VCU news

By Amelia Heymann

To promote dialogue and understanding, a recent Virginia Commonwealth University series – “Inclusive Voices: Exploring Israeli and Palestinian Culture and Identity” – offered students, faculty and administrators fresh perspectives on the humanity amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Brooke Berry, J.D., the interim associate vice president for strategic initiatives, inclusion and belonging in the Division of Inclusive Excellence, said the series is a reflection of the programming that the Strengthening Culture & Inclusion initiative seeks to champion.

“I recognize that not everyone will readily embrace different perspectives and that some may even attempt to try to silence others, but that’s exactly why this series and others like it are so essential,” Berry said. “Our work as an institution is about laying a foundation where every voice has a place, where every story matters, and where our diversity is seen as a strength that unites us. Our continuous work to bring people together is what makes us uncommon."

Two speakers highlighted the series, which was presented by VCU’s Division of Inclusive Excellence. One set of sessions featured Nancy Koppelman, Ph.D., a faculty member at Evergreen State College in Washington state who also teaches about Judaism-related topics through the nonprofits Humanities Washington and the Academic Engagement Network. The second set featured Sa’ed Atshan, Ph.D., an associate professor and chair of the Peace and Conflict Studies program at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

In student, faculty and leadership events, Koppelman provided context for Zionism, the history of antisemitism, how recent conflict in Gaza has escalated anti-Jewish rhetoric and strategies to combat it. Atshan, a Christian Quaker who is also Palestinian, led two events: “On Faith, Peace and Justice” shared personal reflections, and a leadership discussion focused on Palestinian identities – and how there are varied beliefs and viewpoints, as well as how anti-Palestinian bias and discrimination is normalized and rarely discussed.

Members of the VCU community praised the series for offering thoughtful insights on a sensitive issue with deep historical roots.

Cal Newmann, an art history major and president of the VCU chapter of Hillel International, attended Koppelman’s student talk. Newmann said it allowed Jewish people with different opinions to come together and speak with mediation on a charged topic – and it inspired them to want to create a space where Jewish and Palestinian student groups could meet and talk about the impact of Mideast violence.

“We’re all experiencing fear. We’re all experiencing discomfort. And maybe that’s a good thing, because then that can motivate us to do something about it,” Newmann said.

Abdullah Karabatek, a double-major in psychology and social work, attended Atshan’s address to learn more about the conflict – and how to consider the varied perspectives.

“The way [Atshan] looks at things from different lenses [is] a skill I want to have. What I took away [from the lecture] was viewing things from a different aspect,” he said, adding praise for the student elements of the VCU series because “it’s nice to know that we’re being heard.”

Suzanne Milton, J.D., chief audit and compliance executive at VCU, attended the leadership sessions featuring both speakers, which offered strategies to combat bias and promote cultural understanding. She highlighted Atshan’s deep engagement and active dialogue with participants, as well as Koppelman’s thought-provoking questions and context.

Milton identified two main themes from both sessions – that VCU leadership needs to model the behavior it is looking for, and that no group is monolithic.

“The group narrative that we fall into so often is generally destructive,” she said. “I think a lot of times it’s inadvertent – people just fall into that habit. But [the speakers] really gave me a good sense of being very attuned to that and trying to avoid it when possible or steer people away from that.”

Jackie Mullins, an assistant professor in the School of the Arts’ Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising and supervisor of the Historic Costumes and Textiles Study Collection, attended talks with both Koppelman and Atshan. She served on the VCUarts Equity and Inclusion Committee for three years, and in noting that students often look to highlight causes in their art, the speaker series helped her understand both sides better.

“I think that it’s really important for faculty members to recognize that some of these topics are going to come into our classroom discussion, and oftentimes they are topics in which we are not experts,” Mullins said. “And so I think being able to have the opportunity to hear from the experts directly has been extremely helpful as far as navigating those conversations in the classroom.”

She also stressed the importance of students feeling welcome regardless of their background – and feeling that their voices can be heard.

“I think that students are looking to the university to create a safe space, and that’s something that I genuinely want my students to feel with me,” Mullins said. “I want to be someone that they see as being safe to have tough conversations with.”