ACTivities Magazine - Vol. 1 Issue 2 (June 2020)

A C T i v i t i e s M A G A Z I N E J U N E

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V O L U M E

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I S S U E

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Open up: Moving in a PostQuarantined society

Spring II Classes have come to end!

Summer has arrived

W I T H

C H A L L E N G E

C O M E S

C H A N G E #TilthenStaySafe

A C T i v i t i e s M A G A Z I N E J U N E

2 0 2 0

V O L U M E

1

I S S U E

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Open up: Moving in a PostQuarantined Society

c i l C

Spring II classes have come to end!

n o k

E C A

Summer has arrived

W I T H

C H A L L E N G E

C O M E S

C H A N G E

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3. Letter from the Editor

17. SGA President Farwell

4. Hall of Fame

18 SGA Executive Board

5. Hall of Fame

19. Poetry

6. Hall of Fame

20. Photography

7. Poem

21. Photography

8. Digital Art

22. Photography

9. Writing Submission

23. Photography

10. Writing Submission

24. Event

11. Writing Submission

25. Job Opportunity for ACT

12. Photography

students

13. Photography

26. Photography

14. Photography

27. Well Wishes

15. Photography 16. Photography

Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director: Leemu Kutu Hall Executive Producer: Natalia Alexiou Senior Editor: Heather Funk Supported by: The International Programs & Student Services Offices

Thank you to everyone who submitted their works

To submit your work for the next issue of ACTivities Magazine email: ipofellow@act.edu

This publication was prepared with content submitted by the members of the ACT community named in the edition. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views and opinions of the American College of Thessaloniki. All content is protected according to intellectual property law.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LEEMU KUTU HALL

IPO Fellow M.S. Student

Dear Readers, we have certainly found ourselves in some unprecedented times.

First and foremost, I want to congratulate both our Undergraduate and Graduate students for graduating. Way to go Class of 2020! You have accomplished something worth celebrating. I know and understand that not being able to flaunt across that stage this June 22nd has left a lot of you devastated. However, do not let those feelings supersede the pride you should be experiencing. It was Shakespeare that wrote "all the world's a stage". Therefore, I say to you: Walk in this world taller with your back straight and chest out because you now walk this earth one degree hotter! Your past, present, and future self thank you for all of your hard work, determination, and perseverance. We sure as heck are proud of all of you.

Second, I would like to address what is happening back in the States with Black Lives Matter. As a Black American citizen turned resident of Greece, I have experienced things I would not wish upon my worst enemy. My biggest piece of advice: Please take the time to educate yourself on the history surrounding this movement (established in 2013), black history, and the black experience. Doing this would require more than social media, the news, and asking your friends of color. To know history is to answer questions of the present. Also, keep an open perspective and do not stay rooted in your current ideals and presumptions. In order to have a conversation, it requires actively listening. If you really want to take a conversation deeper, you could also evoke the power of empathy as it contributes to understanding.

That being said, this movement is not rooted in police brutality but the institution of white supremacy. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are not anomalies but the sad reality of being black in this world. Apartheid ended in the early 1990s, the Civil Rights Act was signed in 1964, the Dutch still do Blackface with Zwarte Piet to this day, California recently passed a bill against discriminating someone based on their hair, soccer fans in European countries still throw bananas at black soccer players, and sadly it seems as if the lynching of black people is rising again.

Donating to the cause, signing petitions, and sharing info with others is always appreciated; but be aware and beware as these can be yet another band-aid to soothe guilt or quiet the wounded. This is an international crisis. It might be an uncomfortable conversation to have, but with challenge comes change.

Although this has been a wild-ass year, there were lessons we needed to learn as a human society.

2020 is a wake up call. So far this year we have learned that despite miles or continents we are interwoven. We saw first-hand our environmental impact as animals roamed streets, skies cleared, and the earth finally had a moment to breathe. The longer that disputes and injustices are ignored, the harder they are to rectify and produce conflict transformation. I grieve the lives that were lost this year from the virus, from the protests, and for any other reason. 2020 is the year of humanity and hopefully this challenging year is met with abundant positive change.

Peace and Blessings, Kutu

Volleyball

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Gabriela Shehu

First Year Student

EIRINI HADJIKAKOU

PSYCHOLOGY

SECOND YEAR STUDENT

NOBODY NEEDS YOUR SAVING, PLEASE SHUT UP INTERSECTIONALITY IN THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT There was always discussion among some

And most importantly from what? Who are those

feminists about women who are not

women who are non or anti-feminists? They can be

feminists or are anti-feminists. To be honest, I

literally anyone. From the women higher in the

don’t have much information on the subject,

social hierarchy to the women in the lowest

however due to a recent resurgence of the discussion, because of a video posted by a woman against feminism, I have read some texts and articles related to the topic. The

positions in society. And those women, who have different positions in our society, can be nonfeminists or anti-feminists for very different reasons.

Women who are in high positions already have power. They overpower women and men who are

articles I have read are not academic. Based

below them. They do not need more empowerment.

on these sources, I will discuss the subject of

At the same time, women who are at the lowest do

women who are non-feminists or anti-

not even have the basics to live.

feminists, and most importantly how the most represented feminist movement and feminists view them

Angela Davis, in a speech in 2018 said "when I wrote a book that was published in 1981 called "Women, Race and Class" everybody started

According to many feminists' opinions, women who

referring to me as a feminist and my response was “I

are non-feminists or anti-feminists have these beliefs

am not a feminist! I am black revolutionist”. Because

because they have internalized the patriarchal

I did not see how the two were related to each other.

stereotypes about themselves as women and they view

But I realized I was talking about a certain kind of

themselves through the patriarchal lens. Additionally,

feminism, the bourgeois feminism". And she

according to feminists, the non-feminist women try to

continues: “a feminism that is still unfortunately

survive by negotiating with patriarchy and with men,

white, bourgeois feminism, which is unfortunately

they agree with patriarchal stereotypes because they

the most represented feminism today and most

seek to survive through men's support. While stating

people think of that as feminism.

that, feminists mention that they, who fight the patriarchy and have chosen to take this tough decision and to lift this constant weight on their shoulders, are for that reason constantly mocked and bullied inside the patriarchal society by men. This is what I have heard many (white, middle-class) feminist women to say. But let us think for a bit; who told them that other women need their saving?

EIRINI HADJIKAKOU

PSYCHOLOGY

SECOND YEAR STUDENT

NOBODY NEEDS YOUR SAVING, PLEASE SHUT UP INTERSECTIONALITY IN THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT But that ignores the fact that huge numbers of organic and academic intellectuals who are women of color have

KIM MCLARIN, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROFESSOR SHARES HER EXPERIENCE ABOUT TEACHING AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE:

transformed the very nature of feminism and the hallmark of feminism today is what we

“Slavery is terrible for men, but it is far more

call intersectionality, a recognition of the

terrible for women,” she writes in the narrative’s

character of identity but as I frequently say I

most famous line. The students nod. They’re with

think intersectionality is most helpful when we think about the intersectionality of social justice struggles. So, the mistake made by mainstream feminism and its continued reliance on categorical representations of

Jacobs as she details the physical, psychological and sexual terrorism of slavery. They’re with her as she asserts the resilience and importance of black kinship. They’re definitely with her as she critiques the hypocritical Christianity of the South.

women as soon as one assumes that women can be categorically represented, it means that there is some clandestine racialization happening there”.

Women cannot be categorically represented. They

But when Jacobs gets around to criticizing white women — both Southern white women who turn a blind eye to, or actively enable, their husbands’ rape and debasement of enslaved women and their Northern counterparts who, enraptured by the

are not a single, monolithic group. They have different

romantic myth of the wealthy Southern gentleman,

positions in relation to their socioeconomic class, race,

do the same — some students begin to balk. Without

sexuality, being abled or not, religion and many other

fail, at least one young white woman will raise her

identities that shape the degree and the form of their

hand, eyes determined, chin quivering: “Yes, but all

oppression. As Davis stated, the most represented,

women were property back then.” Or: “Gender

mainstream feminism focuses on the struggles and

discrimination has always been a bigger problem

needs of one specific category of women: the white,

than racism.” Or: “Well, white women didn’t have it

middle-class, abled women. White feminists state that

much better than slaves.” Which is simply untrue.”

women are paid “average 80 percent of a man’s salary”.

However, they don’t mention that this is how much white women earn. For black women, the salary is even lower. For Latinas, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, their payments are even below the salary of black women.

PSYCHOLOGY

EIRINI HADJIKAKOU

SECOND YEAR STUDENT

NOBODY NEEDS YOUR SAVING, PLEASE SHUT UP INTERSECTIONALITY IN THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT

And, as Audre Lorde have asked: “If white American feminist theory need not deal with the differences between us, and the resulting difference in our oppressions, then how do you deal with the fact that the women who clean your houses and tend your children while you attend conferences on feminist theory are, for the most part, poor women and women of Color? What is the theory behind racist feminism?”.andestine racialization happening there”.

I am not a black woman and thus it is not my place to contemplate black feminism and womanism. I am a white, middle-class woman. I have many privileges due to my class and whiteness. Thus, this is just my opinion: feminists who believe other women need their saving and think that other women are not self-conscious and they are against themselves, are those who in reality address the only women they care about and who they really want to persuade: the women who are either middle class or on top. They say “why are you like us and you don’t buy our narratives about us having equal rights with our middle and upper-class men? Why are you against your own gender and your own rights? We are in the same position with you and we have chosen to fight. You are probably fearful”. No room for discussion about intersectionality.

CLICK FOR RESOURCES AND PART 2 OF ERINI'S PREVIOUS ARTICLE

Dr. Eleni Godi Coordinator of BA in English From Lockdown to Lifted

I started Early – Took my Dog – And visited the Sea – Emily Dickinson

"-This is the errand of the eye Out upon the bay Emily Dickinson

"no man is an island" John Donne

Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space Walt Whitman

"I sat upon the shore Fishing, with the arid plain behind me Shall I at least set my lands in order?

T. S. Eliot, "The Waste Land"

CHRISITIANA SMIRLI SGA President 2019-2020 How could I possibly fit the past 3 years with the SGA in a few words? When I submitted my candidacy in the first year, I never knew I would gain everything I did.

Having to leave SGA after 3 years full of experiences, unforgettable moments, and a bucket of emotions is a really tough emotional process for me due to the devotion, engagement, and attachment I developed towards the association, as a whole.

My first year in the SGA, as a Vice-President of Student Affairs was a chance for me to get introduced to what actually was the Student Government. Since I was there when we moved to the new office, arranged the clothes and furniture, I got the chance to become close to the office as space. I could never find enough words to describe the second year in the SGA. I was first elected Junior Class Representative and then moved to the position of the Treasurer. Even though there are different duties among the members, all of them certainly get to experience different tasks assigned. It is more than essential for me to mention the great work of the former president, Gordan Jordanov (2018/19) and my goal when I was elected president, was to continue that outstanding and disciplined work. This remarkable work gave me great inspiration and motive on how to proceed with my presidency.

The moment I was informed that I had been elected President of the 2019/20 academic year is a moment that will remain in my mind. It was a personal goal for me, not because of the importance of the position, but because of my huge love for the school and my strong desire to do things for it and for the students. I will not mention the things that this year’s SGA accomplished during this year, but I will point out how important the help and the willingness of the members were. I would like to hugely thank them for supporting all my ideas and helping me turn them into reality. Unfortunately, the lockdown restricted us from offering more things that were planned, but I can say that, according to my experience, it was an overall successful and fruitful year for the SGA. I hope the students have the same impression.

Lastly, I would like to thank all students who have expressed their enormous support towards me in each of my candidacies. I hope it was proved you had made the right choice and that I tried my best at representing you. Congratulations to the newly elected Executive Board and to the 2020/21’s President, Granit Rozhaja. I’m sure you’ll do amazing things!

With Love, Christiana

American College of Thessaloniki Student Government Association

2020-21 Executive Board

President

ROZHAJA, Granit

VP Academic Affairs

KONSTANDARAS, Manos

VP Student Affairs

KZOUNIA, Stephanie

Secretary

KOULLIAS, Konstantinos

Treasurer

MATSINAS, Ioannis

No Title for the Wicked Rumination is my brain’s habitat Despite my efforts to stay present My thoughts hit reverse Trials of yesteryears replay and paths not taken explored Time is mailable in my mind I urge myself to morph “what ifs” into shoulda woulda couldas But for some reason, I fear the strength that I posses What if resiliency isn’t a sign of success but an indicator that you were never meant to stand?

I'm getting ahead of myself and my brain has found its way back down the meadow of my failures Chronicles that should be boarded in a wardrobe then incinerated However, they are a Neverland Same age Still right there No matter the days that pass it seems like I am drenched in that moment Emotional Intelligence is a suit hung away to use for everyone but myself I really would like to be out of this loop But it feels as though my body favors tension My lungs reject oxygen; refiltering the same air used half my lifetime It's gotten to the point where any inclining of happiness feels like agony in disguise A super power we have is to impede in one’s memory Pieces of ourselves are etched to the tassels of someone else’s psyche What power and destruction we hold Constantly I think of how I've left people tattered ; not out of malice But because my determination My stubbornness My confusion My ignorance My truth: I have none I’ve built my life lies Tales I spew to stay asleep Sadly, the problem with lying is that it loops 'round Full 360 I play myself too Or is there truth in my lies Are they so raw that they know truth Truth- I don’t think any of us know the essence of this word Are the words above my truth Or just more to feed inquisitive minds

Kutu Hall

Student & Fellow

Poem & Photograph

Georgia Papoutsoglou Service Learning Staff Member

After

A NEW FRIEND

Caratina

Click to Register

The current context in Europe and the United States is one where the health dimension of the pandemic has compounded the economic context. Ιncreased uncertainty ισ on the rise while a new sort of civil engagement with global repercussions is emanating from the protests in the United States. This online discussion thus aims to explore the intersection of politics and civil society mobilization and the possible emergence of a new social consciousness.

Resident Assistant (RA) Position Job title: ACT Resident Assistant for the Degree Seeking Students (on-campus and off-campus) Duration: September 7, 2020 – June 19, 2021 Accommodation: September 7, 2020 – June 19, 2020

The American College of Thessaloniki (ACT) invites applications for the positions of Resident Assistant (RA) in an International Student Dormitory (on- or off-campus). This position is open to current ACT students, undergraduate and graduate.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION Interested applicants are expected to send their CV along with a letter of interest by email to Natalia Alexiou at nalexiou@act.edu, titled “Resident Assistant (RA)” by June 30, 2020.

What a blessing to peek at nature

Photographed by Natalia Alexiou Student Services Coordinator

Congrats

Graduates of

2020 Yes, you did that!