The SGA Leadership Team attended the “R -Word” Rally on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol on Tuesday, May 3. Lt. Governor Tim Griffin was the special guest speaker for the event. The rally was held to raise awareness about the negative impact of the “R-word”. If you are not aware of what the “R-word is, it is the word retard(ed). The rally let professionals, individuals with disabilities, caregivers and families unite to encourage everyone to think about the “R-word’s” derogatory uses in casual conversation. LRJCC students assisted one of our community partners, the Arkansas State Independent Living Council’s (ARSILC) Executive Director Sha’ Stephens, with distributing flyers. The highlight of their day was getting to meet Lt. Governor Griffin. They also met another one of our community partners, Leonard Boyle, Sr., Executive Director of the Arkansas Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities. The students and other rally attendees signed pledges to “STOP the ‘R’ Word”. You can find out more information about raising awareness at www.r-word.org.
The students also appeared on the evening news. Although they were not interviewed, they were prominently seen wearing their SGA uniforms and their LRJCC lanyards. The news story can be seen at
http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/rally-to-stop-offensive-word