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Derek Sivers - TED Talks: Weird or Just Different?
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Congratulations to Judge Sonia Sotomayor - the first Hispanic person receiving a lifetime appointment as a Supreme Court Justice in the United States’ Judicial Branch of government.
Judge Sotomayor was sworn in on Saturday, August 8, 2009, and will begin her work as a Supreme Court Justice immediately, although the court won’t hear any arguments until September 9.
See President Obama’s Weekly Address announcing his nomination for Judge Sotomayor.
Barack Obama, A Stickler for Pronunciation
…yet another reason to love the man! This video (with Lee’s accompanying article on Politico) demonstrates President Obama’s respect for others’ names, cultures, and languages, which contributes greatly to his charisma and charm. I respect his sensitivity to diversity, and his thoughtfulness, and hope that these qualities rub off on a few of his political colleagues.
Perhaps he’s read Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss? (The hilarious illustrated edition is sitting on my bookshelf, and I am waiting ever-so-patiently to read the book when I have some spare time.)
“By 2020, Latinos will make up 22 percent of the nation’s college-age population, according to demographic estimates today. The critical question is whether Latinos will actually reach college and, once there, succeed.”
This fantastic article discusses the importance of President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, and how this nomination is challenging public opinion on affirmative action. Brown supports her claim that,
“Society is strengthened when leadership in the White House and state houses, in corporate boardrooms and federal and state courtrooms, and on campuses and in classrooms more fully reflects and acknowledges the challenges of the least well served of our population.”
Brown refers to a recent report from Excelencia in Education that highlights how many Hispanic-Serving Institutions like Florida International University have increased participation of nontraditional students (part-time, lower-income, commuting, older adult students of color) - a category in which most Hispanic students fit (according to the article).
This is part of why I love my job - working for an institution that truly serves the needs of Hispanic and Latino students, and provides impressive access to higher education.
Check out the full article by clicking the link above.
The Way I See It #298
Our prejudices arise from the fear of things we do not understand. If my generation has a single goal, it must be to promote education - education that advances us not only technologically, but also intuitively and emotionally. In today’s fast-paced world, advancing has to mean more than scientific discovery; it is our responsibility to force ourselves beyond our comfort zones and become knowledgeable about the people around us.
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— Jessica Arden Ettinger Starbucks customer and student at the University of Virginia. |
