9th Annual Poverty Under the Stars

SPASJ will be attending the 9th annual Poverty Under the Stars. Poverty Under the Stars is an overnight event on campus at SJSU where students and activists sleep out under the stars in solidarity with the 45 million Americans currently living in poverty. There will be several organizations and community leaders speaking at this event. SPASJ is honored to be featured on the agenda. We will also have a table at this event where we will welcome discussions and questions about SPASJ.

We are so excited to be attending this event again this year. We hope to see you all there!!

Poverty Under the Stars: November 13th, 2014 6-8pm @ the Smith & Carlos statue.

October - Legacy Month!

October is Legacy Month on campus at SJSU. Established by the Cesar E. Chavez Community Action Center, Legacy Month includes five major events on campus. These events all support the SJSU Legacy Initiative, which reads as follows: 

"(a) to make social justice issues more central to the campus mission, (b) to develop community, (c) to encourage critical-thinking about complex societal issues, and (d) to have students begin to explore how their field of study or future career can play a part in finding solutions."*

The process of achieving Social Justice does not only apply to fields such as Justice Studies or Anthropology. It requires an interdisciplinary collaboration among SJSU students to launch an "institutionalized campus-wide effort."*

The schedule for Legacy Month can be found below: 

October 14th, 2014 @ 7pm - Legacy Movie Night

The movies "John Carlos and the '68 Olympics" and "Salute: The Story Behind the Image" will be shown.

Location: Smith & Carlos Statues

October 14th, 20014- Legacy Wall Display

Location: Smith & Carlos Statues

October 18th, 2014 @ 12pm-1pm - Legacy Rally

Speeches from distinguished guests and community leaders, lunch provided

Location: Smith & Carlos Statues

October 21st, 2014 @ 7pm - Greek Activist: The History Behind the Letters

Event hosted by the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center in partnership with the national Pan-Hanllenic Council

Location: Dudley Moorehead Hall 149B

October 28th, 2014 @ 6pm - Living Legacies

Event to honor past and present SJSU students who are making an impact on campus or in the community, with keynote speaker Dr. Harry Edwards. Light refreshments provided.

Location: CVB Rac Room

We hope to see you all at as many of these events as possible!

Best,

Carla S.

*http://as.sjsu.edu/cccac/index.jsp?val=cccac_legacyweek

Existing Works of Public Art at SJSU

Our proposal for the Japanese-American memorial is not the first, nor the last, instance of public art as social justice on campus at SJSU.

If you have not already, take a walk to observe the existing memorials around San Jose State's campus.

Near the student union, you will find the Cesar Chavez Monument, also named the Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice. Mosaic images of Gandhi, Dolores Huerta, and farm workers surround the memorial. A mosaic pathway also circles the arch to symbolize the pilgrimages taken by thousands of individuals in protest for labor rights. Along the pathway there are memorable quotes from Chavez, such as "soon the grapes will be sweet again".

Cesar Chavez was an American farm worker and civil rights activist. He worked along side Dolores Huerta to establish the United Farm Workers Union (a.k.a. the National Farm Workers Association). Chavez fought for worker's rights, animal rights, human rights, educational equality, and immigration policy. The memorial is especially relevant to SJSU, as Chavez lived and raised his eight children here in San Jose, California.

To learn more about the Cesar Chavez memorial, click here

More about the artist, click here

In between Clark Hall and Tower Hall, you will find yourself in the shadow of the Tommie Smith and John Carlos statue. The larger than life statue depicts Smith and Carlos standing 1st and 3rd on the Olympic Podium in 1968. The silver medalist, Peter Norman, was omitted from the statue to allow for viewers to stand in solidarity (as Norman did) with Smith and Carlos.

The year 1968 was filled with turmoil. Civil rights protests were taking place around the world. Smith and Carlos, then San Jose State students, made history at the 1968 Olympics when they raised black fists to the sky in protest of human rights struggles in the U.S. Their silent, but bold protest signified black power, pride, peace, unity, lynchings, and poverty.

It is also important to note that SJSU students proposed, designed, and funded this project. We admire the determination of these students and look to their project for guidance in our own endeavors.

Click here to read a NY Times piece on the Smith and Carlos statue.

9th Annual Poverty Under the Stars at SJSU

SPASJ will be joining the Associated Students and Cesar Chavez Community Action Center for the 9th Annual Poverty Under the Stars event at SJSU. Join us November 13th to sleep out in solidarity with the 47 million Americans living in poverty today. Tents will be set up in the afternoon on the lawn in front of the Smith & Carlos statue on campus at SJSU. Presentations will take place in the evening, followed by an optional sleep out. So don't forget to bring your sleeping bag! 

 And check out these photos from last years Poverty Under the Stars Event!

SPASJ September Newsletter

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9/24/2014 Home    l   Contact

Highlights From This Issue

A Thank You to Our Members Welcome Back Spartans! Poverty Under the Stars Event     A Peek at the New Uchida Hall The Tag Project Comes to SF We Want to Hear From You!

A Thank You To Our Members   Thank you for joining Students for Public Art as Social Justice in the campaign to install a freestanding memorial on campus to remember the history of Japanese American internment at SJSU. SPASJ was founded for the purpose of educating students and community members on local and global violations of human rights, through the use of public art. Using public art as a platform to initiate a regional dialogue on human rights, social justice, and civil liberties, SPASJ hopes to contribute to the prevention of future injustices globally and within our own communities. But these goals can only be accomplished with help from members like you. Whether you donate your time or your money, every contribution makes a difference. And we want you to know that we are grateful for your continued support! Thank You! From The Members of Students for Public Art as Social Justice

Welcome Back Spartans!   With the fall semester starting at San Jose State University, SPASJ would like to take the opportunity to update you on the progress we have made so far in 2014.     Read More

Poverty Under the Stars Event   The 9th Annual Poverty Under the Stars event will take place November 13th in front of the Smith and Carlos statue at SJSU. Join us as we camp out in solidarity with the 47 million Americans living in poverty today.     Read More

A Peek At The New Uchida Hall   Construction on the men’s gymnasium at SJSU is finally complete! Check out these photos of the new building shared by a member of SPASJ.     Read More

The Tag Project Comes to SF   Identification tags were used to track Japanese Americans throughout the WWII internment experience. Today, artist Wendy Maruyama has recreated each of the 120,000 tags and displayed them in a large sculptural art piece called The Tag Project.     Read More

Like Us On Facebook!       View Page

We Want To Hear From You!   SPASJ is currently working with local artists to design a memorial at San Jose State University to recognize the experiences of Japanese Americans who were unjustly interned during WWII. Tell us, what type of memorial would you like to see on campus?     Tell Us What You Think

Volunteer Opportunities   Do you believe that you can make a difference? We do! SPASJ is looking for members with a passion for art and social justice to join the cause. If you are interested in joining the organization please contact us today.     Contact Us!

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SPASJ Wants Your Opinion!

Hello Supporters!

SPASJ is currently working with local artists to design a memorial at San Jose State University to recognize the experiences of Japanese Americans who were unjustly interned during WWII. This is not only an important part of California and United States history, but also an important part of SJSU's history. There is a tendency to forget-to-remember. SPASJ wants to make sure this event is recognized and remembered properly and respectfully.

As you might imagine, it can be difficult to find the perfect design. Therefore, SPASJ would like to hear from our tremendous followers and supporters....

What type of memorial would you like to see on campus?

Please comment below with your response. Thank you for your input, and if you want to become

more involved in the process please contact SPASJ.

Email: spasj2013@gmail.com

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1395211817379935/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SPASJSU2013

A Sneak Peek of the Updated Men's Gymnasium

Take a look at the new men's gymnasium on campus!

Here are a couple of snaps of what the new building looks

like. SPASJ is on the road to memorialize the events that

took place at this very building in 1942.

We appreciate all of your support!

Best, 

Students for Public Art as Social Justice