A solar year — the time it takes Earth to orbit the sun — lasts around 365 days, while a lunar year, or 12 full cycles of the moon, is roughly 354 days. A lunar calendar marks important holidays and celebrations for many religions and cultures.

“Essentially we are talking about time keeping, which is a very important function in any culture or society because time must be standardized if it is to be of any use,” says 麻豆原创 Associate Professor of Philosophy Lanlan Kuang, whose research specializes in Asian arts, humanities, heritage and tradition. “The British Library has a Chinese star chart (the Dunhuang Star Atlas) that is dated to 700 AD, and what’s interesting is, you can see zodiac names in Chinese characters on this chart. Part of what that tells us people from around the globe have been applying astronomical observations and mathematical analysis as means for time keeping for a very long time.”

Bringing us to Lunar New Year, which begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, two weeks later. Because it is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates vary annually.

The origins of the Lunar New Year festival?are thousands of years old. Kuang along with Associated Professor of History Hong Zhang, who specializes in modern Chinese culture, explain more about the holiday’s traditions and modern celebrations.

House Cleaning, Bright Clothes and Money

There are many traditions to celebrate and taboos to avoid during the 15-day Lunar New Year celebration.

“It’s a celebration of the start of things new and you hope that by doing the proper celebrations and practices you’re going to set yourself up for a year of good fortune,” Zhang says.

Before the New Year, individuals are supposed to clean their houses. Zhang says the idea is that you sweep out the old and then bring in the new. But cleaning during the first 15 days of the new year is avoided because you’d sweep away your good fortune. Debts should also be paid off before the new year.

Houses are decorated with scrolls featuring auspicious words written on them, such as “fú (福)” ?(which means good fortune). This character is often posted upside down because “upside-down” is pronounced “dao” in Chinese, and sounds like the word “arrival” — implying the arrival of good fortune to your house. Red and gold are used most often, Kuang explains, because red invokes energy — from the primitive days of humans’ need of fire for survival — and gold symbolizes wealth.

Once the new year celebration has started, be mindful of what you say — no swearing, or ominous words like “death,” that could bring about misfortune. The color scheme in one’s wardrobe is also important.

“When I was in China as a kid, I think what I loved about the festival the most was new clothes,” Zhang says. “You are supposed to wear good, bright-colored clothes on the first day of the new year.”

Another tradition that is a favorite among children is the receiving of red envelopes filled with money from their elders.

“Stemming from Confucianism, which originated in China, respects are to be paid to anyone who is more senior than you,” Kuang says. “On the other hand, as a senior, you are supposed to take care of the younger generations. On New Year’s, children pay their respects to their grandparents or the senior members of their family, and in return, they are given a little gift.”

AKA Spring Festival

The Lunar New Year is also commonly referred to as the Spring Festival, or “Chūn Jié (春节)”.

“It became more popular in the 20^th century after the Chinese communist government took over,” says Zhang. “There was a time when the government wanted to get rid of things that represented traditional China. They encouraged the use of the term spring festival. It also was adopted to help avoid confusion with the New Year of the solar calendar, which the new Republican government in China adopted in 1912.?In a way, the celebration of a new year is a celebration of the coming spring.”

The 15-day celebration is recognized in China, Vietnam, South Korea, Mongolia, Singapore and other Asian countries. And many other cultures and religions use a lunar-based calendar, such as Judaism and Islam.

Common well-wishes in Chinese for the New Year are:

“骋耻ò 狈颈á苍 Hǎo”: A Good Start/Crossing into the New Year!

“Xīn 狈颈á苍 Kuài Lè”: Happy New Year!

Food and Drink

Food and drinks are a special part of the celebration and are specific to each region in China and other countries.

Zhang says in North China where flour is abundant, such as in her hometown of Tianjin, dumplings are a must eat. They are shaped in a way that resemble silver ingots, symbolizing good fortune for the coming year.

Kuang grew up in South China where tangerines are popular because the fruit is pronounced “jú (桔)”, which is similar to the word for luck, “‘ji (吉)”. In addition to being served, tangerine trees are also brought home to be decorated, similar to Christmas trees, for the festival.

Rice cakes are also a must and are referred to as “nián (年) gāo (糕)”. “狈颈á苍?(年)” means year and “gāo (糕)” means cake or pastry. The word “gāo (糕)” has a homonym “gāo (高)”, which translates to mean either “higher” or “taller.”

Fish is also desirable, Kuang says, because it’s pronounced “yú (鱼)”, which means extra.

“It’s meant to symbolize abundance in the next year,” she says. “You will save more and earn more with extra harvests and luck.”

2026: Year of the Horse

Because the zodiac signs have been used for millennia, it’s hard to pinpoint their origin. According to legend, the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac were selected through a race that the Jade Emperor held in honor of his birthday. The first 12 to reach the finish line enjoyed a celebratory feast and were adopted as the zodiac signs.

The order of the lunar calendar follows the outcome of the race, where the rat is the first animal to start the sequence, and the pig is the last. After the pig, the sequence starts over again.

This year is all about the horse, which came in seventh. The horse represents hard work, bravery and resilience. Those who belong to this sign are typically said to be free-spirited, warm-hearted, independent and adventurous.

Zhang says for many years, zodiac signs were taken into account for couples before marriage.

“In the past, a family would use a matchmaker to arrange a marriage, and the matchmaker would ask the potential couple’s zodiac years to see if they were compatible,” says Zhang, born in a year of tiger. “There were a lot of superstitions. Those ideas have been fading away as time has progressed, but some people still believe in them.”

Time of Migration

The journey to home for the Spring Festival is called “chun yun (春运)” in Chinese, which literally means “spring movement.” Last year, nearly 760 million people traveled in the first 10 days of the Spring Festival travel rush, according to the China Ministry of Transport — roughly 14 times more than the amount of Thanksgiving travelers in the United States annually.

“The expectation is that it no matter where you are in China, you’re supposed to go back home for the festival and new year celebration,” Zhang says. “That sometimes causes friction between married couples, especially if their parents are from different regions. Very often you have to do some negotiating with each other and with your respective parents.”

Virtual visits are becoming more popular in the modern era, Zhang says.

Lantern Festival

The final day of China’s New Year celebrations is the Lantern Festival, which falls on the first full moon of the lunar new year. It has been celebrated since the days of the Han Dynasty?around 2,000 years ago, which culminated with the spread of Buddhism across China.

“According to legend, Emperor Hangmindi, who ruled around the beginning of the first century, saw that Buddhist monks would light lanterns on the 15th day of the Chinese year to show respect to the Buddha, and ordered that the tradition be repeated in the Imperial Palace,” Kuang says. “Now the lanterns often symbolize letting go of their owners’ past selves and symbolize good luck, and the Lantern Festival has become one of the most important events on the Chinese calendar.”

Van Dusen was born in Uruguay, the smallest Spanish-speaking country in South America with a population of 3.4 million.

When she was 20, she moved to Canada and, soon after, the United States in search of greater opportunities. She got married and became a mom, which changed the way she viewed the world and gave her a broader purpose, Van Dusen says.

“I started looking at the world not only through a woman’s eyes, but also through a mom’s eyes,” she says. “I became passionate about raising a healthy little girl, not only physically but mentally too.”

“I also wanted to ensure she would have a better future with the inspiration she gave me that it is never too late to go after your dreams and set the example for her to follow,” she says.

It sparked a calling in Van Dusen to follow her passion to become a pediatric nurse practitioner.

“I wanted to wake up every day with a purpose,” she says.

Finding the Support to Succeed

While Van Dusen was taking prerequisites and preparing to enroll in nursing school, the COVID-19 pandemic began and she went through a difficult divorce — now primarily caring for her daughter with no other family support in the U.S.

“For many years, I was in survival mode,” she says. Throughout the challenges, she persevered for her daughter. “My daughter is watching and I remember how important it is for me to keep going.”

She was admitted into the competitive associate in science in nursing program at Miami-Dade College and enrolled full-time, taking out loans, to graduate and begin working as soon as possible.

In Spring 2023, she successfully graduated with her A.S.N. with the honors of making the Dean’s List, joining Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and being a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. Shortly after graduation, she passed the national registered nursing licensing exam (NCLEX-RN).

“I work hard, and always strive for the best,” she says.

She began working full-time as an registered nurse (RN), and began the application process at 麻豆原创 to enroll in the online RN to B.S.N. program, geared exclusively for licensed registered nurses to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing (B.S.N.).

“I wanted to go a reputable school and 麻豆原创 is a really good nursing school,” she says of the program, which is .

“麻豆原创 was also giving me the opportunity to succeed,” she says. “I didn’t know how I was going to be able to balance mom life, student life and work life.”

Van Dusen says what sets 麻豆原创’s program apart is its flexibility and support from admissions counselors.

“麻豆原创 allowed me the ability to learn at my own pace,” she says. “They allow students to add classes or reduce classes, depending upon how life is going. That was important to me.”

Now a senior in the program, Van Dusen is currently taking an extra class both this fall and spring in order to graduate a semester early in Spring 2025. She is also the recipient of two nursing scholarships, which 麻豆原创’s College of Nursing awards more than .

“It’s such a blessing as a single mom without any help,” she says of the scholarships. “It’s not only the help, but it’s the fact that someone is reading your story and decides help you. They believe in you, and that means a lot.”

Motherhood and Making a Difference

No doubt, Van Dusen has worked hard to achieve her goals and make a positive impact on the lives of patients — and in the life of her biggest fan.

Her daughter, now 8, says that her mom likes to help people and is her hero.

“I get emotional,” says Van Dusen of her daughter. “She’s the reason why I went back to school, and that’s the reason why I became a nurse — to make a difference in people’s lives.”

While at 麻豆原创, she works full time in a reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinic in the Miami area. She works alongside doctors and providers to provide patient care, and also translates to Spanish-speaking patients.

“Nurses have a holistic care approach to health, including mental health,” she says. “It’s important to learn how to talk to patients, to educate them.”

Of continuing to pursue her education, she says there’s a saying in Spanish for that.

“Now that I’m dancing, I’ll keep dancing,” she says. “Now that I’m in school, I’ll keep going.”

“Once I became a mom, I became passionate about kids and it is the reason I have decided to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner,” Van Dusen says. “I want to help parents build a solid foundation of health and wellness so that children can develop into physically and emotionally healthy adults.”

“People tend to get overwhelmed and think they can’t do it,” she says. Her advice, “Don’t overwhelm yourself with it. Just take one class at a time, and try. You never know.”

“The perfection of a circle symbolizes entering the new year with a clean slate,” says Rabbi Sanford Olshansky, 麻豆原创 adjunct professor of?Judaic studies. He describes the Jewish High Holy Days as a time of “spiritual accounting.”

“It’s a time of self-examination, self-evaluation,” he says. “How do we feel about where we’re at in our lives? How do we feel about where we stand in terms of the moral and ethical principles by which we ought to be living?”

Within 麻豆原创’s?Department of History, Olshansky teaches?Judaism and Science, a course that deals with the perceived conflict between science and Judaism, as well as Western religion in general. Through thought-provoking discussions about topics such as the Big Bang, DNA, Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and subatomic particles, students explore how one can reconcile major scientific questions with biblical creation stories.

“The purpose of the course is not to prove that religion is true,” Olshansky says. “But it’s to show that there is some common ground — more than many people realize — between science and religion.”

Yom Kippur — which begins at sunset on Oct. 11 and concludes at nightfall on Oct. 12 this year — ?falls at the end of the Jewish High Holy Days and is also known as the Day of Atonement. Fasting is traditionally observed — although children, elderly adults, ill people, and pregnant women are forbidden from partaking — and the shofar is sounded to mark the conclusion of the fast at nightfall. Afterwards, it’s traditional to enjoy a “break-fast” meal of typical breakfast and brunch foods.

The traditional Hebrew greeting on Yom Kippur is?G’mar chatimah tovah: “May you complete a good sealing.” This refers to completing the process of reflecting on the actions of the past year, confessing and seeking forgiveness for wrongdoing, and planning to improve in the new year.

“Whatever Jewish denomination you look at, from the most traditional to the most liberal, confessions are moral and ethical failings, not ritual failings,” Olshansky says.

When you think of confessions, you may picture a one-on-one conversation with a religious leader, such as in the Catholic tradition. But in the Jewish tradition, confessions are traditionally done in a group setting rather than in a one-on-one environment. Confessions are written out anonymously and phrased in the plural — “We have been deceitful,” for example — so that no one feels singled out.

“There’s a comfort level of being surrounded by people who are all flawed,” Olshansky says. “We could all do better, and we help each other to start the year with a clean slate.”

For Olshansky, teaching?Judaism and Science?and serving as a rabbi both provide an opportunity to invite self-examination — in himself and others — which he describes as the “spiritual heart” of the Jewish High Holy Days.

“There’s a joke that I’ve used from the pulpit in the past,” he says. “A person is praying on New Year’s morning: ‘God, I’ve been really good so far this year. I haven’t spoken harshly to anybody. I haven’t taken anything that wasn’t mine. I haven’t been mean to my family members. But now God, I’m going to get out of bed, and then I’m going to need lots of help.’”

Central Florida Hillel?at 麻豆原创?serves as?a?center for Jewish life on campus enriching the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world (contact Executive Director Hunter Gold for more info). Chabad 麻豆原创 is an organization dedicated to encouraging individuals of all backgrounds and degrees of observance to explore their Jewish heritage (contact?Rabbi Chaim?Lipskier?for more info). Both organizations are hosting Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur observances and meals this year.

Name: Pavan Senthil
Majors: Electrical engineering and biomedical sciences with a track in neuroscience

Why are you interested in this research?
The research projects at Limbitless Solutions presented a unique opportunity to be involved in the intersection of engineering and medicine. Our bionic arms and Project Xavier utilize innovative electromyography (EMG) technology to develop clinical applications that aim to improve the user’s quality of life through the assistive device.

As an aspiring biomedical engineer, these projects aligned perfectly with my academic and career interests in developing assistive technology. It’s exciting to be able to help others directly through my coursework and research, especially as early as an undergraduate. I’m deeply grateful to be a part of an organization that not only supports my professional development but also dedicates itself to a positive cause.

How did you get started in research at 麻豆原创?
Having taken the AP Capstone program for research in high school, I came to 麻豆原创 with the goal of continuing my involvement in research at the undergraduate level. Fortunately, I was presented with a wide variety of opportunities through various programs at 麻豆原创. The Office of Undergraduate Research’s (OUR) peer-mentoring program and student researchers I met at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a student organization on campus, were influential in guiding me to the various ways to get involved in research.

I discovered Limbitless’s research through my Honors Symposium course and was encouraged to apply to the program by both faculty members and peers. At Limbitless, I have been able to immerse myself in a variety of research opportunities in both individual and team settings. 麻豆原创 and Limbitless’s commitment to promoting undergraduate research has been very impactful in helping me grow towards continuing research postgraduation.

Who is your mentor? Who inspires you and how?
My mentor is Dr. Albert Manero ’12 ’14MS ’16PhD, co-founder and executive director at Limbitless Solution and the head of its research team. Dr. Manero has shaped my undergraduate research journey by aligning it with my career interests while pushing me to expand my capabilities as a researcher. Under his mentorship, I have found a role model who inspires those around him through his passion for accessibility technology research and his commitment to the team’s growth and success.

At Limbitless, I continue to be motivated by our highly interdisciplinary undergraduate team, from pre-medical researchers to engineers to video game developers. Our expertise and ability to collaborate is what makes our projects possible. Through this experience, I’ve met a community of talented and hardworking people who have always extended their support and resources to help me overcome both personal and professional hurdles.

How does 麻豆原创 empower you to do your research?
麻豆原创’s Office of Undergraduate Research has been an invaluable resource for empowering my research at Limbitless. OUR incentivizes research through various programs, including the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Student Scholar Symposium and funding for research conferences alongside Student Government. Additionally, OUR helps new researchers build their skills through workshops on poster development, academic writing, applying for research grants, etc. My involvement with these programs has significantly boosted my confidence in my research abilities and allowed me to network with other like-minded individuals on campus. The support and resources provided by 麻豆原创 through OUR have been instrumental in advancing my research journey at Limbitless.

Why is this research important?
Individuals with low or no mobility often depend on a caretaker to perform basic tasks. People with neurodegenerative conditions, specifically those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can regain a sense of autonomy by having personalized tools like the control system our team developed. Project Xavier aims to improve the quality of life for these individuals by providing them with an alternative wheelchair control method.

To help users practice the facial muscle-controlled method of operating the wheelchair, Limbitless’ games team, led by Associate Professors Peter Smith ’05 ’12PhD and Matt Dombrowski ’05 ’08 MFA, has developed a video game training method in collaboration with the Nicholson School of Communication and Media, and the School of Visual Arts and Design. The video game, titled Limbitless Journey, offers a low-stress training environment that supplements their daily use of a wheelchair while promoting user autonomy through eye-tracking-based menu navigation. The use of video games as effective tools for rehabilitation is a large part of the research at Limbitless, and the training efforts with Project Xavier aim to explore the efficacy of Limbitless Journey in clinical applications.

Research for the creation and implementation of accessibility technology as a whole is critical for promoting quality of life and equal opportunities in our communities. By designing for inclusivity, people who may have previously been excluded are empowered to contribute their perspectives to the conversation on accessibility. Their insights allow for more accessible solutions to ensure that technology aims to meet the needs of all users.

The Collegiate Purple Star honors colleges that demonstrate a commitment to supporting military and veteran students and their families. Once awarded, the designation remains active for three academic years.

There are about 3,100 military and veteran students at 麻豆原创, and?we provide a comprehensive array of services tailored to their needs.? This includes dedicated resources such as ?the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success, and the Military and Veteran Success Center, aimed at supporting their academic, career and personal success.

In February, 麻豆原创 ranked No. 5 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans?by?U.S. News & World Report. In the same month, Knight Nation ranked No. 11 on College Consensus’ 2024 Best Online Colleges for Veterans list.

Among the commitments 麻豆原创 upholds that have received recognition from the Purple Star Campus honor are:

• A transition program to assist military and veteran students integrate into campus life, which includes veteran transfer orientation sessions.
• Professional development training opportunities, including Green Zone training for faculty, staff and students. The Office of Military and Veteran Student Success also offers tailored training packages to the Office of Financial Aid, Student Services, and other 麻豆原创 departments to equip staff with the insights and knowledge necessary for working with military and veteran students utilizing veteran educational benefits.
• Priority course registration for military and veteran students.
• Hosting annual , including open houses, Flag Days, Military Appreciation Games, , veteran community resource fairs, veteran career and internship fairs, and Veterans Graduation Stole Ceremonies.
• Partnering with a college or career center liaison officer from a military installation. This includes the Military Student Career program, which provides resume critiques, networking and job search strategies, insight from military professionals who have transitioned to civilian careers and connecting with employers.
• Continuing their service through the Soldiers to Scholars (SLS) program. Through SLS, student-veterans serve as mentors and safely escort school children to and from the Metro Place apartment community to Eagle’s Nest Elementary School. Additionally, these mentors facilitate after-school programs aimed at enhancing academic performance and organize special events tailored to the needs of these young students.

In recent years, 麻豆原创 has consistently received recognition for its commitment, effort, and success in creating holistic, sustainable and meaningful support for the military and veteran student community on campus. U.S. News & World Reportranked 麻豆原创 among the nation’s?Best Colleges for Veteran?in its 2024 undergraduate list. In 2022, 麻豆原创 received the?Purple Heart Designation from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The university also received the?Silver Award on the 2022-23 Military Friendly Schools list.

College Consensus rankings combine the results of the most respected college ranking systems — such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly — with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews from around the web to create its rankings. Earlier the month, 麻豆原创 was ranked No. 5 for Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.

“With dedicated resources, online program options, and a supportive environment, 麻豆原创 stands out as an excellent choice for military veterans seeking to pursue a bachelor’s degree online,” College Consensus stated in its rankings.

麻豆原创 is a Yellow Ribbon Program participant, ensuring that eligible veterans receive financial support beyond what the GI Bill covers. The university also prioritizes a veteran-friendly campus culture, fostering a sense of community among military-affiliated students.

There are about 1,400 student-veterans at 麻豆原创, and?there are a range of services, including the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success, offered to support them.

In recent years, 麻豆原创 has continuously received recognition for its commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefit for the student-veteran community on campus. U.S. News & World Report ranked 麻豆原创 among the nation’s Best Colleges for Veteran in its 2024 undergraduate list. In 2022, 麻豆原创 received the Purple Heart Designation from the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The university also received the Silver Award on the 2022-23 Military Friendly Schools list.

In Pennsylvania, I learned about the Native American tribes of the region, about places like Independence Hall and Gettysburg that were significant in American history, and about individuals and groups important to the state, including William Penn, Phillis Wheatley, the Quakers, Benjamin Franklin and Richard Allen.

Additionally, I learned that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was home to the largest free Black community in the new nation, in part as a result of the passage of the Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery by the Pennsylvania General Assembly in March 1780. This act also provided for the emancipation of enslaved persons after holding residence in the Commonwealth for six months.

And while I also learned about some of the inequalities that placed Black Americans in Pennsylvania in second-class status, many of the circumstances known to Black people living in the South were not part of the everyday realities of Black people in Pennsylvania.

Juneteenth simply was not part of my K–12 educational experience.

A combination of the words “June” and “19th” — Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of emancipation of enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The Emancipation Proclamation is significant because it legally ended slavery in the United States. Many Black Americans have long celebrated Juneteenth as an unofficial Independence Day.

Juneteenth became an official federal holiday June 17, 2021. Numerous states have also made it an official holiday and some other states have provided it as a paid holiday for state employees. While celebrations occur in most states, we as a country have an opportunity to officially commemorate this important day in every state. As citizens in a democratic society, it is important for all of us to learn how each of us have moved through the history of this nation and celebrate our triumphs together.

These celebrations of freedom from enslavement include church services, parades, parties, festivals, speeches, dramatizations and music. These celebrations and gatherings offer opportunities to remember the trials and tribulations our ancestors endured as enslaved peoples, to learn more about the history of Black peoples in the United States, and to teach valuable lessons to others about the past and present experiences of the African diaspora in the United States. These celebrations and opportunities have facilitated ongoing community discussions regarding economic and educational development of the Black community, public dialogues on the lived experiences of Blacks, the development of African American museums and monuments, and ongoing research on the Black experience in the United States to include the development of research centers and institutes.

Juneteenth is also significant to the legal history of this country.

First, the Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order, a legal power held solely by a sitting president of the United States of America and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. As with a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court or a bill passed into law by the U.S. Congress, an executive order becomes effective upon signature. This is one of the early lessons we learn in school about how laws are developed and implemented in this country.

An important fact often excluded from school curriculums is that the Emancipation Proclamation expressly granted freedom only to those enslaved people in the Confederate States, which included Texas. It did not bring relief to enslaved persons residing in border states that were loyal to the Union.

Second, the Emancipation Proclamation opened the doors to the 13th and 14th Amendments. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, and the 14th Amendment defines and identifies citizenship and the rights associated with citizenship. The relationship between the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment rests in the notion of freedom and the rights and responsibilities of freedom.

The executive order (1) declares freedom for enslaved persons, (2) supports such freedom through the federal government and its military entities, and (3) prevents the dissolution of such freedom, stating it “will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.”

The relationship between the executive order and the 14th Amendment is connected to the equal protection clause as well as a specific area affiliated with citizenship: serving in the military. President Lincoln declared that freed persons “will be received into the armed service of the United States…” Lincoln also makes one responsibility clear to freed people: “I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence…”.

The proclamation notes that freedom shall not be repressed. This is what I believe to be the primary significance of Juneteenth.

While President Lincoln clearly declares twice in this document that all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a state shall be free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the surrender at Appomattox Court House, slavery remained unchanged in Texas.

The law alone did not change or eliminate slavery in the United States. In fact, the defining event of June 19, 1865, was the arrival of Union Major General Gordon Granger in Galveston and his subsequent orders directing federal troops to seize control of the state to ensure all enslaved people were freed.

While I was not afforded the opportunity to learn this part of our nation’s history as a public school student, knowledge of this historical moment in our country has enriched my experience as a citizen of this country and has reaffirmed the tremendous growth we have experienced as a nation.

These celebrations and opportunities led to a new federal holiday. Juneteenth became an official federal holiday June 17, 2021. Numerous states have also made it an official holiday and some other states have provided it as a paid holiday for state employees. While celebrations occur in most states, we as a country have an opportunity to officially commemorate this important day in every state. As citizens in a democratic society, it is important for all of us to learn how each of us have moved through the history of this nation and celebrate our triumphs together.

References
-Online

-Books
Anderson, J. (1988). The education of Blacks in the South, 1860-1945. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press.

Taylor, C.A. (2002). Juneteenth: A celebration of freedom. Greensboro, NC: Open Hand Publishing.

-Articles
Jeffries, J.L. (2004). Juneteenth: Black Texans and the case for reparations. Negro Educational Review, 55, 2/3, 107-115.

Hume, J. & Arceneaux, N. (2008). Public memory, cultural legacy, and press coverage of the Juneteenth revival. Journalism History, 34(3), 155-162.

Blanck, E. (2019). Galveston on San Francisco Bay: Juneteenth in the Filmore district, 1945-2016. Western Historical Quarterly, 50(2), 85-112.

Theodorea Regina Berry is 麻豆原创’s vice provost and dean, College of Undergraduate Studies. In her role, she drives efforts to offer students in her college robust programs while supporting university-wide initiatives to advance undergraduate education, take learning beyond the classroom, and promote greater student success. Berry works closely with the university’s provost, fellow deans and leaders of academic units to create and sustain a learning environment that enables students to thrive academically, professionally and civically.

Establishing an endowed chair highlights the importance of studying India?at 麻豆原创. In Fall 2022, over 3,000 students from 149 countries enrolled at 麻豆原创. Students from India represented the second-largest group of international students with 460 individuals enrolled.

The Chopra’s gift will be amplified by a $50,000 match from the university through the 麻豆原创 Challenge. This strategic initiative provides matching funding from the transformational $40 million gift made in 2021 by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. With the Chopra family’s gift, donors to date have pledged more than $2.5 million toward the $5 million goal to establish the endowed chair position.

“It is our hope that our gift will help The India Center create a strong foundation for ongoing research and teaching about India, a dynamic culture that is both ancient and modern,” says Ramesh Chopra.

Ramesh and Neena Chopra have both practiced medicine in Florida for over 40 years and live in Port Orange. The couple first moved to Florida in 1982 from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are active in the Indian American community in Central Florida and helped establish CAPI, a network of Indian American medical professionals who fundraise and pool resources to support health and wellness initiatives, professional growth and leadership development. The couple has a son and daughter, who are both physicians, and four grandchildren.

“We are honored that the Chopra family has chosen to support The India Center at 麻豆原创,” says Kerstin Hamann, interim director of The India Center, an associate dean in the and a Pegasus Professor in the . “Their gift makes a significant contribution to support the work and enhance the reputation of the center as we strive to become the nation’s preeminent location for the study of contemporary India.”

The mission of The India Center at 麻豆原创 is to broaden the awareness and understanding of India’s role in the world today. The center is housed in the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs in the College of Sciences. Established in 2012, the center hosts symposia and events of interest to the regional Indian American community and to 麻豆原创 students and faculty interested in India and its impact in Florida, the nation and beyond. The center has supported the work of 麻豆原创 scholars and students in India and has received a variety of delegations from India.

The India Center at 麻豆原创 develops India-U.S. partnerships among universities, companies, governmental, cultural, and other organizations to address issues and opportunities important to both India and the U.S. in areas ranging across technology, politics, security, medicine and more. 麻豆原创 and The India Center have established partnerships with eight educational institutions in India for student and faculty collaborations and joint graduate degree programs with two colleges in India.

“We are grateful to the Chopra family for their generosity and vision in advancing our goal of creating the Indian Community Endowed Chair for The India Center at 麻豆原创,” says Michael D. Johnson, 麻豆原创 provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “The endowed chair will help The India Center expand opportunities for students and faculty to better understand one of the world’s most influential countries and how it impacts us.”

Estimated to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, India is a major player on the world stage of economics, security, politics and technology. People of Indian origin are one of the fastest growing migrant populations in the United States, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The Carnegie Endowment notes that between 2000 and 2018, the Indian American population grew by 150%. In Florida, Orange County is home to the state’s third largest population of immigrants from India behind Hillsborough and Broward counties in 2021, according to the Migration Policy Institute.

A few surprised officers from the have come to see what’s going on and, when the music stops, offer applause and a compliment. “You’re incredible.”

Apart from competition and special festivals, the rooftop is the best place to see this kind of choreography. It’s called Garba-Raas, or just Raas, and keeps South Asian culture very much alive wherever it’s performed — in college auditoriums around the country or in a wide-open parking lot at 麻豆原创.

“We go to the top of the garage because we can have it all to ourselves late at night,” says civil engineering student Rushil Patel, former team captain and current member of . “The air is fresher, too.”

麻豆原创’s KnightRaas team is one of 60 collegiate squads that compete nationwide in a circuit called Raas All-Stars. Among them are the University of Virginia HooRaas, University of Miami SwaggeRaas, and the Georgia Tech Ramblin’ Raas. The Raas All-Stars were founded in 2009 as a way for college students to preserve an important South Asian tradition, which for most of the dancers is embedded in their ancestry.

“Being on this team means a lot to my family,” says Esan Patel (no relation to Rushil). His mother immigrated to the U.S. from India when she was 16, and father did the same at age 20. After marrying and having Esan, they’d take him to Diwali and Navratri festivals in Jacksonville so he could understand the importance of the family’s background. As a 麻豆原创 freshman, Esan saw some videos of KnightRaas, which brought back those childhood memories.

“I learned about Raas at the festivals,” Esan says. “But as a teenager I became interested in other things and lost touch with the culture, including the dance. When I found out 麻豆原创 had a Raas team, I saw it as an opportunity to reconnect with my heritage.”

The athleticism adds another layer of appeal. Esan says he had trouble learning the speed and complexities of the competitive dances at first, but he made the team because of his rekindled passion for Raas.

“We practice about 10 hours a week,” Rushil says, “so we look for people who are willing to push themselves and put in the work.”

Rushil was born in Mumbai, India, and moved with his family to the U.S. before his first birthday. He played soccer and basketball, but his parents regularly took Rushil and his older brother to the Indian Association near their home in Palm Beach County (there are more than 40 Indian Associations throughout Florida), where a family friend taught them the traditional Raas dance. Rushil’s troupe would perform at annual festivals, but he didn’t become hooked until his brother started competing at the University of Florida.

“The steps he taught me were quicker and more powerful than what we learned growing up,” Rushil says. “That’s when I decided to focus my athletic attention on Raas. I thought one day I’ll captain my college team to the national championship.”

He had been the captain of KnightRaas since 2019, one year before the team began competing in the All-Stars circuit. During the 2022 season that ended in April, they told the story of a treasure hunt through their six-minute routine, traveling to venues in Atlanta, Austin, Texas, and Champaign, Illinois. For the season they finished 11^th in the country — just outside the top-8 that qualify for the national championships.

“We’re still relatively new to competition,” Rushil says, “but this group is fired up about the possibility of making it to nationals next season.”

Virtually nothing is handed to the KnightRaas dancers. They practice on parking garages. They raise money so they can afford to sleep five to six people to a room when they travel. Earlier this year they collected a few hundred dollars on a series of dares recorded for Instagram: drink a shot of hot sauce, do the ice-bucket challenge and then break into a Raas routine in front of the Reflecting Pond on campus.

“The dares bring awareness to the fact 麻豆原创 has a team and to an important part of our South Asian culture,” Esan says. “A side benefit is that every time we dance, it brings us closer, more as a family than a team.”

The entire experience exemplifies what Professor of History Rochisha Narayan says about “investments in cultural practices that spark curiosity and lead to reflections on what is understood as one’s heritage.”

When the members of KnightRaas aren’t bonding in the clean air on garage H, they’re sometimes connecting in the aroma of a potluck dinner. Each team member brings a dish to represent the region in India where their family is from, with the potpourri of spicey scents filling someone’s apartment.

“I’d love to pass these traditions down to future generations, just as they’ve been passed down to us,” Rushil says. “But first, I really want to win a national championship.”

Instructor
Luis Martínez-Fernández, Pegasus Professor of history and member of the

When is it offered?
Spring, summer and fall semesters

How many students are in a class?
About 35

Prerequisites
EUH 2000 and EUH 2001

From the Professor

How would you describe this course?
This course is a multidisciplinary introduction to the historical trajectory of the Caribbean. The word multidisciplinary is key because even though it is a history course we read works from literature, anthropology and other fields.

For example, many people have a perception of the Caribbean as an island paradise, beaches and rum. So when I start the course I show students a video from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority and it presents a perfect view of everything. Then I ask them to read A Small Place by Jamaica Kinkaid and they get a completely different view of Antigua, where the legacy of slavery and colonialism is still pretty much alive.

The course begins with the pre-Columbian era and ends with the present and it covers topics such as the Amerindian societies, European colonialism, the struggle for freedom and nationhood. More contemporary topics such as U.S. expansionism, dictatorships, revolution and challenges to socio-economic development are also discussed.

Why should students take this course?
I start this course talking about why the Caribbean matters. If you measure the areas of the various islands and continental components of the Caribbean it’s not enormous, but this is a [region] where so many first events happened that relate to modernity.

Slavery goes back to antiquity, but in the Caribbean, there was a new form of slavery that was closely related to race, particularly Africans. We also see the beginnings of modern colonialism. Some of the islands, Puerto Rico and maybe a couple more are still colonies. That’s where we find the development of the plantation system, things that were later repeated in the colonies of the U.S. South. So for being a relatively small area of the world it has played a significant role in what we call globalization, colonialism, the exchange of staple products and modern slavery.

This course is part of the Africana Studies program. How does African history and culture relate to what is taught in this course?
The Caribbean is not monolithic, but every island has been touched to some level by the experiences of slavery, resistance, and emancipation and we study common experiences, for example, the slave trade. I like to teach cultural history, so we see the impact of West African culture is still alive in the islands. Haiti is the biggest example of that kind of influence. Haiti can be seen as an African country that was chipped off the coast of Africa and moved to the Caribbean because it has a much stronger African influence. An island like Puerto Rico has that influence but to a smaller level.

What do you hope students learn?
I have three major objectives. The first, that students learn about the developments and the very rich history and cultures of the Caribbean. The second is to learn the historiography of the Caribbean. That means they don’t just learn what happened [through readings] but they also study the people who wrote about it and therefore understand [what they’ve read] is a particular individual’s point of view and they need to be critical of those sources. And the last one is they learn skills that they will use later in life, whether they pursue a career in history or not. For example, reflective reading, not just reading to get done with the reading but actually think in-depth about it, and the ability to put together ideas and arguments in written form.

What does the coursework entail?
There are several course readings and class discussions. Every student also needs to make an oral presentation on some subject related to the Caribbean. They also need to identify a primary document about the Caribbean and analyze it. There are two essay exams, I’m a strong believer in essay questions. Lastly, there is a final discussion paper that’s about 5-6 pages where students must select one writing from the course and they need to connect it and contrast it with another writing they find on their own. Over the years, students have come up with some very creative selections and sources, such as songs sung by slaves in Jamaica.

From the Student

Janine Galindo, public history master’s student

Why did you take this course?
I’ve always been into history, but specifically public history because I think that the main point of knowing history is to teach it to others. It’s really important for people in general to understand history, where we come from, where we are now and where we are going.

I want to become a museum curator and Caribbean history is one of my areas of interest. I’m interested on Caribbean history because my family is from Puerto Rico and I feel like the Caribbean is kind of marginalized. Many people [in the U.S.] don’t really know much about it even though it’s right there next to the U.S. They have a lot of strong ties historically, so I really wanted to know more.

What did you enjoy most about the course?
I liked the readings and learning about the many close ties between the United States and the Caribbean. They have a lot of shared history and it was really interesting to read more about that. But I really liked an assignment we had that required us to look at a painting, analyze its symbolism and elements, and write about it. We wrote about our feelings, contextualized the painting, and applied it to historical events and culture.

What was the most challenging aspect of the course?
I earned a bachelor’s degree in animation at another university in 2008. So getting used to being a student again — especially in 2020 — was my biggest challenge. Not only are things done differently now because of COVID, just getting use to digital learning and meeting on Zoom. It was a little difficult, but once I got the hang of it, it was fine.

What were some of the lessons you took away from this course?
There was a god named Ogun from the Yoruba culture in West Africa and he, like many other gods and goddesses from that region, were transferred over to the Caribbean and transformed in a way that slaves could still worship them under the guise of Catholicism. To this day there are celebrations, rituals and paintings in his honor.

The process these African gods underwent is called syncretism,?which is the blending of certain characteristics of different cultures to create something new — in this case, Santeria and Voodoo.? It was interesting to see how African slaves living in the Caribbean had to be creative so they could hold onto certain aspects of their culture.

As someone whose family is from the Caribbean, having a country of origin that is a tiny island feels pretty insignificant compared to someone from France, Scotland or [other European countries]. Being in this class made me realize that not only is Caribbean culture very rich, but it does have an impact and significance to the world even to this day.