Engagement Day

Interpreting Poetry and Law

The introductory of my freshman seminar Poetry and Law with Professor Natashia Lopez-Gomez was not what I had expected it to be. After discovering I was enrolled in this seminar, the idea I had in mind was a thick government textbook full of legal systems and rules or laws set, the Constitution posted on a wall somewhere in the classroom and a book of Edgar Allan Poe's poems. I was wrong but fascinated by what the course offered and the topics we'd engage in, as well as our community partner we'd be working with, the ACLU. Looking at current issues and the abuse of civil rights upon the people oppressed of their rights. Overall, our class would be seeking social justice for all. I was glad to see how diverse our seminar was as well as the various ethnicities in the class. Each of us had introduced ourselves and the reason of our choice for choosing this specific class. Being a history major, specifically interested in American history, I was very drawn to the course since it involved law. Writing isn't one of my strengths, but poetry is something I see as an authentic story or feeling that cannot be critiqued or marked of errors. Exploring this form of writing is something I believe would give me the ability to strengthen my skills. This engagement day really opened my mind and the opportunity for me to see and understand current and past accounts of discriminations and freedoms taken from Americans. 

Call to Altruistic Action

Behind Altruism 

In participation of Call to Action Day, an annual tradition here at Notre Dame De Namur University in giving back to the community; the activity I chose to engage in was perspectives on altruistic rescue from those who lives were saved, panel here on campus. In this engagement, Jim McGarry's Freshman Seminar students interviewed survivors of three different genocides, which are the Holocaust, Rwanda, and Bosnia. The session honored these survivors, and gave guests the opportunity to hear stories of their experiences and the altruistic acts of their rescuers. With lunch provided before the panel, at the tables guests were able to sit with the panelist and converse. I was unable to sit with any, but did enjoy my company meeting a Sister, whom exercised my desired profession in teaching. After the luncheon, one of the survivors had presented a luggage case that she had taken with her as she travelled to the UK from her home country, Poland. Additionally, she showed the group a book she'd made herself; in order for her to avoid any crying if she were to read it herself, a student r voluntarily read it aloud. Hearing this woman's hardship of splitting from her parents as a young girl to escape the adversary home after her education was no longer available to her because she was a Jew. The book included a newspaper article of her family, a photo of an original building back home that was destructed but rebuilt that her mother had given her to take along. Departing her loved ones, that goodbye would be the last time she'd see and speak to them. Then after, each speaker shared addressed their backgrounds, perspectives of altruism, and their "heroes" attitude of their positions. One thing these survivors had in common other than being liberated from a genocide; those whom were involved in their escape did not feel that should receive any form of gratitude or appreciation for their help. These acts of altruism for them were natural, as of a saying "bless you," after someone has sneezed or holding the door for an unknown person, there is nothing unnatural or unordinary of it. Wikipedia defines the term altruism as "the principle of concern for the welfare of others...a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions and secular worldviews." Connecting these inspirational deeds of assisting those endanger or harm of cruel tribulations to the hallmarks of our learning community, they fall into reaction with three and four; we educate for and act on behalf of justice and peace in the world and we commit ourselves to community service. These hallmarks set a objective for humankind to strive and live by, a mission to complete and seek harmony within our communities and abroad. I was glad to have the chance to hear the accounts of those who've seen the action taken by their altruistic rescuers.