"As a coalition centered on inclusion and diversity, we recognize the complex sociopolitical relationship between police forces and communities of color. Limited training in cultural competency and racial sensitivity in conjunction with the excessive use of force by police departments negatively impact Black and brown individuals."
Earlier this year we photographed students at Northeastern recreating photos of various leaders pushing for a more just society to highlight that the struggle for equity spans across race, gender identity, sexuality, class and identity. In these moments of mourning and loss during the recent tragedies that occurred to #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastile we implore everyone to seek justice, seek fairness, seek equity and to challenge those who negate the idea that everyone regardless of identity (which in this case is race) deserves humanity.
During the month of February to highlight student activism and how students on college campuses carry the work of past social movement leaders, the SAID coaliti...on photographed students all across campus for #TheFightIsIntersectional photoshoot. Each student chose a leader that not only embodied characteristics they most admired, but also paved the way for people after them to succeeded with one less barrier. We're excited to present the final result of our photoshoot! Thank you to all the models, photographers and editors for working on this project. We could not have done it without you all!
See MoreFor students and friends dealing with the recent police killings of #AltonSterling and #PhilandoCastile please check out this Black Lives Matter Boston Black healing event tomorrow night. It's an opportunity to reflect, heal, and organize through community. https://www.facebook.com/events/168263706921950/
Our community mourns the recent loss of Alexandra Johnson, a vibrant and compassionate leader on campus. Your impact and energy will not be forgotten.
Last Saturday, the Northeastern community suffered another tragic loss. Alexandra Valentine Johnson, 19, died after suffering complications from a seizure. We encourage our readers to read her obituary below and seek support during this difficult time.
Story by Rachel Morford
Following SAID's referendum last spring to reform Northeastern Student Government Association Constitution, we're looking forward to this series of public town halls for students to give their opinions on what changes they would like to see in the organization. The first town hall will take place a week from today at 7pm in 333 CSC and we encourage student activists and stakeholders to participate in the discussion.
We are excited to launch a new initiative in partnership with NU Students Against Institutional Discrimination - SAID. Read about it below:
Hello everyone,
We hope that you all are doing well and summer breaks are going fantastic.
For those of us who are still around and would like to work on SAID related projects this summer please fill out the doodle below for times that you are available for our first SAID meeting of the summer.
... See MoreRepresentatives from Students Against Institutional Discrimination met today with the Provost to continue an ongoing discussion about the community within and surrounding Northeastern University. We are encouraged by his ongoing commitment to working with us, his encouragement of our projects among his colleagues, and look forward to working with him to reach out to more people within the Northeastern community as we continue to meet with him and others in the administration who can continue to push for a better Northeastern.
Proud to announce that Students Against Institutional Discrimination is the recipient of the Rainbow Graduate Gratitude Award as an organization that has provided support and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQA community on Northeastern’s
campus! We would like to thank the LGBTQA Resource Center for this award and all of the amazing passionate students who worked to help make this happen, and we apologize for not being able to make tonight's ceremony! We would also like to thank the resource center for all of the amazing work and services that the center provides for students each and every day!
This reflection on #DoBetterNU highlights the necessity for creating change for marginalized students at Northeastern centered on student voice and experiences.
Change cannot wait: "Town halls and self-congratulatory letters about diversity and change are terrific, but they should never stand in as substitutes for tangible action. We must understand the vulnerability of minority students on campus as they face racialized microaggressions from faculty and peers alike. Of LGBTQIA+ students who face daily discrimination and oppression for their very existence and expression. Do you hear us NU? Can you create more action and less talk that allows students of color to grow, learn, and thrive?"
New piece from Concerned Students urging Northeastern administration to #DoBetterNU
https://thenuonyx.wordpress.com/…/dobetternu-by-concerned-…/
Great to see concerned students at Northeastern coming together to pose questions and experiences on diversity and inclusion. It's important student voice is at the forefront in this academic planning phase, adressing issues of financial aid, university health, sexual assault, disability services, cultural center support, and admissions and retention of underrepresented minority students. Check out the conversation over on twitter. #DoBetterNU
“We can’t normalize these issues of institutionalized discrimination with dialogue. We need to take action." Read more at: http://huntnewsnu.com/…/concerned-students-rally-for-dobet…/
A wonderful activist spotlight in the NU Onyx Informer for SAID leader, Ashley Cee! Though we are excited for your graduation, you will be incredibly missed in our organizing spaces!!
"To women of color, I would say, “do not give up.” You do not need to second-guess what you think and whether this is your place. This is your place. You do not need to step back because people want you to. If you have something important to say, you shouldn’t hold it back. Your voice and your ...opinion are valid. It’s super important as women, especially women of color, that we continue to lift each other up and hold each other’s hands as we continue to create more opportunities for ourselves.
It’s definitely intimidating getting involved in something that’s bigger than you. It can be very overwhelming, but anyway that you can shine and use your abilities are important to the movement. You can work on the ground or in a more supportive role. Any contribution matters, especially by women. Many movements have been run on the backs of women, especially women of color. We are truly powerful when we organize in numbers."
https://thenuonyx.wordpress.com/…/activist-spotlight-ashle…/
A lovely shout out from The Art Collaborative💜
Thanks for your continual support and dedication!
love and solidarity from The Art Collaborative
Yesterday the Social Impact Council approved a recommendation for Northeastern University to divest from the fossil fuel industry as part of a holistic plan to take climate action. This is a huge step that's been months in the making for our campaign.
The ball is now in President Aoun's court. He and the Senior Leadership Team must make a choice: will they #LeadWithUs and commit to a vote before the Board of Trustees? Or will they turn a blind eye to climate injustice?
Help us help them help themselves, and sign the Divest NU Support Pledge: tinyurl.com/divestnu
http://goo.gl/forms/zRCcgzWnVf
hi!! next semester, a new student group called Behind the SMILE will be working with SAID to create a more integrated and communicative student body by introducing new services for students, completely run by students! we will be implementing peer listening groups to offer compassionate listening and a sense of safe space and community, and an anonymous texting service for students to utilize when they need someone to talk to. we will be having... a 2-day training for those interested in getting involved with facilitating either (or both) of these services in the beginning of fall semester--if this is something that interests you, please apply on the google form attached!!! if you have questions, pls reach out to Laney Chace at laneyc124@gmail.com or Julia Cooper at cooperjulia840@gmail.com. thank u!!! we're so excited!!!
See MoreLooking for something to do tonight? Of course you are; there's no SAID meeting tonight (that's tomorrow).
Northeastern University Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace Boston are hosting Remi Kanazi, a NYC based poet who is releasing a new collection of poetry, Before the Next Bomb Drops: Rising Up from Brooklyn to Palestine. His political commentary has been featured by news outlets throughout the world, including Salon, Al Jazeera English, and BBC R...adio. His poetry has taken him across the US, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East, and he has appeared in the Palestine Festival of Literature as well as Poetry International. He is a Lannan Residency Fellow and an Advisory Committee member for the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.
Reception is at 6:30 with food and drinks. Poetry will begin at 7. 101 Churchill Hall. Hope to see you all there!
In the UHCS project that SAID is running,a survey of students was run to better understand what can be done to best care for students. This data was also quoted in the The Huntington News' most recent article in its series on mental health at Northeastern University.
Students Against Institutional Discrimination (SAID)'s Healthcare project is a coalition of students and student groups that works to improve mental and physical healthcare for Northeastern University's students.... We are focusing on improving the quality of mental health care, the referral process, the appointment-making process, clinician-patient interactions and transparency and accountability in the success of these measures, especially for students in traditionally underserved demographics including race, gender identity, sexual identity, ability status, and religion.
[Edited for accessibility: The photo has a pink background with a number of charts on it. It is titled "UHCS by the Numbers" and subtitled "caring for the whole student means caring for all parts of their identity." It further reads: "People of color make up at least 32% of the student body", "only 2 of the 11 behavioral health professionals are easily identifiable as people of color from UHCS' site," "18 of students felt their identity was not respected," "of these, 41% said staff lacked the knowledge and respect necessary for treating queer students," "71% of students surveyed said they had refrained from going to UHCS when they needed a doctor," and "students cited concerns about a lack of diversity among clinicians as a reason they were uncomfortable getting care."
At the bottom of the image, there are three bars in green, blue, and purple, under the heading "Why might a student refrain from going to UHCS?" With the reasons listed as: "41% of students were unable to make an appointment in a reasonable amount of time," "58% of students felt their issue was not addressed appropriately, and "61% of students felt that they were not treated fully and in a timely manner."
Over 100 students responded to our survey asking about their experiences at UHCS. Why do we need to ensure improvement? To make sure that quotes like the ones detailed below never need to be said again.
Students Against Institutional Discrimination (SAID)'s Healthcare project is a coalition of students and student groups that works to improve mental and physical healthcare for Northeastern University's students. We are focusing on improving the quality of mental health care, ...the referral process, the appointment-making process, clinician-patient interactions and transparency and accountability in the success of these measures, especially for students in traditionally underserved demographics including race, gender identity, sexual identity, ability status, and religion.
EDIT: The quotes are listed in the captions of the individual photos for increased accessibility to those who may have issues reading the photos themselves.
!['"[UHCS's therapy] is not personalized at all and is very infrequent..the mental health care is just so bad. They eventually gave me some referrals to outside practices...it's absolutely unacceptable for the students that cannot afford that."'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/q87/p240x240/12931262_1790031784551587_2831729407714646335_n.jpg?oh=158b72c3f858fafec3b409c1a2222177&oe=57EE92E1)
