.m.
PCB will also continue to hold events, such as S.H.O.U.T. weekend and Social Class Awareness week, to address issues spanning across all spectrums including women's rights, class, race and sexuality.
The Board's first major event will be co-sponsoring "Tres Vidas" on October 6. During this event, the College will welcome the arts and music trio, consisting of Mexican painter Firda Kahlo, Salvadoran peasant activist Rufina Amaya and Argentinian poet Alfonsina Storni to perform an evening-length work in honor of Spanish Heritage Month.
Students interested in supporting cultural diversity on campus are encouraged to become more involved with PCB and attend as many of their upcoming events as possible.
The board maintains an office in the Pugh Center, a community space where several other organizations working to promote diversity and cultural understanding are also located.
Organizations under the Pugh Center umbrella include the Colby Bridge, Students Organized Against Racism (S.O.A.R) and Students Organized for Black and Hispanic Unity (S.O.B.H.U.). In collaboration with these other organizations, PCB schedules talks, concerts, workshops and special events it believes would work toward promoting diversity and understanding on campus.
The Pugh Center serves as an oasis where students and members of the Colby community can feel comfortable "discussing issues of difference," says James. As a result, the College is equipped with student leaders capable of handling conflict when it arises. "When there are situations that come up on campus, there's a hope and a student body that's already in place to address those issues."
PCB hopes to further address difference and create understanding by being more visible on campus. "We want the campus to know that we are here," says chair of PCB Sonia Mahabir '11. The Board will maintain office hours where students are encouraged to stop by and discuss issues that may be affecting them and the Colby community. The Board also intends to hold open lunches. Mahabir hopes that these efforts will create a comfortable environment where students can express their concerns and not feel silenced.
James agrees, adding that "having a self governing board such as PCB is so critical in making sure that they always have their finger on the pulse of what's happening on campus and what's important to students."
To maintain their goal, this year PCB will continue in the tradition of holding frequent PC coffee gatherings where students can come to converse with board members about the month's assigned topic. The first PC cof held on Tuesday, September 26 at 8 p.m.
PCB will also continue to hold events, such as S.H.O.U.T. weekend and Social Class Awareness week, to address issues spanning across all spectrums including women's rights, class, race and sexuality.
The Board's first major event will be co-sponsoring "Tres Vidas" on October 6. During this event, the College will welcome the arts and music trio, consisting of Mexican painter Firda Kahlo, Salvadoran peasant activist Rufina Amaya and Argentinian poet Alfonsina Storni to perform an evening-length work in honor of Spanish Heritage Month.
Students interested in supporting cultural diversity on campus are encouraged to become more involved with PCB and attend as many of their upcoming events as possible.
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