Dialogues - CAHSS Winter 2018

11 NSU CAHSS Dialogues Six NSU CAHSS graduate students attended the Broward County Delegation Reception in Washington, D.C., and met the mayor of Fort Lauderdale. From left, Oksana Bykova Dognon, Conflict Analysis and Resolution; Maria Gaston, National Security Affairs; Katie Goodroad, College Student Affairs; Dean Trantalis, mayor of Fort Lauderdale; Nicole Quint, Ph.D., Conflict Analysis and Resolution; CAHSS Graduate SGA President Edwina A. Ward, Conflict Analysis and Resolution; and Nancy Gonzalez, National Security Affairs. Edwina A. Ward “I am so very grateful for the opportunity to represent our Graduate SGA and to organize the Nova Southeastern University College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences student delegates. … To see the level of diversity within the speakers, to hear their personal stories, and to hear the message from Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of civil rights activist Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., brought us all to an awakening period. Standing in the midst of 800,000 people was indeed an educational experience.” Nicole Quint “It was so wonderful to see diversity represented with the event, and the students’ making a conscious effort to recognize the media’s under representation of diversity in this movement. I found that to be so inspiring, and a testament to their generation and mindful efforts toward inclusion.” Oksana Bykova Dognon “I was astonished to see how peaceful this movement was, inspired by the numerous participants standing back to back. While moving in the crowd, which was not easy to do, I observed the behavior of the people around, and only saw smiles on their faces and polite vocabulary and gestures.” Katie Goodroad “One of the most powerful parts of the March for Our Lives was the volume and diversity of people from across the U.S. coming together to march for one topic. … It was inspiring to see young people encouraging other young people to be civically engaged.” Maria Gaston “One significant observation I analyzed through this march is the importance of being educated. Being educated reduces the amount of bias and single-sided approaches one can either exert onto others or be influenced with from others.’’ Nancy Gonzalez “It was astonishing to see teenagers showing adults that they have a voice, and they cannot be stopped. How every one of their votes matters and will change the country and, ultimately, the world. Also, this generation is intolerant of intolerance; not just toward gun violence, but also toward racism and sexism, and stands up for LGBTQ rights.’’