Activism Log # 1

Jennifer Smith
Nina Perez
WST 3015
2/15/10


Activism:
My service-learning group is focused on getting UCF to incorporate gender identity into its Nondiscrimination Policy. This week, my group took the first step in achieving this. On Friday we all met together in the library, where I was introduced to my Community Partner Contact, Rebecca Marques. Rebecca went over what our group was trying to accomplish and explained the steps we were going to be taking in order to fulfill our goal. She told us what jobs needed to be done and asked us what we would be most comfortable doing. Since I’m not the most computer literate person, I decided to start by focusing on petitioning/tabling and getting signatures, which is vital to our project; we need supporters! As our project progresses, I will take on other jobs to help the group.

Reflection:
Meeting with Rebecca and my group really helped me feel like I’m doing something important for my community. Author Megan Seely writes how “activism can easily be incorporated into our daily lives” and, after talking with my group, I wholeheartedly believe this (15). This past week I’ve been talking a lot more, with my friends and to strangers, about the discrimination some people face. I’ve realized just bringing a topic up in conversation can make people question their society and the ways that society can improve to protect all its citizens. Looking at the world around me with “open” eyes makes me realize how my actions and choices affect others around me.

Reciprocity:
I’ve learned a lot this past week from my activism; the most important being that Meagan Seely is right when she says, “Equality is not yet enjoyed by all” and “The fight for true political, social, and economic justice continues” (15). Right now, there are students at the UCF campus who haven’t been promised a safe educational environment, free from harassment and discrimination. Hopefully, my group will be successful and will be able to promise ALL students a safe school environment.



Works Cited:
Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl How to be a Fearless Feminist. New York: NYU, 2007. Print.