Santa Clara University

In honor of Black History Month, Santa Clara is teaming with social news site NewsTrust.net to find and promote stories about the experiences of African Americans, and the community as a whole, in the U.S. For example, how has the election of Barack Obama changed the conversation, and the realities, for African Americans and other people of color? We're looking for stories that explore issues of economic empowerment, social justice, and the contributions of African Americans to the country's cultural landscape. Please visit http://newstrust.net/partners.scu/ .

In 1926 Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson and other African American and white scholars launched "Negro History Week" so that Americans could reflect on the history and contributions of African Americans in the U.S. In the 1970s, the week-long observance was expanded to a month-long celebration of recognition that now includes global topics. Please visit http://www.scu.edu/cml/programs/bhm/ to check out events planned for Black History Month.

Sean Theriault, Associate Professor in the Department of Government at the University of Texas, Austin, will be on campus on Thursday, 2/26/09, as part of the programming for the Council on Inclusive Excellence's Winter Identity theme - Identity: Individuality, Community, Humanity - Exploring our identity to understand ourselves, others, and how we related in the world.

One of Dr. Theriault's campus talks will focus on the role of minority groups in the 2008 elections and thereafter, another will focus on growing up gay in the Catholic Church, and a third will discuss his experiences leading 25 University of Texas students in Rome for a class on "The Politics of the Catholic Church." [The third is a lunch talk by invitation only.] For more information on Theriault and the Winter quarter identity theme, go to http://www.scu.edu/oml/identity .