Local Activism Fight the Power: Students Rally for Change On June 17th, a group of student activists gathered at the Pittsburgh Public School Board to discuss changes in school code for the benefit of current and future Pittsburgh Public School (PPS) students. Students from Young Undoing Institutional Racism (YUIR) met with Dr. Dara Ware Allen, the Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services, in order to clarify and improve pieces of the student code. With the teens of YUIR ranging from both private schools within the city such as Winchester Thurston and public schools like CAPA and Barack Obama Academy, a variety of backgrounds and interests were represented for the students of the district. As per a report published by the National Center for Education Statistics from a previous school year (2013-2014), the PPS district has a 54.15% African-American majority. Much of YUIR's focus is in undoing conscious and unconscious internalized and systematic racism, and accounting for the intersectionality of interests in our world. A major point the teens called for was an amendment to the current disciplinary levels enforced in PPS. There are only two current disciplinary levels, of which both tardiness and teasing fellow students are placed as level one offenses, while both academic dishonesty and arson are placed as level two infractions. Given the disparate natures of offenses within the same levels, students called for more clarity within how levels are defined and as to how disciplinary action would
be addressed. Given the high population of students of color within the district, the teens of YUIR sought to address the current policies and punishments, such as suspensions, to alleviate disproportionate discipline of said students. Students noted that punishments like suspension for offenses such as not adhering to dress code interfere with a student's education and may place a student further behind. Additionally, the students pushed for the district to recognize matters such as safety for students inside as well as outside of the school. Students may travel through unsafe areas to school and as a result, may carry items such as pepper spray; however, current policies within the city and commonwealth do not account for these challenges that students may face. The students call for recognition of these special circumstances as to not affect the education of students, and to care about them in not only academics, but in mind and body. Additionally, students called for better wording in regards to policies, specifically targeting the notion of "Safer Saner Schools," to encourage a safe and non-ableist space as well as more care in noting that current structures may not be conducive for families which do not speak English or English as first language. Self expression is a vital part of student life. A point of interest noted that differing opinions between educators and students can be considered disrespectful conduct. Given what many see as a hierar-
By Nijah Glenn
chal power imbalance between students and educators, the ability to punish students for deviation in thought or belief allows the notion to exist that students are truculent, dishonest, or defiant. The teens proposed addition of affinity groups for students and staff, and a mixture of both to alleviate tensions between the different populations. Workshops focusing on issues such as racism provided by organizers within the social justice community and with input from students were also proposed as suggestions in order to help the PPS community grow. Dr. Ware Allen was very receptive to the points proposed, noting the importance of a safe zone for students and the necessity of students receiving an education without obstacles created by educators. In order for students to grow within their environment, it is important to have a solid foundation within one's place of education. Students and their needs must be accounted for rather than streamlined to a place of no return. The PPS district is diverse in the walks of life represented, as well as the ethnic groups represented. The YUIR teens noted that in order to help students grow, this diversity must be accounted for. With the changes proposed, hopefully, there will be a better future for students within the district for many years to come. Nijah Glenn is a senior biology major and dedicated youth activist. She is a member of the NewPeople editorial collective, avid coffee consumer, and is dedicated to making both the scientific field & world more equitable.
Point Park Study= Science + Advocacy for Homeless By Jeremy Northup, Calla Kainaroi, and Alexandria Bright
Tonight there was bologna and cheese, one box, about 20 sandwiches or so amidst other boxes of expected peanut butter and jelly. As we’ve come to learn, and probably shouldn’t have had to learn, it’s easy to get tired of eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches night after night. As we were passing out granola bars, mouthwash, sandwiches and socks, we could hear Dr. Jim Withers inside the mobile medical unit providing an informal orientation to the newest batch of medical students beginning their four-week rotation with Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net. “Our salvation is working with the most excluded first.” Over the past seven months, a few of us from Point Park University’s Clinical-Community Psychology Graduate program have been engaged with advocate ethnography in Operation Safety Net, immersing ourselves in work that Operation Safety Net does, cultivating relationships with both the staff and the people that they serve, taking note of all the ways the staff attempts to pay attention to and care for those that are among the most excluded—those who sleep on salt-stained, frigid cement on the coldest of Pittsburgh nights, those who would otherwise refuse medical care, having been harmed or ignored by medical and psychiatric establishments. At the same time, we are chronicling the stories and experiences of those who live on the street or are at risk of finding themselves on the street, doing our best to attest to the multiplicity of perspectives. As a research methodology, advocate ethnography isn’t interested in adding to the stacks and queues of unread academic papers. Instead, it is interested in using research to transform, to agitate,
Programs at the Pump House The Battle of Homestead Foundation (BHF) offers a summer lecture and film series, free and open to the public, at the Pump House, 880 East Waterfront Dr., Munhall, 15120. The BHF is a diverse organization of workers, educators, historians, union members and regular citizens which aims to preserve, interpret and promote a people’s history focused on the significance of the dramatic labor conflict at the Homestead Works in 1892.
and to incite social change. Advocate ethnographers use a variety of different methods: cryptic notes or jottings intended to be reminders for later on, perhaps quickly penned in the back of an SUV as we drive from one camp to another; they may eventually expand into narrative notes, a chronological and more detailed explication of the events witnessed. In addition, advocate ethnographers engage in openended interviews, attempting to understand what it is like for both the workers of Operation Safety Net and the people they care for. To give voice to and to advocate for others, it is of the utmost importance that, as researchers, we are as sensitive as can be, as careful as possible, to have fidelity to the experiences as lived by those who experienced them. To advocate well, we must first listen and then listen some more, act in service, and bear witness. On the median, Dave stood. We pulled over to ask him and his friend if they needed anything-medical care, food, water, socks, the things we typically have available if necessary. Dave responded fairly quickly that he could really use some medical care, that he was “all messed up.” We told him to cross the street and meet us in front of the library, that over there the medical students could take a look at what was going on and assess the situation. We stood there in the afternoon, caught in both the glare of the sunlight and those who walked by, as Dave lifted his pant leg, pulled down his sock, and exposed a wound that had become infected, dangerously so. After consulting one another, the medical students decided that Dave needed to go to the hospital; they were worried that the infection wouldn’t subside without IV antibiotics that could only be
administered if Dave was admitted. The five of us out on rounds that night were split down the middle as best as possible—some going to the hospital with one of the medical students, advocating for Dave, making sure that he was able to get the care that he needed and wasn’t turned away. As Dave, the medical student, and I (Jeremy) walked into the hospital, I was afforded a view that I hadn’t otherwise seen. I watched as security guards sighed and quietly made noises signifying annoyance at Dave. I saw the passive aggression enacted by admitting staff as they handed across a stack of forms that Dave, had I not been there to help, wouldn’t have been able to fill out properly. I sat with him, surrounded by the dull hum of reality television and oppressive white lighting, talking and waiting. I learned about his family, his kids, his childhood. After a few hours and some needed convincing provided by the medical student on rotation, he was admitted. Being able to sit there with Dave, keeping him calm, continually alerting him as to what was going on and where he was, and making sure he was afforded the care he needed in that moment, I may have been conducting research in one way or another, advocating as well, but even more importantly I would argue, he wasn’t there alone. The authors are all graduate students in Point Park's Clinical-Community Psychology program engaged in advocate ethnography in conjunction with Pittsburgh Mercy's Operation Safety Net.
to help workers win decent conditions and fundamental rights in Bangladesh’s garment factories and shipbreaking yards. Bangladesh is the world’s second largest exporter of garments after China. The ship breaking yards hire young men and boys in extremely dangerous jobs to cut apart a large proportion of the world’s cargo ships.
Thursday, July 28- 7:30 pm - Film (82 mins.) American Revolutionary - The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs Grace Lee Boggs was a Chinese-American philosopher, writer and activist in Detroit, whose vision of revolution will surprise you. Rooted for over 70 years in the AfricanAmerican community and movement, Boggs discusses her lifetime of vital thinking and action traversing the major US social movements of the last century. She challenges a Saturday, July 16 – 1:30 pm - Barbara Briggs will deliv- new generation to throw off old assumptions, think creaer the Steelworkers annual 2016 Bernard Kleiman lecture: tively and redefine revolution for your time. Boggs died on Struggle for Workers’ Rights in the Global Economy. Oct. 6, 2015 at the age of 100. Briggs, Associate Director of the Pittsburgh-based Institute for Global Labor and Human Rights, will report on efforts 10 - NEWPEOPLE
July/August 2016