MONTHLY WINNERS

This program educated attendees about racial injustice and gun violence in the United States, two of the main topics discussed within the Nick Cave exhibition “Until.” The trip offered free coffee for the residents paid for by an RIC bill, with a round-table discussion lead by Dr. Meera Kumar. Music videos helped to provoke early thoughts and provide introductions to the topics discussed during the program. Two Resident Assistants, Anna Kate Dooly and Lena Kellogg, took 4 students to visit Cave’s exhibit at the Momentary in Bentonville, AR. The discussion with the students went very well. The students gained exposure to new topics, and were able to learn from professionals and the arts. AK and Lena took advantage of the free admission to expose and engage students in ways that weren’t always available during the pandemic. Although Dr. Kumar wasn’t able to be there in person, the small attendance made the conversation personal and allowed for open minded and thorough discussion. To host this program during a pandemic, adaptable methods were already needed. Dr. Kumar called in over Zoom to facilitate discussion. Students met and ate outside to allow for proper social distancing, while the momentary exhibit had its own social distancing measures in effect. Any improvements would have to be applied at a time that the pandemic isn’t restricting interaction, however, with all the safety measures in place, the program still managed to be successful and educational for all attendees.