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University Executives Participate in Community Service Projects
Two members of Barry
Dr. John Murray, provost, and Dr. Scott Smith, vice president for student affairs, rolled up their sleeves on Sept. 10 for a September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance project.
With Murray was his daughter Kate, a junior at
Serving alongside Smith were his wife Patrice and their children Charlie, Cecilia, and Jayson.
Patrice Smith is manager of Neat Streets Miami, a division within the Miami-Dade
The Murrays were back in the community the following Saturday for an International Coastal Cleanup project. The service site was
“It was gratifying to see our students engage in the important work of giving back to our local and global community through this effort,” Provost Murray said. “I couldn’t be happier to be participating as a member of Team Barry!”
The projects for the 9/11 Day of Service and International Coastal Cleanup drew support from a large number of Barry volunteers (see separate stories below).
VP Smith thanked the Center for Community Service Initiatives for making the service opportunity available to him and his family.
“We really enjoyed being a small part of this important day,” he said in reference to the significance of 9/11-related service. “What a great turnout from Barry
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Community Engagement Symposium and Awards Scheduled for March 29
The fourth annual Community Engagement Symposium will be held on March 29, 2017. A separate event, the fourth annual Community Engagement Awards will take place that same day on Barry’s main campus in Miami
The symposium will include presentations and discussions of community engagement projects, practices, and perspectives with reference to the theme, “Exploring Community-Focused Dimensions of Experiential Learning”. The program will feature a seminar and a workshop by a nationally recognized community engagement scholar-practitioner; two concurrent presentation sessions for faculty/staff, students, and community partners; a poster session; and a community engagement showcase consisting mainly of community partner exhibits.
At the awards ceremony, the university will publicly recognize students, faculty, staff/administrators, and community partners for their community engagement participation, contributions, and achievements.
The seven categories of awards are as follows: Community Impact, Community Partnership, Community-Based Research, Engaged Scholarship, Community Engagement Educator, Service-Learning Faculty, and Engaged Department.
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University Marks Constitution Day with Forum and Film
Barry University celebrated Constitution Day with a forum and a film screening hosted by the organizing committee for the Campus Democracy Project, or CDP.
“Sex, Gender, and Rights in the U.S. Constitution” was the topic of the forum on Sept. 16. Dr. Leah Blumenfeld, assistant professor of political science, was the keynote speaker.
Blumenfeld spoke about the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees all American women the right to vote. She also noted “a renewed interest” in the proposed Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA.
“Many people were pushing for a constitutional amendment to emphasize that both men and women are to be treated equally under the law,” she said.
After the 19th Amendment affirming women’s right to vote was ratified in 1920, suffragist leader Alice Paul introduced the ERA in 1923. The proposed amendment states that the rights guaranteed by the Constitution apply equally to all persons regardless of their sex.
Blumenfeld said the amendment would help to clarify other parts of the Constitution regarding reference to sex. Those parts include Article 2, which includes the pronoun “he” in reference to the U.S. President.
In 1972, the ERA was finally passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. The original seven-year time limit was extended by Congress to June 30, 1982. However, at the deadline, the ERA had been ratified by only 35 states, three states short of the 38 required to put it into the Constitution.
“Women need to see themselves as participating actively in politics, said Blumenfeld, who also is a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission for Women. “They often have to be convinced that they must run for political office. … Unfortunately, girls and boys are socialized to think political leadership is (only) for men.”
A panel of students contributed to the discussion at the forum. Asha Starks and Kevin Dalia bemoaned the “patriarchal society being promoted by the Constitution.”
Christopher Riker, a local political campaign manager and former president of Barry’s College Democrats, stressed the need to pass the ERA. Athena Manera expressed strong support.
Riker also criticized the strict voter ID laws in some states and declared that “this country is only as free as its most restrictive civil liberty.”
According to Blumenfeld, “Voter ID laws discriminate against women and disenfranchise them, especially poor women.” And in response to comments regarding the election of only men as presidents of the United States, she said “the U.S. is late to the party in electing a female head of state.”
Dr. Sean Foreman, professor of political science and co-chair of the CDP Committee, moderated the Constitution Day forum. Students in attendance signed a copy of the U.S. Constitution. They also received pocket-sized copies of the document.
The event was cosponsored by the CCSI, the Department of History and Political Science, and the Student Government Association.
The previous evening (Sept. 15), a group of students viewed and discussed “Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story.” An army medical officer with an eye on a promotion, Cammermeyer is suddenly tossed into discharge proceedings after admitting to a same-sex relationship. The film shows how she fought the system with the help of her family and the support of gay rights activists.
Meeting in the Dominican Hall’s Multipurpose Room, the students discussed the main themes of the made-for-television drama, which addresses issues related to women's rights and LGBT rights in the military. The discussion facilitators were Jasmine McKee, a Barry Service Corps member assigned to the CDP; and Barry Service Corps Fellows Autumn Baker Peat, Hailee Jeffries, Felix Vega Pagan, and Paris Razor.
Baker Peat is a soldier in the national guard.
September 17 is Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. This day commemorates the September 17, 1787 signing of the United States Constitution.
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Quiz Competition Being Organized as Part of Campus Democracy Project
The Center for Community Service Initiatives will host a Quiz Competition on American Government and Elections on Oct. 28 as part of Barry’s Campus Democracy Project. Four-member teams of students representing clubs and other student organizations will compete for a championship cup and various prizes.
The CCSI launched the quiz competition on Sept. 16, providing details including the purpose, prizes, and participant eligibility. Student clubs and other organizations interested in participating in the competition are asked to register by Oct. 14.
The Department of History and Political Science is assisting the CCSI with preparations for the competition. Undergraduates John Powell, a campus elections engagement fellow, and Isaac Maldonado, a Barry Service Corps member, are also assisting.
The CDP is a nonpartisan initiative that promotes civic learning and democratic engagement through get-out-the-vote activities, including voter registration, education, and mobilization.
Planning to Attend?
What: Quiz Competition on American Government and Elections When: Friday, October 28; noon–2 p.m. Where: Events Room, Landon Student Union,
For additional information: service@barry.edu or 305-899-3696
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Campus Democracy Project Includes Presidential Debate Watch Parties
Students on Barry’s main campus will gather in Weber Grand Hall to watch and discuss the three presidential debates between Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican Party nominee Donald Trump. The Debate Watch Parties have been organized as part of Barry’s Campus Democracy Project, or CDP.
The first debate will take place on Monday (Sept. 26) at Hofstra
The second debate is scheduled for Oct. 9 at Washington
CDP Committee member Alberto Lorenzo said the Debate Watch Parties would provide an opportunity for students to learn about the political process and about the candidates’ views on various issues.
”We hope students will seriously think about the important issues facing our country and will get involved in the political process,” said Lorenzo, who serves as associate director of residence education for the Housing and Residence Life Department in Student Affairs.
For further information on the Debate Watch Parties, contact Lorenzo at alorenzo@barry.edu or 305-899-4763.
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CCSI to Launch Social Media Campaign to Encourage Voting
The Center for Community Service Initiatives will launch a social media campaign next week to promote voting.
“The campaign is designed to emphasize the importance of voting and to encourage citizens to vote in the upcoming elections,” said CCSI Director Dr. Glenn Bowen. “Students, faculty, and staff will be encouraged to share their reasons for voting.”
The social media campaign is part of Barry’s Campus Democracy Project , a civic engagement initiative coordinated by the CCSI.
For further information, email the CCSI at service@barry.edu or call 305-899-3696.
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Volunteers Renovate County Park in Memory of 9/11 Victims
More than 30 Barry students, faculty, and staff members joined other volunteers for a service project at Tropical Park, Miami, on Sept. 10, in memory of 9/11 victims and survivors.
The 200-plus volunteers contributed to revitalization efforts at the park by landscaping around the newly renovated stadium, planting shrubs and mulching trees throughout the park, painting railings, and picking up trash.
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces organized the project. Together with the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade County and the Miami Dolphins, Barry
A group of 10 Barry Service Corps fellows played a lead role by facilitating orientation and reflection activities, serving as group leaders, helping to coordinate event set-up, and organizing project materials. Thirteen other Barry students represented various student organizations.
Dr. John Murray, university provost, and Dr. Scott Smith, vice president for student affairs, were among the volunteers, as were some members of their families.
The Barry student volunteers were Adrian Almeida, Miguel Belaunzaran, Oriana Camargo, Jessica Darring, Kevin Dalia, Seretse Davis, Alberto Liriano, Evan McGowan, Olganessa Meley, Cristina Mercado, Taylor Mercado, Victoria Montanaro, Victor Oriscar, Eduardo Ortiz, Felix Palazzone, Carlos Perez, Allen Perez-Florido, Paris Razor, Samantha Ternelus, Felix Vega-Pagan, John Victor, and Rajon Wright.
Volunteers from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Miami
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces thanked Barry students for helping to organize the event.
“Having the group from Barry was like the glue needed to bind (elements of) the project,” said Tropical Park Manager Raul Carmona.
Ashton Spangler, an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) member based in the CCSI, coordinated Barry’s participation in the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance project. The service project took place on the eve of the 15th anniversary of what has been called “the horrific attacks” that took place in New York and
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Barry Volunteers Help to Clean up Shoreline in Miami
Thirty-four Barry
The volunteers recorded numbers of trash items collected and provided the data to the project organizer. The main items they picked up were cigarette butts, plastic beverage bottles, metal and plastic bottle caps, food wrappers, straws and stirrers, and shards of glass.
In all, about 50 volunteers collected more than 3,500 pieces of trash weighing 130 pounds, the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust reported. The report was later submitted for Ocean Conservancy’s Ocean Trash Index.
VolunteerCleanup.org coordinated International Coastal Cleanup projects at about 40 volunteer sites around Miami-Dade
Volunteers gathered at the park’s main picnic pavilion for orientation provided by Guy Forchion, executive director of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust and reflection facilitated by Barry Service Corps fellows.
The Barry student volunteers were Geneva Aguilar, Aqeel Alsqihati, Ashley Bryan, Gabriela Cardenas, Taje Dinnald, Pia Fearon, Althea Hylton, Rachel Leon, Alberto Liriano, Nicaury Lora, Marcia Marsh, Olganessa Meley, Sabrina Meli, Judith Meranvil, Paola Montenegro, Nia Mozley, Martina Munoz, Pa Sheikh Ngom, Julissa Orbando, Tracey Perodin, Kerri Richardson, Kerry-ann Saleem, Efrem Scott, Danielle Siddons, Quayneshia Smith, Alejandro Tobon, Shanovia Warren, Victor Zamora, and Juliza Zepeda.
Provost John Murray, with daughter Kate, and CCSI Director Glenn Bowen took part in the service project. Ashton Spangler, an AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) member based in the CCSI, coordinated Barry’s participation in the project.
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CCSI Newsletter
Posted On : September 26, 2016
