Panhia Lee

Inaugural Student Humanitarian Summit Brings Campus Together to Explore Global Engagement

Student leaders engage students, faculty, visiting parents and others in creating greater campus engagement on global humanitarian issues. 

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BRISTOL, R.I. – An array of student clubs and organizations, as well as professors, staff, and visiting parents, came together on Sunday, October 23 to consider the role of the campus community in addressing global challenges and to gauge the level of campus knowledge and activism on a range of topics regarding humanitarian issues.

The organizers’ goals for the inaugural Student Humanitarian Summit – part of the Quest for Refuge Series, a year-long series of events and programming at RWU that will examine the political and cultural impact of refugees around the world – were to inform and inspire students to start or continue working on ways to address the need for alleviation of suffering worldwide, and map out collaborative plans for the rest of the year to engage more students and the broader campus community in humanitarian causes. Roger for Refugees, along with the Spiegel Center for Global and International Programs, and a working group of students, spent a month planning the event, which was co-sponsored by six other clubs and organizations on campus.

From a panel presentation by student-led groups active in social justice issues on- and off-campus to an engaging conversation with a researcher of post-conflict humanitarian efforts, the event featured a good turnout of invested students who expressed a desire to build greater awareness and engagement on many issues relating to international development and humanitarian affairs.

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Annual Ethics Event helps students navigate real-world situations

The Ronald K. and Kati C. Machtley Interfaith Center’s sixth annual Ethics Event provides students with the opportunity to reflect on their own values and practice a process for solving ethical dilemmas and reaching decisions that take their values, other value systems, and the impact of their decisions on others into account.

This year’s Ethics Event features two distinct programs. “Helping When Help Is Needed: Sexual Violence and Bystander Intervention” is part of the University’s First-Year Gateway Experience. Required for all first-year students, the session, to be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, is a case study workshop and panel discussion. Students will meet in small groups for the case study workshops to prepare for the panel discussion at 3 in the MAC.

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A Charette of Historic Proportions

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The competition starts as students take measurements in Providence’s historic Aldrich House. | photo by Jo Sittenfeld MFA 08 PH

Each year faculty members in Interior Architecture surface a real-world design project for an intensive, department-wide charette – a five-day competition in which teams of students work together to solve a single architectural challenge. This year the Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) provided a design problem perfectly aligned with the department’s focus on adaptive reuse: reimagining a small study in its historic, Federal-style Nelson W. Aldrich House on College Hill.

As RIHS Executive Director C. Morgan Grefe explained at the charette kickoff in late October, the house was built in 1821 and is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Used as both a history learning lab and a space for rotating exhibitions, the 15×23-foot room in question is also rented out on occasion for private functions such as weddings.

“Your proposals should respect the room’s history while embracing the cutting edge,” urged Critic Elizabeth Debs, who organized this year’s charette. “You’ll be folding history and heritage into a contemporary understanding of a multipurpose space.”

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How To: Managing School Work & An Internship, Simultaneously

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This week Kelsey gives some advice on how to manage school work and an internship, simultaneously.

Learning how to juggle the last few semesters of my undergraduate degree, two internships, a part-time job, and an attempt at having a social life has been one of the biggest challenges for me thus far. Here are some tips for keeping it all together while you are in school and juggling the challenges of young adulthood.

  • Communication is key when you are trying to juggle numerous obligations at once. If I haven’t stressed enough, an internship is all about a learning process; if you find yourself struggling with content, deadlines, etc. NEVER be afraid to speak up! Open communication allows for the structure of a strong support system for yourself; and will come in very handy when stressful endeavors arise.
  • Identify Your Goals; I find myself most stressed when I do not know, or am slightly unsure of where I am headed next. Taking the time to create a clear sense of purpose can help you stay focused and achieve your objectives. Make sure to be reasonable with your goals; ‘What do you want to accomplish at your internship/work in the next month, week, or year?’ ‘What do you want to accomplish for your classes each week, month, or semester?’
  • Prioritize; it is important to stay organized and keep a list of what is most important to you. While you should always be giving your best work in everything that you do, it is important to also take care of your well-being. Be sure to eat healthy, exercise, and get plenty of sleep! Remember to always make sure you can take on another commitment before you have accepted.
  • Plan, Plan, Plan! Now that you know where you are headed, and have prioritized, it is important to organize your time and plan so you can achieve your ultimate goals. Make calendars, set reminders, and make sure to plan your classes, and work schedules to avoid conflict; while remembering to get and stay ahead of your assignments.
  • Enjoy Your Experience(s); My last piece of advice would be to have some fun! It is important to enjoy what you are doing; don’t forget to take time to stop and appreciate all that you have accomplished thus far, and the great achievements you are continuing to work towards.