
Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications will be the setting of an evening symposium exploring issues of equality, privilege and justice in Syracuse and South Africa.
“No Innocence This Side of the Womb,” hosted by the Newhouse Center for Global Engagement , will bring together Syracuse and South African artists, academics, activists and journalists.
The event will be held Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. in the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium, Newhouse 3. The event is free and open to the public. Follow on Twitter at #SyracusetoSouthAfrica.
The afterlife of slavery, apartheid and colonialism runs deep. South Africa and the U.S. share the challenge of building a better future while being honest about the present and the past. The symposium will allow panelists and audience members to analyze the response to the shared struggles of racism, poverty and privilege confronting South Africa and Syracuse.
The event will consist of three panel discussions with a rotating open panel chair, allowing audience members to participate.
South Africa to Syracuse – A Common Struggle, 5 p.m.
How segregation and class affect us, regardless of geography. How we got here and where we are going.
Panelists:
Yusuf Abdul-Qadir ’11, chapter director, New York Civil Liberties Union, Syracuse
Ellen Blalock G’84, artist, Syracuse
Zuko Gqadavama , resource development coordinator, Inkululeko, South Africa
Charisse L’Pree , assistant professor, Newhouse School, Syracuse University
Michelle Schenandoah , CEO and editor-in-chief, Rematriation Magazine, Oneida Nation
John Western , professor, Maxwell School, Syracuse University
The Arts – Ordinary Acts, Extraordinary Promise, 6:40 p.m. Art’s role in unpacking and pushing back against injustice.
Panelists:
Jaleel Campbell , artist, Syracuse
Gabrielle Goliath , artist, South Africa
Simon Gush artist, South Africa
Neelika Jayawardane , associate professor, SUNY Oswego
Communication – No Easy Walk to Freedom, 8:10 p.m.
The role of a free press in providing a reflection of our societies and a method of holding the powerful to account.
Panelists:
Paul Botes , photographer and picture editor, Mail & Guardian, South Africa
Ken Harper , associate professor and director, Newhouse Center for Global Engagement, Newhouse School, Syracuse University
Joe Lee , general manager, WAER, Syracuse
Khadija Patel , editor-in-chief, Mail & Guardian, South Africa
Niren Tolsi , journalist, South Africa
Photo and art galleries featuring work from Syracuse and South African artists and journalists will be on display.
The event is co-sponsored by Hendricks Chapel , the Department of Transmedia in the College of Visual and Performing Arts , the Syracuse University Humanities Center and Light Work .
Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available at the event.