| _____________________________________________________________________________________________ This article is borrowed from our Women's Study Program: This outrageous discrimination occurred THIS VERY AFTERNOON! Remember those stories about your grandmother not being allowed to vote or open her own bank account? That is all in the past, right? No! No, it is NOT! An administrator here at The Women's College Seminary contemplated changing her automotive insurance from Geico to the heavily-advertised 21st Century company. All was going well during the application process until the company representative insisted that the policy must be in her husband's name! She told the company that her husband had his own car with his own insurance and that he would not be driving her vehicle, but she was told that it is company policy that ALL policies of married couples MUST be in the husband's name ... not in the name of the wife. No exceptions. This is only one of the pervasive issues involving treatment of women that the women of today will have to address in order that our daughters may enjoy true equality in the future. |
Saint
James
College
Seminary
James
College
Seminary
DISCLOSURE: Most seminaries
throughout the world tend to be
theologically, politically, and socially
conservative.
- Saint James College Seminary follows
the ancient teachings of Paul of Tarsus,
who said: "Be all things to all people."
- Over the years, a steadily-increasing
number of people have asked us to
provide a safe haven for those who
rights, and community development. The Human Affairs Program is
such a safe home base. Our goal is to provide a platform from
which to work to help cure the ills of our troubled world.
Dear Saint James College Seminary,
You position yourself as a school for adult
learners. Well, many of us are Baby
Boomers who lived through the
enervating social and political awakening
of the 60's and 70's. During the "Hippie
Years", I was associated with a
world-shaking program at Cornell
University called The Human Affairs
Program. While there was plenty to be
angry about, it was also a time when a
tantalizing doorway in time and space
opened permitting the lovely seeds of
peace and love to be sown. Truthfully,
we still believe that these are worth
working toward. Please offer a program
re-dedicated to this purpose. Our planet
could certainly use some Flower
Children today!
Respectfully,
Ruth Ann Giles, MD
You position yourself as a school for adult
learners. Well, many of us are Baby
Boomers who lived through the
enervating social and political awakening
of the 60's and 70's. During the "Hippie
Years", I was associated with a
world-shaking program at Cornell
University called The Human Affairs
Program. While there was plenty to be
angry about, it was also a time when a
tantalizing doorway in time and space
opened permitting the lovely seeds of
peace and love to be sown. Truthfully,
we still believe that these are worth
working toward. Please offer a program
re-dedicated to this purpose. Our planet
could certainly use some Flower
Children today!
Respectfully,
Ruth Ann Giles, MD
Our Ancestor HAP and the reason that why the things that
occurred back then continue to be important to us today:
On April 19th, 1969, a large group of students marched into Cornell
University's Willard Straight Hall, evicted virtually everyone who was inside,
and took complete possession of the building. While the participants insisted
that no weapons were carried in, when the occupancy ended, photographers
recorded numerous students marching forth holding up rifles and wearing
bandoleers of bullets across their chests. Participants later denied that any
weapons were present while seizing the hall, insisting that guns and
knives were smuggled in later.
Because the occupiers were African-American, the terrified white university
trustees quickly established a number of programs designed to defuse the
potential for more outbreaks. Among other things, a black-only
dormitory/living center, Ujamaa Hall, was opened.
________________________________________________________
The founding of the original Human Affairs Program
In 1969, HAP was founded. Some skeptics said that it was nothing more than a transparent attempt to placate "the
radicals" by establishing something that had the outward trappings of "relevant education". But, that is exactly
what the Human Affairs Program of 1969 did...offer education relevant to the times...and is what we, the respectful
founders of its namesake, are committed to accomplishing today.
In 1975, Lin, Karen, and Susan organized a "Speak Out" at Cornell.
Among the topics was the (unfortunately too-believable) story Carmita Wood,
a laboratory worker at the university who resigned her position because a
male scientist engaged in an ongoing practice of making sexual advances
towards her. These included simulating masturbation and groping under
Wood's sweater. Ultimately, Wood quit her job and sought unemployment
benefits but was turned down because both the unemployment insurance
reviews board and the New York State Department of Labor refused Wood's
application for the unemployment insurance that she had already pre-paid
into an account. They said that she had other options besides quitting and
that, in their view, she resigned "for other personal reasons."
At that pioneering Speak Out, the women who attended were provided with
the names and contact information of women attorney's who would help the many, many, many others who suffered
sexual harassment (a term, by the way, popularized by Lin Farley's book, Sexual Shakedown: The Sexual
Harassment of Women on the Job. (Available at Amazon.)
handled the same general responsibilities that a dean would in a similar program that had "college" status). Dan
and the others within HAP decided to take a step that was long a well-kept secret: the program would hire a lawyer
and give her or him a faculty position, but she or he would also act as an advisor in terms of assisting women such
as Carmita Wood in bringing lawsuits against the perpetrators of sexual harassment and abuse. A calm, centered,
and dedicated attorney, Larry Reverby was invited to join the team.
Others at HAP were Ben Erlitz who headed an program aimed at doing urban planning based on people's needs,
not those of the government, the banks, design and construction firms that had traditionally profited from urban
renewal. (Today, Ben is an attorney who practices law in Atlanta) -- Tonya Yuldeson developed a prisoners' rights
group -- Tom Height followed Ben in directing The Psychology of Community Development section which was
designed to use state and federal monies to redevelop cities and towns to meet the needs of their people instead of
institutions -- Jim Schmidt headed The People's Power Coalition that worked to break the immense power of electric
utilities by striving to establish local community-owned municipal power companies -- Nancy Bereano taught
dynamics of group conflict and allocation of power -- Larry Reverby now practices law in Trumansburg, NY.
There were so many others but, after all these decades, many of their names and people-assisting specialties have
become confused by the mists of time. If you can help to fill in the gaps, please Email Us.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
occurred back then continue to be important to us today:
On April 19th, 1969, a large group of students marched into Cornell
University's Willard Straight Hall, evicted virtually everyone who was inside,
and took complete possession of the building. While the participants insisted
that no weapons were carried in, when the occupancy ended, photographers
recorded numerous students marching forth holding up rifles and wearing
bandoleers of bullets across their chests. Participants later denied that any
weapons were present while seizing the hall, insisting that guns and
knives were smuggled in later.
Because the occupiers were African-American, the terrified white university
trustees quickly established a number of programs designed to defuse the
potential for more outbreaks. Among other things, a black-only
dormitory/living center, Ujamaa Hall, was opened.
- But, soon, the idea of "sit-in's", building
occupations, and massive marches began to
become prevalent all across the United States, and
abroad. Within a matter of weeks following the take-
over of "The Straight", demonstrations and
occupations spread to campuses such as Princeton,
Dartmouth, Tulane, Howard, and Princeton.
- These protests expanded from being expressions of
racial inequity into loud, often violent (when the
police moved in)
demonstrations
against many
forms of injustice.
Prominent
among those were
the burgeoning
"Feminist
Revolution" and
the growing
public outcry
against the
Vietnam War.
________________________________________________________
The founding of the original Human Affairs Program
In 1969, HAP was founded. Some skeptics said that it was nothing more than a transparent attempt to placate "the
radicals" by establishing something that had the outward trappings of "relevant education". But, that is exactly
what the Human Affairs Program of 1969 did...offer education relevant to the times...and is what we, the respectful
founders of its namesake, are committed to accomplishing today.
- The original HAP played a role in helping to launch The Women's Movement
with such luminaries as Lin Farley, Susan Meyer, Karen Saugivne, recruited
from the Radical Feminist organization. Also joining the team was Bunny
Sherman, who headed the program's Women's Studies section. (At HAP,
what would have been a small department elsewhere in the university was
more humbly called a Section).
- And, the program was needed. Lin was evicted from her apartment after the
local newspaper declared her to be “Cornell’s first out lesbian professor.”
In 1975, Lin, Karen, and Susan organized a "Speak Out" at Cornell.
Among the topics was the (unfortunately too-believable) story Carmita Wood,
a laboratory worker at the university who resigned her position because a
male scientist engaged in an ongoing practice of making sexual advances
towards her. These included simulating masturbation and groping under
Wood's sweater. Ultimately, Wood quit her job and sought unemployment
benefits but was turned down because both the unemployment insurance
reviews board and the New York State Department of Labor refused Wood's
application for the unemployment insurance that she had already pre-paid
into an account. They said that she had other options besides quitting and
that, in their view, she resigned "for other personal reasons."
At that pioneering Speak Out, the women who attended were provided with
the names and contact information of women attorney's who would help the many, many, many others who suffered
sexual harassment (a term, by the way, popularized by Lin Farley's book, Sexual Shakedown: The Sexual
Harassment of Women on the Job. (Available at Amazon.)
handled the same general responsibilities that a dean would in a similar program that had "college" status). Dan
and the others within HAP decided to take a step that was long a well-kept secret: the program would hire a lawyer
and give her or him a faculty position, but she or he would also act as an advisor in terms of assisting women such
as Carmita Wood in bringing lawsuits against the perpetrators of sexual harassment and abuse. A calm, centered,
and dedicated attorney, Larry Reverby was invited to join the team.
Others at HAP were Ben Erlitz who headed an program aimed at doing urban planning based on people's needs,
not those of the government, the banks, design and construction firms that had traditionally profited from urban
renewal. (Today, Ben is an attorney who practices law in Atlanta) -- Tonya Yuldeson developed a prisoners' rights
group -- Tom Height followed Ben in directing The Psychology of Community Development section which was
designed to use state and federal monies to redevelop cities and towns to meet the needs of their people instead of
institutions -- Jim Schmidt headed The People's Power Coalition that worked to break the immense power of electric
utilities by striving to establish local community-owned municipal power companies -- Nancy Bereano taught
dynamics of group conflict and allocation of power -- Larry Reverby now practices law in Trumansburg, NY.
There were so many others but, after all these decades, many of their names and people-assisting specialties have
become confused by the mists of time. If you can help to fill in the gaps, please Email Us.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
| Saint James College Seminary is a not-for-profit educational program. All photos used are believed to be in the public domain. Peace symbol and fist credit: Wally Wayne Zampa at the AOUNIN archive.jpg. Button courtesy of buttonland.com. Chicago convention photo from america.gov |
Things for which the first Human Affairs Program
stood that we support and are continuing....
HAP director Dan Leahy wrote: "The program began in 1969 to combine active learning and
concrete involvement with poor and working people.... The program emphasizes three goals:
learning through active problem-solving, the assistance of low-income people and organizations
with the problems they face, and the constant examination of education and the role of the highly-
educated in the struggle for social justice.
The Section Leader (head of small department focusing on a
particular academic discipline) is responsible for ... the design
and supervision of field study projects, the development and
maintenance of links with the community and/or labor
organizations...researching new areas in which to serve."
(Does Anyone know Dan's location? We would like to contact him.)
The students were both graduate and undergraduates.
The HAP program offered six full credit hours per semester...
and the student was expected to generate significant community
service through weekly classroom seminars combined with
energized field study projects.
| We do essentially the same thing, although we have a somewhat different world today. As Bob Dylan wrote, The times they are a-changin'. |
Our Human Affairs Program educates its students
through: 1) weekly online sessions with their professor
2) and they contribute to their communities with
energized field study projects such as diversity,
inclusion, or social justice!
through: 1) weekly online sessions with their professor
2) and they contribute to their communities with
energized field study projects such as diversity,
inclusion, or social justice!
This is the Human Affair's Program's second incarnation
culturally, and educationally important progressive program operated by Cornell University from 1969- 1976. As the political climate in the United States became increasingly conservative, the University felt secure in simply closing it down and dispersing the faculty. |
______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________ SOCIAL JUSTICE and YOU What is Social Justice? Generally, the concept springs from the writings and beliefs of Jesuit priest Luigi Taparelli in the mid- 1800's and was a refining of precepts of equality taught by St. Thomas Aquinas. Today, it is most often associated with the Roman Catholic and Episcopalian/Anglican communions (and also with our parent organization, The Love Church Worldwide). Because "Social Justice" is a spiritual prerogative, it is obligatory that a responsible seminary offer a comprehensive program in the field. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ DEFINITION: Social Justice is variously described as an enterprise or mission whose aim is the creation of a society that offers its citizens a life of equality, solidarity, and representative governance. This society recognizes, defends, and applauds the human rights, individuality, and dignity of all. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action offers another definitive view of Social Justice, saying that: "Human rights education should include peace, democracy, development and social justice, as set forth in international and regional human rights instruments, in order to achieve common understanding and awareness with a view to strengthening universal commitment to human rights." ________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE HAP PROGRAM FIELD-STUDY CURRICULUM: > Introduction to Social Justice Program, Lessons to be Learned, Experience to be Gained...and Community Service to be Provided > Power and Its Ability to Define Social Environment > Types of Social Circumstances: This module examines the manifestations of Social Justice and Social Injustice prevalent in society, including: economic (including poverty and the dissolution of the Middle Class), jobs, professions, unions, gender issues (LGBT), racial/national origin, religious/cultural background, law enforcement, environmental, political. > What IS Political? HAP examines the following precept: "The people who have the most control over us were generally not elected. They were appointed by people who also were not elected. Unelected people appointing each other to positions whereby they have life-and-death power over us." > Campaigns and the Electoral Process: Promises vs. what is actually delivered by politicians after the election > Social Justice Leadership: Political, Career Bureaucrats, Human Service Agencies, Religion > Individual and Group Power to End Injustice and Oppression > Knowledge Resources: Open government, availability of official documents and procedures, high-speed internet > Equitable Availability and Distribution of Community / Governmental Resources and Services
prisons and under-represented in positions of corporate and governmental authority, educational, medical, and other leadership > Educational Equity > Workplace Justice: Role of Unions, Unions Under Attack, Gender Neutrality, End of "Glass Ceiling" > Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice inequities, ability of various socio-economic groups to obtain fair treatment by law enforcement and the courts. > Incarceration Studies: This brief module examines the world-leaDing American incarceration rate, racial and socio-economic imbalances among the prison population, and the prison system as an economic development tool > Gender-Gay-Lesbian Imbalances in society, including historical, current, domestic, international, cultural, and religious. Will also feature individual anecdotes > Values In Society > The Role of Religion in Social Justice: Conservative churches and religions vs. Progressive, inclusive churches, temples, and religions > The Role Played by Social Workers and Psychology in development of societal equity > Disparity Between Official Government Policies and "Street" Injustices: Examination of "The Rodney King Syndrome", real-life treatment of economically and educationally disadvantaged citizens, LGBT, physically and mentally handicapped > Homelessness: Historical and contemporary growth of a homeless population > Grassroots Organization > The Arts and Activism
the spectrum through growing societal awareness of Environmental Issues through ecoomic/corporate compliance, government Environmental Policy, competing and often at-odds regulatory agencies > The Media's Influence on Social Justice: The disparity between Fox News and MSNBC, between The Wall Street Journal (owned by arch conservative Rudolph Murdock) and the liberal Huffington Post, and local media outlets > The Surveillance Society: Constitutionally "Protected" Rights vs. Government Monitoring of Email, Cellphone conversations, social networking contacts, movies watched, credit card use, travel, etc. > Pluralism: Is it practical to work for peoples of diverse races, cultures, religions, etc., to live side-by-side? > The effect of Social Networking: How Facebook impacts contemporary social outlook, influences political change or stagnation, and its effect on global issues such as changes in national govern national governments, challenges to dictatorships > Non-profit Organizations: Their role and management of NGOs, missions, Social Action, and Social Justice Charitable Agencies
> Social Policy, Social Service, Social Justice Research The U.S. vs. Other Developed Nations > Establishment of Programs and Program Delivery > Community Project or Practicum > For Degree Students: there will be a faculty-assisted THESIS, DISSERTATION, or PROJECT |
| CURRICULUM |
Without Social Justice for all, we forfeit our right to be considered enlightened creatures |
| >CURRICULUM APPEARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE |
"Universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based
upon social justice." -International Labour Organization constitution
upon social justice." -International Labour Organization constitution
| Out of control? Dysfunctional? Visit our Center for Ethical Studies |
In our time, we have had to face
attempts at freedom being
crushed, as at Tianamen
Square, Lybia, Syria, and
Yemen.
attempts at freedom being
crushed, as at Tianamen
Square, Lybia, Syria, and
Yemen.
Day after day, we must face
the reality of unspeakable
evil....
the reality of unspeakable
evil....
GENDER PARITY STILL LACKING IN U.S.
movie North Country
illustrated an example of
against women workers at
Minnesota's Eveleth Taconite
Company. The associated
legal case led to a landmark
Supreme Court ruling
against the practice.
Unfortunately, gender
discrimination continues....
illustrated an example of
against women workers at
Minnesota's Eveleth Taconite
Company. The associated
legal case led to a landmark
Supreme Court ruling
against the practice.
Unfortunately, gender
discrimination continues....
| HOME PAGE APPLY PAY TUITION Request INFO HelpDesk Become a Certified Professional Chaplain CPE UNITS for Chaplains Certified GRIEF WORKER ORDINATION through our Seminary Women's Studies Social Justice About Us |
- It was not all peace and love
- There was so much to be angry about.
- So-called "liberated" women burned bras. While this was
an important symbol of release, it also sprang from hundreds
of generations of women's hearts, minds, wills, and bodies,
being constricted by men. The bottled-up rage was real.
- Women were often ridiculed at the height of the early
phases of the movement and, amazingly, continue to be so
today. Witness Rush Limbaugh referring to women's quest
for equality as Femi-nazis.
- Women and the Glass Ceiling: Women were then -- and
remain -- relegated to lower rungs in professional life than
men, with notably lower salaries for doing the same work.
Women were -- and are -- shockingly under represented in
top corporate and governmental positions.
- Anger of Ordinary People: Blue collar as well as rank-and-file union workers found themselves
suddenly but were afterwards left to face the cold reality that, once again, again, the the promises that
were made to them went largely unfulfilled.
- Among a large cross-section of American life, there
- was growing and intense anger about the futility of the
Vietnam War. While many in government, ordinary
citizens, and even a substantial number of military
people publicly objected to the war, it had vehement
supporters. And, the "pro-war people" detested,
ridiculed and, occasionally physically attacked the
"anti-war people" who were regularly portrayed as
being "anti-American draft dodgers".
- The Catonsville Nine: Appalled at the carnage in the
- Vietnam War (which included burning the occupants of
villages alive with napalm), on May 17th, 1968, Roman
Catholic priests Daniel and Philip Berrigan and
seven other anti-war activists broke into a draft board
in Catonsville, MD. They removed 378 draft records,
brought them outside, and set them on fire with homemade napalm. An evocative quote floats down to us
through the years: "Our apologies, good friends, for the fracture of good order, the burning
of paper instead of children...." It was our pleasure to know Father Berrigan during his years as a
chaplain at Cornell. If you feel as your peace-loving predecessors did, you are welcome to enroll in today's
Human Affairs Program, majoring in Peace Studies and Spirituality.
- The 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago was marred by
- persecution and violence that many thought possible only in the then-
Soviet Union or in a Third World dictatorship. The anger was so prevalent
that year that there were riots in over 100 cities. Dr. Martin Luther King
was assassinated in April of that year, followed in June by the shooting of
Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
- The shootings of anti-war protesters at Kent State University (also
- known as the May 4 massacre or Kent State massacre) aroused and
sustained the anger of students, anti-war activists, and ordinary people.
The National Guardsman fired 67-rounds of ammunition in 13-seconds at
unarmed students, leaving four dead and nine others injured. One of the
students who was shot sustained permanent paralysis as a result. The
tragic events occurred on Monday, May 4, 1970.
- There was -- and is -- anger in the LGBT community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender). This
program has numerous reports of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender persons being harassed in
public places, spat upon, beaten, discriminated upon in the marketplace, and murdered. Today, we have
conservative American Christians actually pro-actively pushing for imprisonment and even execution of
LGBT citizens in the 37 African nations that currently permit this "punishment". LGBT community members
simply want to live their lives as any other person would have the freedom to do.
- On August 26th, 1971, Congresswoman Bella Abzug obtained approval of the House of Representatives
and the Senate to establish a Women's Equality Day. Congress enacted these words, among others:
"WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not
been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to
male citizens of the United States...." The anger has continued because, clearly, there is no gender
equality even today.
Image: beakout_poster_-artist_unknown_-_H.K._Yuen_Archive