The free afternoon program featuring panel discussions, new exhibits and entertainment, along with a special talk by Civil Rights activist Diane Nash.  First up: Joshua Burford, Assistant Director for Sexual & Gender Diversity at UNC, Charlotte. 

This Sunday is our official Destination Freedom Kick Off, a free afternoon program featuring panel discussions, new exhibits and entertainment, along with a special talk by Civil Rights activist Diane Nash.  In preparing for Sunday, we had the opportunity to ask several of the panelists questions surrounding the pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement, their own activism, and what they are looking forward to during the Destination Freedom Kick Off.

by Matthew Brown | 09/03/2013
Joshua Burford, the Assistant Director for Sexual/Gender Diversity the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, said in an interview, “Bullying has taken on a different dynamic in the 21st century...

When you imagine someone being bullied, if you’re like me your mind travels to a scene where a small middle schooler is being pushed up against the hallway wall by a gruff kid who’s digging for lunch money. But the reality is that bullying extends far beyond the scope of this cliché sitcom drama and affects the lives of countless individuals—both in middle school and beyond. As the nation has collectively gathered its voice in recent years to address bullying in our schools, we have overlooked the existence of bullying in adult life—particularly the bullying that is far too widespread in our nation’s colleges. It’s time to have a greater dialogue about bullying in college.   

What is bullying? At its core, bullying exists where an individual or group of individuals with more power exert that power to humiliate, abuse or injure a weaker party for their own pleasure or satisfaction. It extends beyond simple teasing, which can be a playful way to interact with friends and happens without an imbalance of power.   “Bullying is prevalent across the lifespan. Although there is little research on bullying in college specifically, what does exist points to the same trends we see in other groups: bullying is a communicative act designed humiliate or embarrass another, as well as reinforce power differences,” said Carol B. Mills, bullying researcher and professor at the University of Alabama. “In college, this occurs in teacher-student relationships, organizations' hazing rituals, and among social peer groups. Victims often feel powerless to combat bullying, yet research suggests that stopping it at the outset is the best way to ensure it does not continue. - See more at: http://www.studentadvisor.com/articles/bullying-its-a-college-problem-too#sthash.Dc8Ipm9t.dpuf