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Social Justice House

A new special interest house at Barnard College

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead BC ’23

 

What is Social Justice?

Dr. Lee Anne Bell (2007) writes:

“We believe social justice is both a process and a goal. The goal of social justice is full and equal participation of all groups in society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society in which the distribution of resources is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure. We envision a society in which individuals are both self-determining (able to develop their full capacities) and interdependent (capable of interacting democratically with others). Social justice involves social actors who have a sense of their own agency as well as a sense of social responsibility toward and with others, their society, and the broader world in which we live. These are conditions we wish not only for our own society but also for every society in our interdependent global community (pgs. 1-2)”

 

What is the Social Justice House?

The Social Justice House is a unique opportunity to take an active role in immersing yourself in Barnard College and New York City through the lens of justice and activism. Dedicated to educating students about the problems and solutions related to contemporary social issues, students will pursue positive change within local and global communities as members of the Social Justice House. Students will learn how to make a difference by engaging in the theory and practice of social justice and interacting with their peers and local activists and policy makers.

If you have an interest in social justice and civic engagement, we invite you to apply for the 2013-2014 academic year!

 

Eligibility

  • Open to Barnard rising-Sophomores, -Juniors, and -Seniors
  • Currently living in campus housing (or lived on-campus prior to going to an approved Study Abroad program)
  • Must be in good standing with the College

 

Participation Requirements

Being a member of the Social Justice House means committing yourself to attending weekly meetings, planning activities, facilitating programs and events, and engaging with your peers, community members, and local activists and organizations in an effort to educate, spread peace, and eradicate injustice. Students will reflect on their experiences through group discussion, peer-to-peer dialogue, journaling, and blogging. Students will also be responsible for creating their own community expectations, values, and identity within their shared living environment.

Members of the Social Justice House are required to return to campus early to participate in Special Interest Housing training (Wednesday, August 28th-30th, 2013) and help the Res Life office with Res Hall Check-Ins for continuing students (Saturday, August 31st & Sunday, September 1st, 2013).

 

House Location

The Social Justice House will be located in 616 West 116th Street. Suite 5B will serve as the primary living space for members, with additional housing being provided next door in Suite 5A. Each suite offers a mix of Single and Double rooms.

  • Suite 5B: Three (3) Single rooms and one (1) Double room = 5 residents
  • Suite 5A: Two (2) Single rooms and two (2) Double rooms = 6 residents

Total spaces available = 11 maximum

Note: Sophomores who are accepted to the house will most likely be assigned to the Double rooms, whereas accepted Juniors and Seniors will get preference for the Single rooms.

 

Application Process

The application process for the Social Justice House includes:

  1. A brief online application

    Click here to apply!         (Must be logged into gBear to access application)
     
  2. An individual interview (which will be scheduled after applications are received)

The deadline for applications is Friday, March 15, 2013 by 5PM.

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact Frank Cirioni (Associate Director for Residential Life & Housing) at fcirioni@barnard.edu or 212-854-6608.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What happened to the old Special Interest Housing program?
A: In the past, groups of students would apply to create their own Special Interest Housing (SIH) group based on a theme or topic of interest to them and, if selected, receive an apartment, suite, or set of rooms reserved for their group, in addition to programming funds from the Office of Residential Life & Housing. Each group was responsible for providing at least one program per month in their residential community.

After evaluating former SIH program model, the following concerns were identified by Residential Life & Housing staff:

  • The communal impact of the SIH groups were limited to their residential area or residence hall
  • Faculty and professional staff involvement was minimal
  • Organizational funds and staff resources were split between the numerous groups
  • There was no consistency in programmatic themes from year to year

In an effort to resolve these concerns, the Office of Residential Life & Housing has decided to restructure the Special Interest Housing program and to focus on creating and sustaining one Special Interest House which can have an impact on the entire Barnard College community. The benefits of this model include:

  • Each year, we received multiple applications for a “diversity” or “multicultural” themed house. By forming the Social Justice House, we will provide students with a forum to engage in dialogue with their peers, learn about social issues, and make a direct impact in their college community.
  • By pooling our staff resources, the Social Justice House can receive direct one-on-one advising from our Residential Life & Housing staff, as well as network and recruit other faculty and staff members to join our community and mentor our students. Additionally, departmental funds will be funneled to the Social Justice House to provide more opportunities for students to program, attend workshops and seminars, and even explore the possibilities of participating in an Alternative Spring Break experience, among other ideas that may strengthen the group and its members.
  • Establishing the Social Justice House also means creating a signature program for Barnard’s residential community. Each year, the Social Justice House can build upon its foundation and expand as more students are accepted and, ideally, choose to return to the house. This model would allow for peer-to-peer mentorship within the house and, hopefully, the creation of house traditions and events.
  • Lastly, while the Social Justice House will be located in 616 W. 116th Street, members will be required to provide on-campus programming and training to all Barnard students, extending their communal impact beyond the walls of one residence hall.

Q: Are there plans to add more SIH groups in the future?
A: Currently, we are only focusing on one Special Interest House for the upcoming year. Depending on the success of the Social Justice House and the interests of our students and staff, the Office of Residential Life & Housing may consider other themed housing in the upcoming years.

Q: Can students still apply to form their own SIH group for the 2013-2014 academic year?
A:  At this time, we will only be accepting individual applications to join the Social Justice House for the upcoming school year.

Q: Can two or more students apply together for the Social Justice House, in hopes of living together?
A: Students must complete an individual application to join the Social Justice House. However, there is a space on the application to list a preferred roommate, if desired. In this case, both applicants must be accepted into the house and list each other as the preferred roommate.

Q: When is the deadline to apply for the Social Justice House?
A: The deadline for applications is Friday, March 15, 2013 by 5PM.

Q: When will applicants find out about their housing status for the Social Justice House?
A: All applicants will know whether or not they have been accepted into the Social Justice House by Monday, April 1, 2013, before the start of the Housing Lottery.

All applicants should register for Room Selection (between 1pm on March 6 and 1pm on March 13) in order to get a lottery number as a backup in case they are not selected to be part of the Social Justice House.