The Seattle Central Griot - Oct. 20, 2020
A message from the president
It feels like we’ve been in election mode for 20 years, but the end is finally in sight. This Nov. 3, we will have the chance to exercise the most important right and duty of every citizen: to elect the people who will represent us in government.
The past few years have demonstrated the importance of having qualified, inclusive, and thoughtful leaders in charge of your government. We can raise our voices whenever we see injustice, and we can organize to seek change, but the only time that we can have a direct influence in the future of our city, state, and country is when we vote.
The people in power have always known this. That’s why it took nearly 100 years from the start of this republic to extend the vote to Black men, 141 years to women, and 175 years to guarantee the “one man, one vote rule” at the national level. Millions of people are still barred from voting for living with a criminal history. Many people fought, suffered, and died for your right to vote.
If you have the power to vote, do not waste it. If you haven’t registered to vote, you still have until Oct. 26 to do it online or by mail. You can even register in person up to the day of the election. Get your friends and family to register and to vote.
Get educated on the positions of each candidate, and check their endorsements. Do they represent your values and your vision of the future?
If you read a suspicious or unbelievable news story or a social media post about the election, check whether it is true. Do not share misinformation.
Do not fall for the falsehoods about the vulnerability of voting by mail. Washington state has done it for all elections since 2011, with no significant incidents of fraud. Voting by mail is safer than voting in person during a pandemic. You can even send your ballot in without a stamp. And if you are still concerned about the mail, deliver it by hand at one of the many official and secure King County drop boxes, like the one just outside the BE building on Broadway.
Vote like your life depends on it, because it does.
In solidarity,
Sheila Edwards Lange, PhD
President, Seattle Central College
News
Intiman and Seattle Central offer social justice emphasis in technical theatre
Intiman Theatre and Seattle Central College (SCC) have formed a partnership that will offer a new associate degree program emphasis in Technical Theatre for Social Justice (TTSJ).
The partnership will also offer a new home to the Intiman Theatre at Broadway Performance Hall and The Erickson Theatre Off-Broadway. Intiman’s administrative offices, costume and scene shops, and rehearsals will also relocate to the SCC campus.
The curriculum offers learning in technical theatre elements including costumes and properties fabrication, stage lighting, electrics, projections, audio engineering, and scenic carpentry and painting.
Up to 40 students will be accepted per year. They will work alongside Union professionals on Intiman’s mainstage productions during their practicum labs. In addition, students will have the chance to take a lead role in designing a SCC production during their final quarter in the program. The program provides graduates a direct transfer to a four-year institution.
The program is expected to start next fall. Learn more in our Newscenter.
Panel discussion explores role of Black women in American democracy
Seattle Central College hosted a virtual screening of a short documentary, The Untold Stories of Black Women in the Suffrage Movement, as well as a panel discussion featuring women from the film on Oct. 13.
Panelists included Michelle Merriweather, CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle; Judge Anita Crawford-Willis of the Seattle Municipal Court; Regina Malveaux, director of the Washington State Women’s Commission; and Washington State Supreme Court Justice G. Helen Whitener.
Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange offered opening remarks on the role of community colleges in fostering democracy.
The panel was co-moderated by Seattle Central student Sara Bakair and KD Hall, president and co-founder of the KD Hall Foundation.
The recorded discussion is available for viewing.
Fall forum discusses budget, enrollments
President Sheila Edwards Lange and her leadership offered more details about how Seattle Central College is handling the pandemic, a drop in enrollments, and a budget crisis at a staff forum on Oct. 6.
For video of the event and copy of the slide presentation, visit the Newscenter
Online forum on state funding for colleges coming this Oct. 20
Representative Frank Chopp of the 43rd Legislative District will convene an online forum of Oct. 20, 7 p.m., focused on addressing issues surrounding state funding for student financial aid, colleges, and universities. The event is being organized by Communities for Our Colleges, the Washington Student Association, the College Success Foundation, Washington Bus, Seattle Colleges, and the University of Washington.
This one-hour event will be an opportunity to listen and participate in discussions with panelists on how our legislature can prepare to pass policies and investments to provide substantial financial support and stability for students, colleges, and universities.
The forum will be composed of students, educational leaders, and policy leaders. Time will also be dedicated to Q&A from the audience.
Seattle Pathways needs your help
The Seattle Pathways initiative at Seattle Central college has an ambitious goal to eliminate our systemic barriers to success for students of color, so that we can connect every student to the best educational program for their needs, strengths, and aspirations.
There are a variety of projects happening under Seattle Pathways to make this happen, such as the English directed self-placement, a college success course for African American males, program mapping, Starfish, new advising practices, and much much more.
The only way we will truly transform Seattle College is if we collaborate and engage everyone at the college with their ideas and input. If you are interested in getting involved in the Faculty and Staff Engagement Work Group, you are warmly invited to an info session on Oct. 28, 3-4 p.m. or Nov., 3:15-4:30 p.m.
Please RSVP here.
Seattle Colleges District will hold forums on budget
Vice Chancellor Halladay, the college presidents, and Chancellor Shouan Pan have scheduled two virtual Budget Forums this week to share their projected revenue and expenditures for next year's budget, the assumptions behind the budget numbers, and to solicit staff and faculty feedback.
The forums will provide an opportunity to gain a broad perspective of the district budget, to ask questions, and to share thoughts.
The two forums will happen on Oct. 20, 10 a.m., and Oct. 23 2 p.m.
Unique paid internship opportunity with Omnidian
Seattle Central College has partnered with Omnidian, a solar company voted as one of the best place to work in Washington, to provide an exciting paid internship for a Seattle Central student who is excited and eager to learn about the solar and tech industry.
The opportunity offers a six month internship with the possibility for renewal and transition to full-time hire upon graduating from SCC. No previous experience in solar or tech required. If you know a student who could benefit, send them this link to apply
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KUDOS
Katherine Kehrli, dean of the Culinary Academy and a volunteer baker who contributes baked goods to local food banks, was featured in this Seattle Times story for her good works.
Toya Moore, director of the medical assisting program, has been nominated to receive the ‘Rising Star Award’ that recognizes emerging leaders whose record reflects ongoing and exceptional growth in contribution to their profession and increased levels of leadership and responsibility.