Civility Week 2023

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jeffrey Lane

Dr. Jeffrey Lane is an associate professor of communication at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He holds a PhD in sociology from Princeton University. Dr. Lane conducts ethnographic fieldwork to understand the role of communication and technology in urban life, youth culture, and the criminal justice system. His current research projects include a neighborhood study of how residents of the South Bronx use e-bikes to go about their lives and two collaborative, multimethod, national studies on the mental health consequences of youth exposure to gun violence on social media and the beliefs parents and teenagers hold surrounding artificial intelligence (AI).

Dr. Lane is the author of The Digital Street—a book about the digitalization of adolescent street life in Harlem—which won the Nancy Baym Book Award from the Association of Internet Researchers and the Best Book Award from the Communication, Information Technologies, and Media section of the American Sociological Association. He also authored a book on race and masculinity in basketball called Under the Boards: The Cultural Revolution in Basketball. 

He is the co-founder and co-chair of the Rutgers Digital Ethnography Working Group, a faculty affiliate of the New Jersey Center on Gun Violence Research at Rutgers University, and a research affiliate of the Center on Digital Culture and Society at Annenberg School for Communication at University of Pennsylvania. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as American Behavioral Scientist, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Journal of Consumer Culture, New Media & Society, and Law & Society Review and written about in popular news outlets like The Atlantic, The New York Times, and New York Magazine.

Conflict Management Skills for Classroom Discussions

Stephen Keating, Associate Director/Assistant Professor, Writing and Speaking Studio, FIT

Interpersonal conflict (including differences in opinion, disagreements, and arguments) can arise in any space, including (and sometimes especially) the classroom, and it is important that instructors have tools to navigate these tensions and maintain a civil environment for their students. In an effort to provide instructors with strategies for managing interpersonal conflicts in the classroom, Stephen Keating of the Writing andSpeaking Studio draws from current communication studies research in order to outline our common responses to interpersonal conflict and strategies for engaging in whatnoted communication scholar Julia T. Wood (2020) calls “Constructive Conflict Communication.” At the end of the session, Steve will share recommendations and techniques for how to talk about and employ these strategies in the classroom.

Accessibility Is Civility: Creating Online Experiences for Everyone

Carli Spina, Head of Research and Instructional Services/Associate Professor, Gladys Marcus Library, FIT
Norma Stary, Web Content Coordinator and EITA Accessibility Officer, FIT

One in four U.S. adults—61 million Americans—have a disability that impacts major life activities. The percentage of U.S. public school students who receive special education or related services has increased over the last decade, to 13% of public school enrollment. Understanding the hows and whys of digital accessibility is the first step in creating an online environment in which everyone has equal access to information and experiences. A discussion of accessibility and why it's an important part of creating an inclusive campus culture, plus practical ways of making content accessible and further resources for training.

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LGBTQ+ and Ally Safe Zone Training

Jocelin Engel 

Those who complete SafeZone training will receive a "Safe Zone" symbol to display in their office. This symbol indicates that you are an ally who has been properly trained on LGBTQ+ issues, terminology, and ways to support those in need.

Thinking and Designing Beyond the Ramp: The Creative Process of Inclusive Design

CJ Yeh, Professor, Advertising and Digital Design; Founder and Executive Director, Cynda Media Lab
Christie Shin, Associate Professor, Advertising and Digital Design; founding member, Educator Advisory Board at Figma; Partner and Design Director, Cynda Media Lab
Estela Lugo, Program Development Manager  Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation

Civility is a critical part of inclusive design. By treating people with various disabilities with civility, designers can help to create a more open, welcoming, and inclusive society where everyone can participate fully. This panel discussion will explore the creative process of inclusive design, with a focus on how to address health disparities, advocate for accessibility, and foster collaboration.

Social Media Safe Spaces: Empowering and Protecting Your Online Community

Mallorie Dunn, Adjunct Professor, Fashion Design; Owner/Designer of inclusive and sustainable brand SmartGlamour

Social media is an integral part of any brand—and the comments section is a democratization of people's opinions and insights. How do we curate a space where conversation is encouraged but harassment is not tolerated or fed upon? We must understand those who differ from us, and then also consider them actively when creating brands, products, and community. This workshop will touch on: the importance of accurate representation, tips for keeping your space safe, intentional language, continued learning and passing the mic, and action items for implementation.  

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Film Screening: Coded Bias and Discussion on Algorithmic Justice

Subhalakshmi Gooptu, Assistant Professor, English and Communication Studies

When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers that facial recognition does not see dark-skinned faces accurately, she embarks on a journey to push for the first-ever U.S. legislation against bias in algorithms that impact us all. 

Love, Civility, and the Digital Age: A Conversation With Jasmine Bellamy

Nicole F. Ndzibah, Executive Director, Social Justice Center at FIT

Jasmine Bellamy is a love practitioner, joyful disruptor, and a business and culture transformer who was named Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 Influential Black Women in Sports. Jasmine is the Vice President of Merchandising, Planning, & Allocation at Reebok, the head of Community & Culture, and the creator and co-facilitator of Courageous Conversations, a platform that inspires communal transformation.

Jasmine earned a BS in Marketing Management from Syracuse University, Master of Business Administration from Fordham University, and Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Seminary where she is pursuing a Doctorate in Global Leadership focusing on the Redemptive Imagination of the Marketplace.

How Should We Remember Abraham Franklin?

Taur Orange, Director, Office of Educational Opportunity Programs
Frank Fraley, Adjunct Professor, Jewelry Design
Ramona Dunlap, Assistant Professor, Fashion Business Management
Rukaiah El, Fine Arts ’24
Kailee Finn
Ernesto Martinez

During the Civil War draft riots of 1863 in New York City, the bloodiest civil disturbance in the history of the United States of America, a Black man named Abraham Franklin was pulled from his home on Seventh Avenue and 27th Street and lynched by a mob.  Lynching is seen as a Southern phenomenon, but it happened here too. What is the best way to commemorate this horrific event? How can we create a campuswide discussion, in person and on social media, about creating a memorial? 

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God’s Love We Deliver Volunteer Opportunities 

God’s Love We Deliver cooks and home-delivers nutritious, medically tailored meals for people too sick to shop or cook for themselves. To support the health of our clients, they also provide ongoing nutrition assessment, education, and counseling. God’s Love is a nonsectarian organization serving people in need and their children and caregivers. All of their services are provided free to clients.

Each volunteer must create an individual account through the following link and be registered for the shift at least one week before the shift to ensure entry to the building on the delivery day: God's Love We Deliver (volunteerhub.com)

Cyberbullying Collective Conversation 

Josephine Jee, Assistant Professor/Counselor Career and Internship Services; Adjunct Instructor, Footwear and Accessories Design

Cyberbullying is becoming increasingly pervasive, affecting teenagers and college students worldwide. According to research, due to increased screen time, approximately half of U.S. teens have experienced digital bullying and harassment online (Watson, 2020). In addition, cyberbullying can be difficult to identify because it often goes unnoticed. It overwhelms teenagers and young adults with anxiety, especially when they lack a support system (Manuel, 2023).  This workshop aimed to raise awareness of cyberbullying by facilitating a collective conversation. It is open to students, faculty, staff, and administrators who have experienced it firsthand or helped someone who was subjected to it, and anyone interested in learning more about the incidence and effects of cyberbullying.

Sexual Civility on Campus

Gloria Waitt, Assistant Professor, Counselor, Counseling Center
Jennifer Stachacz, Assistant Professor, Counselor, Counseling Center

The goal of this discussion is to empower students to stay true to their values, expectations, and needs within sexual encounters as well as building respect for others, promoting equality and raising the bar for sexual conduct. As most sex education tends to focus on “safe sex,” medical risks, consent, and what to do in case of sexual assault, there is often a missing dialogue around intimacy, love, relationships, and mutual respect and pleasure. Clear communication is key when it comes to the expectations and boundaries of sexual encounters. A discussion group can be an effective tool in facilitating such dialogue in a safe space.

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