Each September 17th the Geography and Political Science Department hosts a campus-wide event to highlight Constitution Day.

This year, a student and alumna of the Mt. SAC Forensic program debated on forced choice voting, and a panel of faculty presented on election-related topics including the current issues motivating the political party bases, political communication, the psychology of polarization, how state election laws vary, and the California proposition process, as well as how to become a more informed voter.

In this episode we hear from students who attended the Constitution Day event and you’ll join me for a sit down with Kelly Rivera, Constitution Day organizer, Chair of the Geography and Political Science Department, and a friend of the POD, (that is, a friend of the Mt. SAC Podcast), to discuss Constitution Day. Kelly will share with us how the Constitution (and Constitution Day) connects to voting and elections in our democracy, and will suggest ways to encourage political engagement and voting.

Resources:

Celebrating Constitution Day from the National Archives https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/constitution-day

Not sure if you are registered? Check your status and register online https://registertovote.ca.gov/

California Same Day Voter Registration https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg

VOTE.org (nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration and get-out-the-vote platform).

https://www.vote.org/

CAL Matters (nonprofit and nonpartisan) 2024 Voter Guide https://calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2024/

Run time: 20:25 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

Have you read a banned book this month? The Mt Sac Library and Mt Sac Equity center partnered to host Banned Book Month to explore why access to books is a matter of equity and inclusion. In this episode, you’ll hear from Career Education Librarian Monica Chavez speak about the reasons behind the numbers when it comes to book challenges and book bans. You’ll also hear from Collection Development Librarian Chisa Uyeki about the role of libraries in supporting access and what you can do to help ensure a diverse range of voices are represented in our libraries. Enjoy.

Resources:

American Library Association on Banned & Challenged Books https://www.ala.org/bbooks

Book Ban Data https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data

Library Bill of Rights https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

Get Involved- how you can fight censorship-

VOTE:

To register to vote in California: https://covr.sos.ca.gov/ ​(Deadlines: 10/21 online, 11/5 in person​, or same day )

To check your voter registration status: https://voterstatus.sos.ca.gov/

TAKE ACTION:
https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/right-to-read-day/ https://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/activity

LEARN ABOUT BANNED BOOKS:

Book Résumés https://bookresumes.uniteagainstbookbans.org/

Book Résumés help teachers, librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship. They detail each title’s significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members.

Run time: 29:56 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE

To bring attention to book banning as an equity issue, the Mt. SAC Library and Mt. SAC Equity center collaborated to host Isabel Quintero, the author of Gabbi, A Girl In Pieces. Gabbi has been challenged and banned from libraries in the United States and in this episode, our host Chisa Uyeki and Isabel Quintero sit down for a conversation about Gabi and the power and healing effects of writing and sharing stories, particularly the stories that have been pushed to the periphery.

Book challenges, at their best may seem to come from an attempt to protect, but they are actually an attempt to control. To control others reading and beyond that, others thoughts and knowledge. But the reality is that not reading about subjects doesn't make them go away.

Without access to books that speak to the authentic reality of lives, which include addiction, homophobia, sexual assault, or the impact of unattainable, white centered standards on girls of color, we are still left with addiction, homophobia, sexual assault, and unattainable, white centered standards, but without the solace, solidarity, or opportunities to build self understanding that can be found between the covers of books.

We also miss out on the joy, empowerment, and stories of love and success. We encourage you to read books that have been challenged or banned. Both the library and the multicultural center have collections of banned books for you to explore. We hope you will delve into the lived experiences of people like and unlike yourself, and we celebrate and honor the lived experiences of persons whose stories have been hidden or pushed to the periphery.

Resources:

https://www.isabelinpieces.com/

https://www.instagram.com/isabelinpieces/

Follow and learn more about Isabelle Quintero’s work Gabi, A Girl in Pieces and her many other works.

https://pen.org/book-bans/
PEN America tracks book bans and fights censorship in public schools and libraries across the country.

https://uniteagainstbookbans.org/ A campaign by the American Library Association to share information and data about book challenges, support actions against book bans, and provide access to news, tools, and resources.

https://bookresumes.uniteagainstbookbans.org/ Book banning is simplistic- judging books not on their entire content, complex characters, or potential for impact. In response, United Against Book Bans created Book Résumés to help teachers, librarians, parents, and community members defend books from censorship. They detail each title’s significance and educational value and are easy to share with administrators, book review committees, elected officials, and board members.

https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/

Authors Against Book Bans is a coalition of creators and editors who “stand united against the deeply unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read.” They support organizing by sharing information on bans, supporting those responding to challenges, and authors who are being challenged

https://bookriot.com/how-to-fight-book-bans-in-2024/

An article shared by Isabele Quintero that provides practical advice on what we can all do to fight book bans.

Run time: 21:31 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE