Students, professors and members of the Juneau community gathered Tuesday at the University of Alaska Southeast for a day-long discussion of societal imbalances.
The second annual Power & Privilege Symposium brought together thinkers, educators and undergraduate students to talk about topics ranging from climate change to Alaskan Native issues.
Some of the sessions and keynote speakers were live-streamed, including the morning address by Alaska Writer Laureate Ernestine Hayes.
Undergraduate student Haley Shervey volunteered at the symposium because she felt the subjects being addressed are important, especially in today’s climate.
“I think a lot of the events here kind of address violence and some of the issues going on in the communities,” Shervey said. “Alaska has a really high rate of domestic violence and other issues and a lot of these things have a lot of historical precedence that it’s really important to address, so I think it’s really good that this event is going on.”
Most classes were optional Tuesday so students would be free to attend sessions.
Some students even presented on topics relating to their own experience, like being Muslim amid growing Islamophobia in the national landscape.
First-year student Gloria Conteh also volunteered for half the day so she could attend breakout sessions.
She was particularly interested in discussions dealing with climate change and abortion.
“There are so many things going on right now that we wanted to talk about, so it was really great that they put on this event and the community members can also listen and give their input on things they think that we should talk about,” Conteh said.
Organizers said they hope the symposium encourages more discussion of privilege and its role in society for the broader Juneau community.
