The next step in a campus-wide conversation on respect and support for everyone at Shoreline Community College will take place 12:30-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2, in the PUB Quiet Dining Room.

The discussion opportunity comes following several incidents of defacing posters for the Queer Film Festival this fall quarter. The festival, sponsored by Project Pride, a student body association-sponsored club, has been showing films every Monday that are open to the campus and public.

“It is our core value that everyone who comes to this campus feels respected and supported,” President Cheryl Roberts said. “This happens when we are open to learning and willing to walk with others on their journey.”

Project Pride members offered the club’s scheduled meeting on Tuesday as a time for a wider discussion. Helping to facilitate the event will be Roberts, Student Body Association President Ashley Cowan and faculty member Michelle Kleisath.

“This conversation is a step in the process that can bring us to a community standard around respect and support, a common language and experience that we share,” Roberts said. “Shoreline is committed to equity, inclusion and respect for the rights of all persons.”

Roberts said that coming to a community standard will involve more than Tuesday’s meeting and that she expects that there will be more opportunities during winter quarter for students, faculty and staff to participate.

“When one of us is diminished at our college, we are all diminished,” Roberts said. “As a college, we respect each individual. This value speaks to the character of our college and gets to the heart of who we are.”

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More than 60 students, faculty and staff joined a discussion, Tuesday, Nov. 25, on topics surrounding the events in Ferguson, Mo.

The Shoreline Community College Student Leadership Center, along with members of the Equity and Social Justice faculty members, hosted the event prompted by the Monday, Nov. 24 decision by a grand jury to not charge a police officer in the August shooting death of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old Ferguson resident.

Shoreline faculty member Ernest Johnson introduced the topic and focused remarks on systemic racism, violence against young black men and related concerns with the current law enforcement system. Although the event was brought about by what has happened in Ferguson, the main discussion was not about the grand-jury ruling, but rather where society can go from here.

After Johnson spoke, the event was opened for comments and dialogue and many of those in attendance shared thoughts, concerns and opinions with a number of emotional stories surrounding this charged topic.

College official are encouraging discussions to focus on feelings and what can be done to constructively support students and staff as the nation continues to struggle with difficult issues. For those in distress, assistance is available at Advising & Counseling in Room 5229,  206-546-4559 and www.shoreline.edu/counseling.

The Student Leadership Center has raised more than 200 food items for students in need during this Thanksgiving week. If you know a student in need please pass along to them that they can visit the SLC on Wednesday, Nov. 26 and speak with someone about receiving food items.

Shoreline’s campus will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. The college will resume normal hours on Saturday.

The Library will be open at its normal hours on Saturday and Sunday. The Gym will only be open for the women’s basketball game on Saturday at 4 p.m.