Calvin News

The Multicultural Student Advisory Board at Calvin College will sponsor "UNLEARN Week" October 10-15.

The week is so-named because it's intended to help the Calvin community "unlearn the many false ideas, generalizations, stereotypes and assumptions learned as a result of cultural influences within society."

"The goal of the week," says Calvin's Jacque Rhodes (above), "is to give everyone an opportunity to explore the sin of learned racism and how to give Christ-like love to all people."

The week’s activities are designed and implemented by the Multicultural Student Advisory Board and the schedule includes lectures, panel discussions, daily chapels and other events which try to breakdown ignorance and misunderstanding, while fostering racial reconciliation, cultural appreciation and an authentic Christian community.

Says Rhodes: "UNLEARN week programs in the past have led to many thought-provoking interactions on the topic of racism and reconciliation. This, in turn, has led to greater participation in ongoing programs and continued dialogue in other forums, including the student newspaper, residence hall programs, classrooms settings and personal conversations."

SCHEDULE

• Sunday, October 10 - an 8 pm Sunday-evening worship service in the Calvin Chapel featuring testimonials from a Calvin alum and a current student
• Monday, October 11 - a 3:30 pm showing of "The People Who Met Columbus" as part of Columbus Day in the Commons Lecture Hall
• Monday, October 11 - a 7 pm talk in the Fish House (student coffee shop) entitled " Just Because I’m White Doesn’t Mean I’m Racist," considering a white man’s perspective on racism and reconciliation
• Monday, October 11 - a 7:30 pm panel on Hispanic immigration entitled "La Immigracion Hispana" in the Commons Lecture Hall
• Monday, October 11 - an 8:30 pm presentation in the Chapel Undercroft called "Why UNLEARN?"
• Tuesday, October 12 - a 10 am Chapel Service
• Tuesday, October 12 - a 4 pm panel discussion on "UNLEARNing the Myths of Disabilities" in the Calvin Meeter Center, featuring students with personal experiences dealing with discrimination
• Tuesday, October 12 - a 7 pm forum in the Calvin Meeter Center on International Racism
• Wednesday, October 13 - a repeat of Monday's "Why UNLEARN?" event, but this time at 12:30 pm on the Commons Lawn
• Wednesday, October 13 - a 3 to 6 pm hosting of Hot Talk 640 AM's radio show called “The Drive,” featuring Tyrone Bynum on the Mis-education of African Americans in the Media
• Wednesday, October 13 - a Barnabas prayer dinner at 5 pm, including a meal and a time of prayer for world racial issues
• Wednesday, October 13 - a 7 pm talk in the Calvin Chapel by Heather Gemmen
• Thursday, October 14 - an 8 pm Jazz Vespers service in the Fish House/Cave, featuring poetry and jazz with a reconciliation theme
• Friday, October 15 - a 10 am Chapel Service featuring a drama and the Calvin College Gospel Choir
• Friday, October 15 - a 12 pm to 2 pm Reconciliation Celebration on the patio outside Johnny’s (the student coffee shop), featuring "refreshments and fellowship as we close the week in unity."