Prabhjot Singh
Staff Writer
The Student Commission on Racial Equality, or S.C.O.R.E, an Associated Students committee, will be hosting its 14th Annual Facing Race Conference on Feb. 23 in the Student Resource Building.
Facing Race, a conference that takes place at the University of California, Santa Barbara every year during winter quarter, addresses some important issues that affect people of color in today’s society. The theme for the conference this year is “Against the Gun: Deconstructing Narratives of Violence in Communities of Color”.
Navkiran Kaur, second-year global and international studies major and co-chair for S.C.O.R.E., discussed the theme.
“We hope to discuss, break down, and understand the different ways violence affects our communities of color, looking past simply the mainstream idea of ‘violence’ and looking into sexual violence, domestic violence, verbal attacks, and micro-aggressions as well,” said Kaur. “We hope to empower students of color and their allies, as well.”
In light of all the attention surrounding violent acts that took place in the past year, whether it was gun violence or sexual violence, the planning committee decided this subject was relevant and important to discuss.
“My hope for this conference in regards to violence is to combat and really dissect different forms of violence and how they elicit very diffident emotions,” said Brandon Pineda, second-year sociology and film double major and co-chair for S.C.O.R.E. “People really feel violence in very different ways: some are devastatingly damaged from their own respective experience, and some may be desensitized to the result. However, regardless of the outcome, violence is reflective and it does produce these potent feelings. This is what I want to see discussed and combatted.”
The conference, which is open to all students, staff, faculty, and community members, will consist of keynote speakers, workshops, and caucus spaces to inform and educate those who attend. The conference will end with a dinner and entertainment portion in the evening, where student dance groups Iaorana Te Otea and Raíces De Mi Tierra are scheduled to perform, among others.
“Facing Race is a really good opportunity for students of color and allies to come together and discuss sensitive issues that are not normally touched upon on a daily basis yet still affect many students every day. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and really get a sense of what it means to be a student of color in a higher education system,” said S.C.O.R.E. Financial Coordinator and second-year psychology and feminist studies double major, Angelica Cano.
Students planning to attend the day-long conference also shared their excitement.
“I’m really looking forward to Facing Race because I know I’ll learn a lot and be able to discuss my thoughts on critical issues faced by people of color. It’s a great opportunity because it’s free knowledge and education,” said fourth-year biology major Raman Kaur. To register to attend the conference, go to tinyurl.com/FacingRace13. The conference will begin at 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 23 at the SRB.