JHR Minutes #27

Wednesday, January 16th 2008 @ Smith 109

Present: Erica Bergmann; Catherine Bugayong; Nari Corley-Wheeler; Jacob Galfano; Janice Goh; Rachel Proefke; Anthony Shelley; Ben Shock

The Liaison: With the rough draft deadline fast approaching (January 23^rd), the group discussed their ideas for articles* and shared feedback:

*Theme: Justice & Human Rights; Max: 500 words

- Ben: US & the Middle East: Global policing

- Erica: A survey of presidential candidates and their views on criminal justice

- Jacob: Local initiative privatizing prison labor

- Janice: China (Tibet?), justice, and human rights

- Nari: Health care & access to pharmaceuticals

With a few other members expressing interest in submitting an article, this issue of The Liaison should have no trouble providing diverse and substantive content. However, we still needs help with other sections of the newsletter, layout, photography, printing, distribution, etc. If you’re interested in participating, please contact us at: j4hr@u.washington.edu

Note: Jacob is inquiring about circumventing the Human Subjects Review process for our plans to create a newsletter featuring youth participation. This information will be shared once available.

Why Human Rights? Erica volunteered to share her rough draft for her contribution to JHR’s promotion pamphlet Why Human Rights? This inadvertently led to an excellent discussion about human rights theory and application, and the model (volunteering to share rough drafts and gleaning feedback from ensuing discussion) will be used at the next meeting for those interested. Rough drafts for this project are also due on January 23^rd (Max: 100 words).

From our colleagues at JHR York: “If you’re heated about human rights and passionate about journalism, we at JHR @ York would like to invite you to submit journalistic or nonfiction pieces for our premiere issue of RIOT – a magazine dedicated exclusively to human rights issues worldwide. Email: jhr@excal.on.ca

Chapter News:

- Anthony has taken on creating a proposal for Rights, Camera, Action!; if our group happens to be selected, he will travel to Washington DC as our representative and continue to spearhead the project (along with the group’s support). We will update the status of this project soon.

- JHR is pursuing further steps for a potential event on campus with UW’s Pakistani Student Association and local independent journalist Ethan Casey. A meeting is set for Monday, January 21^st, and results will be shared at our next general meeting.

- The group will collaborate on Tuesday, January 22^nd at Odegaard Writing Center to write and submit two funding proposals – the Mary Gates Leadership Grant and the UW Bothell Student Activities Fund (each due on 1/25).

- Janice met one of the Prime Ministerial candidates of Cambodia’s upcoming election, and learned of his speaking tour through the United States. She will research his platform, and the possibility of bringing him to Seattle. Stay tuned for details of this exciting opportunity!

- Ben is continuing securing JHR business cards; this will be an immense help in our efforts to promote the group and become more visible on campus.

Website: Yuhei is working tirelessly to update JHR UW’s website, and needs our help. Before the next steps of adding minutes and articles, creating a blog or message board, etc, he’d like some consensus on the wording of a few sections on the site. The following are current examples; if you’d like to make changes, please email us at: j4hr@u.washington.edu

(In the About Us section – brief version preceding mission statement): JHR @ UW is a school chapter of Journalists for Human Rights. Through our work, we seek to balance the objectivity of journalism with the advocacy of human rights – at both local and global levels.

Yuhei has expressed that he’d like to see information about the group and its development – such as the year it started, what membership is like, etc. Please chime in anytime!

(In the Events section): JHR @ UW holds regular general meetings and sponsors different events, as well as publicizes other important events in the community.

UW Bothell: JHR will table at the Bothell campus on January 22^nd to recruit leadership. If you’d like to help, please contact us: j4hr@u.washington.edu

The group is also planning collaborating with other Bothell student groups, including its Intercultural Club, Gay-Straight Alliance, and the Center of Guineoequadorian Studies for an event discussing the idea of requiring gender-neutral bathrooms on its campus.

Esther also contributed the idea for JHR to help out with the Right to Sight Campaign, an ongoing project to collect unused eyeglass hardware and contribute them to those needing. Details will be provided soon!

Tabling: JHR will table in early February to continue reaching out to new and potential members, as well as to inform the campus community about what JHR is working on. If you’re interested in volunteering, please let us know: j4hr@u.washington.edu

Next Meeting: The next meeting will be Wednesday January 23^rd at 6 pm, at Smith 109 (then proceeds to Janice’s home).

Tentative Agenda for Meeting #28:

- The Liaison: Rough drafts, next steps, HSR for Spring?

- Pamphlet: Brainstorm for rough drafts, next steps

- Fundraiser: Date? Align w/ exhibit

- Pakistani collaboration (Meeting results)

- Cambodia PM

- Q Center/UWB Gay-Straight Alliance

- Website development

o Connection to UWB

- Tabling dates

- Bothell: Presidents Mtg. (2/5)/Right to Sight Campaign

Notable Announcements:

- Youth Speaks Seattle is proud to present SLAMTASTIC VOYAGE: The Annual Seattle Youth Poetry Slam Series. The event will take place on Friday, January 18^th, Oseao/Electric Tea Garden (1402 E Pike – across from Chop Suey)

- Dr. Muhammad Yunus – Nobel Prize winner – will speak at Kane Hall on January 18^th. Unfortunately, this event at Kane Hall is sold out.

- The Philosophy of Non-Violence, a workshop about freedom from oppression, will be held on January 19^th.

- NISGUA, the Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala, is looking for a Human Rights Campaigner. Applications will stop being accepted on January 21^st. Visit their website if interested.

- The Reverend Martin Luther King, JR. Memorial day of Service will be held on January 21^st, and will meet at the HUB at 8 am. There will also be the 26^th annual march beginning at Franklin High School.

- This year’s One-Night Count – an annual check on the number of homeless living on the streets – takes place on January 25^th. This important project is organized by the Seattle King County Coalition for the Homeless. Although all Seattle teams are full, the coalition may still take volunteers for areas in North, East, and South King County. Contact: 206/357.3149

- Women, Action, & the Media! 2008, A Conference for Journalists, Activists & Everyone, will be held at the end of this March; the deadline for applications is January 31^st.

- The Iranian American Community Alliance is sponsoring an event to discuss media coverage of US/Iran relations. The event, featuring professors David Domke and Arzoo Osanloo, will take place on January 31^st at Kane Hall at 6:30 pm. Visit their website for details.

- Global Youth Connect is sending human rights delegates to Bosnia, Guatemala, Rwanda, and Venezuela this summer! Visit their website for more information.

- The Bonderman Travel Scholarship is accepting applications, due on February 15^th. Visit their website for more details.