First-Year Urban Program Reading Packet 2019 Page | 2 FUP Reading Packet This packet is meant to present a variety of perspectives on race, gender, sexual orientation, class, identity, ability status, religion, social justice, oppression, privilege, power structures and what it means to participate in service, activism, and social change here in Boston and Cambridge. There is no one way to “be FUP,” but all the pieces in this packet have been chosen to provoke critical thought, discussion and reflection. Don’t feel any pressure to agree with all (or any) of the authors - but do take the time to think about the issues they raise. Please do all the reading carefully, as we’ll be meeting in small, organized discussion groups throughout FUP week. While we tried to include a diverse range of topics relating to service, activism, and social change, there is definitely no way for a compilation of readings like this to cover everything—if there is a topic that you feel is missing, that’s definitely something you can bring up in your small discussion group at FUP! This packet is meant to serve as a way to start the conversations that we will have throughout FUP week, but there will also be plenty of space to talk about your personal experiences with the kinds of topics raised here if you feel comfortable. While reading this packet, it can be helpful to think about what the community you’re from is like and how that has influenced how you see the issues that are brought up in this packet. Please be conscious of the environmental impact printing this packet may have. Any references to the packet can be made digitally if needed. Good luck, happy reading, and we cannot wait to FUP with you! Page | 3 Intro to Harvard Welcome FUPpie! We want to make sure you all are equipped to take on your first-year year, so here is a list of resources at your disposal for the next four years. ● Mental Health Resources There are a multitude of mental health resources at your disposal. o Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Taken from their website: “CAMHS is a counseling and mental health support service which seeks to work collaboratively with students and the university to support individuals who are experiencing some measure of distress in their lives.” ▪ Located at the University Health Services (HUHS) in the Smith Campus Center, open from Monday-Friday, 8:30AM-5:30PM ▪ Phone: 617-495-2042, After-Hours Phone: 617-495-5711 o CAMHS provides a website with consolidated resources for students, including all the different types of resources: professional, peer, and residential support. https://camhs.huhs.harvard.edu/our-servicesht ● Sexual Assault Resources There are also a multitude of resources for sexual assault. o Office of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response (OSAPR) Taken from the OSAPR Website: “The Office of Sexual Assault Prevention & Response seeks to eliminate harm, violence, and oppression through the intersectional promotion of gender equity and social justice. We advocate for the compassionate, just treatment of survivors and collaborate with our Harvard community to effect attitudinal and behavioral change.” ▪ Located at 624 Smith Campus Center, open from Monday-Friday, 9AM- 5PM ▪ Phone: 617-496-5636, 24-hour hotline: 617-495-9100 o Title IX Office Taken from the Title IX website: “The Title IX Office is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment that is free from sexual and gender-based harassment. Our office supports the entire Harvard community in a neutral role, meaning that all members of the University community can access our resources.” ▪ Located at 901 Smith Campus Center, open from Monday-Friday, 9AM- 5PM ▪ Phone: 617-496-0200 o The Title IX Office provides a handbook with resources for students who may be experiencing sexual or gender-based harassment and/or violence. https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/titleix/files/resource_guide_august_17_2016_fin al.pdf. ● Office of Diversity Education & Support (ODES), Women’s Center, Office of BGLTQ Student Life (QuOffice), and Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations All these offices are located in various basements within Harvard Yard and are available for your use. They are all welcoming and inclusive environments. Page | 4 o Women’s Center is located in the basement of Canaday B. ODES and BGLTQ Office in the ground level of Grays Hall. Harvard Foundation is located in the basement of Thayer. ● Academic Advisors and Peer-Advising Fellows (PAFs) Your academic advisors are assigned to you based on your concentration and help you with any information you need regarding academics. Your PAFs are other students who are there to guide you in everything from academics to extracurriculars. They are both going to be great resources for you to seek out information about academics, extracurriculars, and anything else you will need. ● Harvard University Police Department(HUPD) The official Harvard University police that can help you with whatever you need if it’s simply needing an escort to take you home or something more serious. o Phone: 617-495-1212 ● Harvard University Health Services(HUHS) The local hospital where you can get a checkup, use the pharmacy, or go to for any medical needs. o Located at the Smith Campus Center Monday-Friday 8AM-5:30PM; Urgent Care is available 7 days a week from 8:00AM - 10:00PM; Nurse Advice Line is available 7 days a week from 10:00PM - 8:00AM o Phone: 617-495-5711 ● Yard Operations or YardOps YardOps keeps up the maintenance of all the freshmen dorms and other buildings. They are the ones you go to when something in your room is broken or you have some pests in your room. o Located in the basement of Weld Hall; Number: 617-495-1874 Page | 5 Table of Contents We have organized the packet into several major themes. Please note that these themes are in no way an exhaustive or representative listing of the packet; they are constructive groupings to aid you in the reading process. Each article is also tagged with the various elements it contains. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL JUSTICE ..................................................................................................................... 10 WHAT IS PRIVILEGE? AN ANALYSIS OF PRIVILEGE, POWER STRUCTURES, & SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION .......................................... 10 Tags: Social Justice, Privilege, Intersectionality ................................................................................................................ 10 Summary: A discussion of privilege, power structures, and systematic oppression........................................................ 10 DAILY EFFECTS OF CLASS PRIVILEGE, FROM THE PIEDMONT PEACE PROJECT ............................................................................ 13 Tags: Social Justice, Class/SES, Privilege ........................................................................................................................... 13 Summary: Considers how class privilege can be present in everyday interactions. ........................................................ 13 WHITE PRIVILEGE: UNPACKING THE INVISIBLE KNAPSACK, PEGGY MCINTOSH .......................................................................... 13 Tags: Social Justice, Privilege, Lists ................................................................................................................................... 13 Summary: A piece to help you differentiate white privilege from other forms of privilege. ........................................... 13 NON-TRANS* PRIVILEGE OR CISGENDER PRIVILEGE LIST ...................................................................................................... 16 Tags: Gender, Privilege, Queer (Trans) Issues .................................................................................................................. 16 Summary: Considers the effects of cis privilege in everyday life. .................................................................................... 16 ABLE-BODIED PRIVILEGE: UNPACKING THE INVISIBLE KNAPSACK ............................................................................................ 17 Tags: Social Justice, Ableism, Privilege ............................................................................................................................. 17 Summary: An article exploring manifestations of able-bodied privilege. ........................................................................ 17 CLASS & SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS (SES) ............................................................................................................ 18 A SAFETY NET THAT IS LEAVING MORE PEOPLE OUT ........................................................................................................... 18 Tags: Class/SES, Housing, Poverty .................................................................................................................................... 18 Summary: A Boston Globe article examining the life of unhoused families in Boston. ................................................... 18 GAP’S INCONSISTENT CORPORATE ETHICS ......................................................................................................................... 20 Tags: Ethics, Worker’s Rights, Transnational .................................................................................................................... 20 Summary: A critique putting Gap’s pro-pluralism efforts in contrast with the company’s refusal to guarantee fair working conditions