AFAPC Blog

Does Race Still Matter?
Interrogating “Post-Racial” Notions in the Age of Obama

Panel Discussion / Open Forum
Tuesday, May 12
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Memorial Union, Room 213

Google the term “post-racial” and one will find plenty of debate
surrounding our current historical moment and the significance-or
insignificance-of race in US society today. After all, did we not elect
our first African American President? How then can one argue that race
is still a factor of any substantive consequence in American life?
Clearly, given Obama’s election we have reached a point in our history
where race no longer constitutes a barrier to opportunity or
socioeconomic mobility-or so the argument goes.

What exactly does it mean to assert we are now living in a “post-racial”
US? What is at stake? Does race still matter, and if so, in what ways?

Join the Association of Faculty for the Advancement of People of Color
(AFAPC) in a panel discussion and open forum as we grapple with these
very questions.

Panelists:
Patti Sakurai – Ethnic Studies
Dwaine Plaza – Sociology
Sunil Khanna – Anthropology
Joseph Orosco – Philosophy
Deb Rubel – Teacher & Counselor Education

Moderator:
Celeste Walls – Speech Communication

Sponsored by the Black Cultural Center and the Association of Faculty
for the Advancement of People of Color (AFAPC)

Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made to Anne
Gillies, 541- 737-0865.

The Philosophy Department presents

IDEAS MATTER Lecture Series

THE UN DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AT 60

Jorge Valadez, Philosophy
Our Lady of the Lake University

February 12, 2009
7:00 pm
Gilfillan Auditorium

The primary focus of this talk will be on the issue of whether immigration should be regarded as a universal human right. Dr. Valadez will critically examine some of the justifications that have been given for the view that immigration should be added to the list of commonly recognized human rights. His primary contention is that national policies on immigration, in order to be considered moral or just, should be understood within the context of a global theory of justice. When seen from this context, we will be able to appreciate the problems with the claim that immigration is a human right, even while recognizing that countries owe strong moral obligations to one another that can be partially discharged by more liberal immigration policies.

These lectures are open and free to the public.

For more information, contact Leonora Rianda at 737-2955 or check out the Philosophy Department website at: http://oregonstate.edu/cla/philosophy/

Please feel free to add your suggestions for topics to discuss at the meeting on Tuesday. Thus far we have the following:

1) Program update – collaboration with the Bias Response Team

2) Residence hall issue

3)  Warren Suzuki memorial scholarship fund

4) Discussion with Sabah about campus climate