This post is the first of a series  which will be written by interns working with the Human Rights Collections here at the Dodd Research Center.

About 40 years ago, a concept meaning ‘change of attitude,’ was first introduced to the body of the University of Connecticut: Metanoia.  Nine years later, in 1979, a day of Metanoia was called by the University students in the name of “Violence in the Community.”  It was a conscientious response of the community to both the brutal sexual assault of a graduate student and incidents of racist violence on campus.

After experiencing multiple sexual assaults in the community last year, students, once again, called for the Metanoia. It is not just another chance to learn more about violence against women, but to critically reflect on; actively engage in dialogue about; and ultimately to prevent it. Since the 1979 Metanoia, many meaningful programs and services have been created in our community to intervene violence against women. As we look back on past thirty years, intervention alone is not enough. The 2009 Metanoia challenges us as a community to delve into and prevent violence against women.

To echo the purpose of the 2009 Metanoia, a subject guide on human rights publications and unpublished manuscript mateirals on violence against women at the Human Rights and Alternative Press Collections at the Dodd Research Center will soon be available for teaching and learning on the UConn Libraries website. I will also create a weekly blog post to update my discoveries on relevant materials.

The 2009 Metanoia will be held on the week of October 4th. It includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, in-class activities, arts, poetry, films, student co-curricular activities, and more, in collaboration with all UConn regional campuses, the Schools of Social Work, Law, and Medicine.

For more information, please visit www.metanoia.uconn.edu.

Hoin
Human Rights Intern