One thing I’ve always loved about Wesleyan is that students tend not to consider service a duty, but a challenging and enriching opportunity originating in the vision that the world can be a better place. Underlying this approach are the beliefs that a social justice pursuit must both provide an effective service through collaboration and community building, and invite continual reflection upon how we are affecting change. Such a learning-by-doing process has been one of the most important parts of my experience here.
I find the excitement that my peers have for their projects, whether they’re starting one up or working towards strengthening an existing one, to be electric. It has been exciting for me to see how such projects can build off each other, like how much the Wesleyan ESL Program has grown since USLAC’s Justice for Janitor’s campaign in 2000, in which Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 gathered support from students and faculty for better working conditions for custodial staff. It is the continual growth, imagination and reflection seen in our pursuits that give college activism a particular power for change at the grassroots level.
This award was created in the memory of Peter Morgenstern-Clarren, who pursued social justice while he was a student at Wesleyan. For the past two years, the award has honored a sophomore or junior who has worked toward building bridges among and between Wesleyan students, staff and Middletown residents in a way that promotes collaboration among these groups. I encourage anyone who commits time to such work to apply for the award. I also invite you to nominate an employee of Wesleyan University for the first Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 Social Justice Employee Prize. Nominations will require a one-to-three page essay from a student, faculty or staff member on how the selected employee has contributed to student life at Wesleyan. Eligible employees include custodians, dining staff, grounds crew and building maintenance staff (i.e., electricians). The review committee will select the winning essay that identifies the employee, who will then receive the award.
For more information on these awards, come to an info session on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 12 p.m. in Usdan 108, or check out your class blog.
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