Claiming Williams Events, Feb 5, 2015: Lunch Time Dialogues: 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Working @ Williams 5 to 2: Who are We?
Goodrich Hall
It is easy to get caught up in our own lives and take no notice of the people who surround us everyday. The Williams College Facilities staff is a group of people we often overlook even though they play an integral part in our lives. They clean our personal and public spaces, repair our buildings, and shovel snow off our walkways – just to name a few of the many jobs they do for us.
Yet we hardly ever say “thank you”, or take the time to get to know them on a personal basis. What are their hobbies? What are their lives like outside of Williams? Do they have families that they are working to support? We simply forget that there are some staff members at Williams whose day reaches far beyond our purple bubble, back into their communities, their homes, and often times other jobs.
The Facilities staff is an integral part of our community. We sometimes fail to appreciate their service and often take it for granted. Have you ever wondered what a typical day is in the life of a Facilities staff member, both here and outside of Williams? If so, please join us in welcoming a group of Facilities staff as we finally give these important members of our community a voice in Claiming Williams.
Quest Story Time
Driscoll Lounge
All are invited to Quest Story Time, a strong tradition at Williams in which students share their stories of what it means to be a Quest Scholar at Williams and of their journeys going forward. QuestBridge is a non-profit program that assists high-achieving, low-income and first-generation students in applying to prestigious colleges and universities in the United States. In this sharing of experiences, Quest Scholars and the audience engage in a powerful experience of reflection. The audience is not only allowed but encouraged to ask questions. In a diverse place such as Williams, the Quest group on campus takes great pride in sharing their unique experiences in an effort to create a more multicultural campus with fewer taboos. Speakers will include Tanzim Milkey ‘15, Samantha Troia ‘15, Rika Tucker-Shabazz ‘17, and Luis David Jaramillo ‘17. Moderated by Susie Paul ’16.
Faith, Community, and the Environment
Paresky Quiet Room
Join Father Gary Caster, Cantor Bob Scherr, Professor Georges Dreyfus and Carman Nareau ’16 for a panel discussion about the intersection of faith and environmental issues within our Williams community and in the wider world. Co-sponsored by the Williams Environmental Council.
Who is Williams? Clicker Session
Faculty House, Downstairs Lounge
Clickers! In this session, the audience participates by anonymously using clickers to answer a range of questions. These answers provide the basis for discussions. The short answer questions range from issues of personal experience (Have you ever had unprotected sex?) to informational (is the national debt up or down?) to political (Do you think Hillary should run for the presidency?) The outcomes give us a sense of who we are, what we think, and what we believe, and the chance to talk about those things. Co-sponsored by History 201.
Disabled Student Voices
Faculty House Sunporch
How are students with disabilities accommodated on campus, and how do those accommodations fall short? Though seldom acknowledged, people with disabilities exist at Williams. The school provides some accommodations, but those often fall short and fail to address the larger systems of privilege and oppression. Four students will share their stories on navigating their disabilities at Williams, and we will all discuss how we can make Williams a more inclusive space.
Local Borders Discussion
Dodd Living Room
Lunchtime Dialogue with Ben Lamb, Laini Sporbert, and Abby Rampone ’17, following the 10:45 am “Local Borders” dialogue, also in Dodd Living Room. Attendance at both discussions is encouraged but not required. Co-sponsored by Healing Hands/Real Foods.
Debunking and Demystifying
the Media Outrage on Ebola
Dodd Gibson Room
What are the harmful effects of the trivialization of Ebola and the stigmatization of Ebola-struck communities? Join a panel-led discussion of the recent sensationalized media coverage of the epidemic and its social impact. Panelists include epidemiologist Nick Wright, Jenifer Hasenfus (International students’ advisor), Ferentz Lafargue (Davis centre director), and Mavis Dankwah ‘17.