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Happenings

Chancellor Proclaims
NC State's Commitment
to Human Rights

NC State continued its tradition of observing Human Rights Day with Chancellor Randy Woodson signing a proclamation and spotlighting staff who perform volunteer service to support human rights.

On Monday, December 2, 2013, about 50 staff, students, and faculty gathered in Witherspoon Center for a program entitled "Coffee and Conversation with the Chancellor." The staff members in the spotlight introduced themselves and spoke briefly about the service activities in which they were involved. Those activities included work with hunger and homelessness, literacy, women's issues and support, and advocacy for individuals and families facing debilitating diseases. See the list of staff honorees, at left below.

The program began with welcoming remarks from Ryan Hancock, Staff Senate President, who called on everyone present to continue their efforts on behalf of human rights. Professor Emeritus Slater E. Newman, co-chair of the Human Rights Coalition of NC, was also on hand to deliver copies of the Declaration of Human Rights to all the participants. Newman stated that he "loved" the declaration and urged that everyone be engaged in upholding and celebrating it. He noted that he was unaware of other universities hosting annual celebrations of Human Rights Day and commended NC State for doing so. Chancellor Woodson echoed this sentiment and expressed that spotlighting the work of the university's community members who are engaged with human rights not only brings recognition to those whose work is often quietly done, but also raises awareness in the community of opportunities to serve.

The Chancellor then read and signed the proclamation designating December 10, 2013 as Human Rights Day and committing NC State University to "embracing this global challenge to improve the human condition through education and innovation, and promoting human rights in North Carolina, the United States, and around the globe," as it is "central to our purpose, our mission, and our values."

See also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Spotlight on Staff theme is the second in a four-part series of annual spotlights. Students were featured in 2012. Next year, the spotlight will be on faculty, with a spotlight on alumni following in 2015.

Human Rights Day Celebration at NC State: Music at the Belltower
On International Human Rights Day, Tuesday, December 10, from 12:00PM-12:15PM, join us at the Belltower for the Bell Ringing Event, featuring a playing of Beethoven's Ode to Joy and a one-minute salute to international human rights.
Impromptu Multicultural Faculty Group End of Semester Lunch
Please join the Multicultural Faculty Group for a no-host end-of-semester lunch at David's Dumplings and Noodles at 12:30PM on Tuesday, December 10, 2013. Come celebrate the end of the semester and the beginning of the winter season, meet new faculty colleagues, and see old friends. Meet at the restaurant after the Bell Ringing for Human Rights Day at the Bell Tower (see above). Come, and bring faculty colleagues and friends. Please RSVP to Marcia Gumpertz.
Reminder: DHPR Training
Every five years NC State requires all employees to take part in Discrimination and Harassment Prevention and Response training in class or online (see the NC State Policy). If you were hired on or before January 1, 2009, it is time to make sure that you are up-to-date with this training requirement. Please visit the OIED website under "Discrimination and Harassment" to learn more about your training options.
Happy Holidays!
Cabaret 2013

Bestselling author Omar Tyree motivates the audience at Kwanzaa on December 4, 2013.