Shop for a Cause!

Great Opportunity for Holiday Shopping: Elephant Energy will be selling BoGo lights (solar powered flash lights) TODAY, November 19 and Friday, November 20 during lunch in the Cyber Café as a part of their holiday fundraising efforts. Elephant Energy is a local non-profit that promotes rural development and nature conservation in Africa through the dissemination of small-scale renewable energy technology. There are three ways to participate in this fundraiser: (1) a person can pay $20 to "give" a light to a family in Namibia, (2) a person can pay $30 to "buy" a light of their own or (3) a person can pay $40 to "buy one give one." If you’re unable to make it to buy one directly please visit http://elephantenergy.org or contact Matt Mines at minesmw@gmail.com or James Russell at James.Russell@du.edu with any questions.

Donate Canned Food and Toiletries to Crime Victims

Food donations can be made in Sturm College of Law to build Thanksgiving Care Baskets for families at the Denver Center for Crime Victims (DCCV). These families have suffered violence in their lives and need our help and support – donations can be made in the College of Law Forum and also by the South Entrance. Collections will be taken until Friday, November 20.

Other needed items include:

 Shampoo, soap, hand lotion
 Dental hygiene supplies: toothbrush, floss, floss aids (on a stick)
 Feminine hygiene supplies
 Cosmetics: any cosmetics
 Perfume
 Little jewelry or hair jewelry—bows, clips, etc.
 Warm things for winter: hats, scarves, gloves, socks
 Calendars, diaries, books
 Crayons and coloring books, books, or other little things for children
 Non-perishable food items: rice, cooking oil, dry beans, canned fruits, meats, & vegetables, tea
 Recyclable grocery bags

Most of the clients are women and children, so please donate items for that population. Please make donations by Friday November 20.

Co-Sponsored by Spanish Speaking Lawyers Association and Latino Law Students Association

Contact kmichaelis10@law.du.edu with questions.

Israel/Palestine: Hearing and honoring the voices

By: Thomas De Clerck, Second-Year IIC Student

For decades, a grueling conflict has been taking place between the Israeli Jews and the Palestinian Arabs in the Middle East. Throughout human history this horrific war has survived numerous attempts toward peace and tranquility, continuing to desecrate the Holy Land and preventing the people and this unique region of the world from achieving true beauty.

The gravest tragedy of this age-old conflict is the immense burden which has been handed down from generation to generation. Children on both sides are being robbed of a chance to grow up in a state of peace, and instead are relentlessly called upon by their families to continue carrying the hatred of their forefathers—often having to make the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. Israeli soldiers between the ages of 16 and 18 are put in situations where they are ordered to treat human beings with severe disrespect, humiliation, and disgust. Equally, Palestinian youth of all ages are raised by their communities to "honorably" avenge the deaths of their fallen relatives by any means possible with stones, makeshift bombs, and martyrdom.

This past Tuesday evening (November 3rd, 2009), students attending the University of Denver (DU) gathered together in solidarity in front of the Newman Center on campus to protest the City of Denver’s and the University's seemingly biased stance in support of Israel and the continued human rights violations that continue to take place against Palestinians. These violations include restricting Palestinians’ freedom of movement throughout their land with military checkpoints, the systematic destruction of Palestinian homes and communities like in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, as well as arbitrary imprisonment under the accusation of being "terrorists."

The Chancellor of the University, Robert Coombe states that the invitation to have the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat come speak at DU was an act designed to encourage open communication and meaningful discussion about the struggles that continue to challenge the city of Jerusalem and the State of Israel. If someone calls for dialogue, equal representation from both sides must be invited to the discussion table.

Further, it was disappointing to see that Mayor Barkat’s conversation was more of a one-way sermon rather than a candid forum of discourse. Questions (selected well in advance to the event) were asked of the Mayor with very-little-to-no direct feedback from members of the audience.

If peace is to ever find ground in the Holy Land, both Israelis and Palestinians must be given an equal opportunity to voice their concerns and discuss viable solutions in order to stop the hatred and killings for the sake of the living as well as of those generations to come. There needs to be a non-violent recognition of each side’s pain in order to promote communication amongst the grieving families and work toward a future of peace.

The U.S. and other leading nations can play an important role in bringing the Palestinians and Israelis to the table, but they must not be the primary shareholders in such dialogue.

I call upon Denver Governor Bill Ritter, University Chancellor Robert Coombe, representatives of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, and others concerned with the well-being of those groups living in this conflict on a daily basis to scrap their biases and honor the institutions they represent by empowering both Israelis and Palestinians to express their hopes for the future of their peoples. I yearn for the day when Israeli soldiers decide to put down their M-16s and refuse to work the checkpoints, when Palestinian youth opt to honor the struggles of their ancestors by refusing to throw stones and carry the hate of their dead in their hearts, and when nations like the United States and their institutions resolve to listen to the voices of concern of both sides, transforming their words of promise into meaningful, heartfelt actions.

Workshop: Effectively Managing Conflict in the Workplace

Presented by The Conflict Center

When: : Nov. 18, 2009
Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
1 hr. Lunch Break

Where:
The Conflict Center
4140 Tejon St.
Denver, CO. 80211

To sign-up, contact
Nikki Schmidt
303-865-5633

SIGN-UP BY NOV. 13th.

Price: $150.00


Do you work with challenging people where conflict arises regularly?
Do you work in teams where productivity and cohesiveness are reduced by conflict?
Do you want to learn to be a more effective manager and leader?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions this workshop is for you!

Since conflict is inevitable, how do we prepare ourselves today with the tools as leaders and employees for the interpersonal problems of tomorrow? With this workshop participants will gain the skills necessary to understand differing perspectives, strong emotions, and how to listen and speak for maximum effectiveness. Not only do these skills enhance the participant's ability to problem solve and negotiate amongst co-workers and clients but they also help develop better relationships and stronger teams to work together more effectively and ultimately be more productive.

What will you discover in this workshop?

* Learn to identify what triggers your strong emotions and develop strategies that work for you.
* Learn to identify what triggers your strong emotions and develop strategies that work for you.
* Techniques to maintain a balanced professional attitude when confronted with stressful situations.
* Learn how to deliver challenging messages with tact and professionalism.
* Are you really listening? What are your body and thoughts telling others.
* Strategies to manage confrontation and de-escalate conflict as it arises.
* Gain knowledge through experiential activities that enhance and reinforce the learning process
* Practice real situations through role playing with the benefit of professional coaching.

Why does this workshop pay off?

* Participants will be able to solve problems easily and objectively without the drama that reduces staff productivity.
* Mastering the skills taught in this program will enhance your leadership abilities and your reputation as a strong team leader
* Knowing how to manage difficult situations and de-escalate anger will contribute not only to team productivity but also will reduce the cost of conflict providing a more harmonious work environment.