Here is the website for honoring Dr. Barlas, set up by her husband: https://honoring.asmabarlas.com/

Anissa Ash (pronounced uh-knee-suh) graduated from Ithaca in 2018 and is currently in her final year at Howard University School of Law. She will be graduating with her JD in May and will be representing Brooklyn residents in housing matters after graduation.

Feel free to sign the guestbook!

Up next Jordana Jarrett, followed by Cedrick Michael-Simmons!

Glad for future lawyers like you, Anissa. Best of luck with your final push at law school and future.

Jordana Jarrett is a Brooklyn-based writer and creative, Ithaca College Class of 2015. She is currently an Editor at The Webby Awards, where she leads content creation for the brand, sponsorships, and The Webby Podcast, as well as aiding the production of The Webby Awards show, that successfully brings together digital communities across the world.

thank you Anissa!

Anissa, we will need your pro bono help soon

Cedrick-Michael Simmons is Diversity Dissertation Fellow at Ithaca College and a PhD candidate studying sociology at Boston College.

“Its tough to bear witness to oneself”! Thank you Jordana

Jordana thank you!

Up next after Cedrick, Alexzandria Sanchez, followed by Alana Herlands.

Alexzandria was born and raised in Philadelphia. She graduated from IC in May of 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Journalism paired with minors in Politics and Latinx Studies. Her focus was learning and analyzing how U.S policy has affected grassroots human rights movements within Latin America and the Caribbean. She is a filmmaker and journalist.

Yes, Cedric - “Why are we talking about inclusion, diversity and equity without talking about exploitation?”

So grateful to be here

Thank you Cedric for bringing in worker rights and the importance of labor in the various struggles.

<3

Alana Herlands took Professor Barlas’ courses ‘Politics of Identity’ and ‘U.S. and the World’ 4 years ago, and graduated in May 2018. She majored in Documentary Studies while at Ithaca, and is currently pursuing a career in audio journalism.

Thank you for your words Alexzandria!

thank you Jordana, loved your reflection!

Alexz, that was amazing thank you!

thank you Patricia, Miss you!

^^^ Alexandria, you powerfully capture the tensions of identity of exile and home. Thank you

thank you professor Peyi!

amazing job, everyone

Excellent contributions by everyone!

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Wonderful personal testimonials all. Wow.

From Nimat Hafez Barazangi:

I just wanted to thank all of you for speaking today, just hearing you guys out is making me want to take a class with professor Barlas. I really appreciated hearing from all of you and the wonderful things that ya’ll took away from her classes

so dope thank yall so much for yalls reflections

Nimat: why are we made obliged to talk about identity, race, worldview?

Big hug, Bruce!

Stack

Powerful and loving, Bruce.

Thank you

Love to you Ulises

Thank you Dr. Barlas for a brilliant course and such impactful moments, you have profoundly touched so many

thank you everyone for sharing such deep insights

Bruce, thank you for sharing with so much candor that can transform our relationships

thank you for speaking that truth Cedrick

Yes, so important Cedrick! Thank you!

Cedrick- want to hear more later about how we break through that barrier- of those who buy into diversity and inclusion talk without dealing with exploitation

Thank you Dr. Barlas, though I only took one course with you, it was one that profoundly affected the manner in which I approach education as well as my relationship with religion. The combination of compassion and pressure in your teaching style gave space for me to look past imposter thoughts and embrace my voice.

Dr. Barlas, I'm from California and I discovered you through your book "Believing Women", and you have changed my life. Ever since then, I always wanted to take one of your courses but of course since I go to a different university, I was never able to haha. But I'm so glad to be here and seeing how you impacted so many people is amazing. You truly inspired me to study international relations, political science, and middle-eastern studies.

Thank you. I do apologize for jump in a little blind and perhaps veering outside of the discussion. Thank you for making space for me

You have added immeasurably to it, Bruce. Simine, your own journey to this symposium is fantastic.

Thanks Peyi and Sumru <3, and I would love to discuss that barrier Peyi

Thank you

we understand that we construct these images and we can deconstruct them as well

Thank you politics department and brilliant peyi and patricia for facilitating this!!!

please include me in these future discussions!!!

next up is Matt Connolly and then Chris Kim

Excellent comments, Dubian.

Matt Connolly is a PhD student in Literature at University at Buffalo, where he writes and revises and writes again sentences about race, pop music, and Civil Rights Movement.

thanks Dubian, you bring a lot to the convo

Dubian- that is hard and profound: “Exploring our relationship to and “fixation” on the colonizer. Our neediness for recognition - and how to clarify the distinction between taking responsibility for our escape and liberation vs responsibility for the conditions. A destabilizing message- thank you

Much love Ulises!!

Thank you Dr. Peyi!!!!

so true matt

Remembering the importance of the “Decolonizer”, Dubian—your courage to become the liberation you envision.

& This phrase “trapping oneself in perfectibility”… Matt

Chris Kim graduated from Ithaca College in 2018 with a degree in Sociology. He is currently serving as a research technician in Cornell’s Department of Integrative Plant Sciences.

Noah Lillian Sarucia is from Boston, MA, and graduated from IC in 2011 with a major in Sociology. Noah works with companies around the world in helping them center the human experience in the workplace.

thx for sharing Chris

Thank you Chris, we wrestle with connecting anticolonial discourse with anticapitalism - perhaps a defeatism regarding our ability to effect our disentanglement from the latter?

NOAH!!! Brilliant!

Wheww

Powerful Noah

Wow

Thank you Noah. The freedom of the spirit is a gift.

thank you for sharing this, reflection was amazing Noah

That was beautiful, Noah!

next up is Aisha Mughal

wow. thank you Noah

Kol Hakavod, Noah. Loved your reflection.

powerful words Noah

Thank you so much for sharing Noah.

Aisha Mae Mughal graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and minors in Spanish and Asian American Studies. She primarily focused on U.S. foreign policy in Asia and Latin America and pursued an independent study on U.S. foreign policy in Bolivia with Dr. Barlas during her senior year. She currently works as a Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and started her transition this week as a Program Associate for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program at Ithaca College.

wow Aisha

Beautiful

Thank you for that

beautiful aisha <3

That was beautiful, Aisha!

Thank you Aisha

Thank you Aisha- very moving

Thank you so much for sharing your experience Aisha

so amazing, everyone

Wonderful, everyone. So thoughtful, so moving.

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Thank you for sharing yourselves, everyone

It’s a profound testimony to Asma’s teaching that so many had similar and similarly profound experiences over the years. What a gift to be a part of this linage of those fortunate enough to have been touched by the processes she facilitated. I feel oddly connect to people and even generations that I have no contact with

Frodo lives! ;-)

indeed he does @uli :)

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yes, thanks for sharing that!

Long live the collective!

Thanks for giving voice to that history, Dubian. Both panels have been excellent so far! We could spend a whole day on each topic… Thank you to all panelists!

Still Dubian making trouble- good trouble!!

YESSSSSS

David Johnson graduated from Ithaca College in 2015 with a degree in Philosophy and Religion and a minor in International Politics. He is now a PhD student in Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on international relations theory, the history of capitalism and the contemporary capitalist world economy.

please check out: https://honoring.asmabarlas.com/

Liz is a graduate of 2018, who took three classes with Dr. Barlas while she was at IC. Liz went on to continue studying politics in grad school, and has recently moved to Northern Vermont where she is working as an academic tutor for k-12 students in her district.

Thank you David for your Insightful reflections

next up are Rachel Bondra and then David Kaminsky

That must have been an unnerving moment when she disrupted your inward gaze- love that Liz

thank you Liz!!!

Rachel Bondra graduated from Ithaca College in 2011. She is pursuing a master’s degree in urban planning at Hunter College now. Her current work explores expressions of power and politics in the built environment and planning processes, urban industrial landscapes and history, land use, and as well as public memory.

David Kaminksy graduated IC with a major in History and minors in Politics and Muslim Civilizations. He then received an MA in South East European Studies from the University of Belgrade, Serbia and University of Graz, Austria. Following that, he was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Tyumen, Russia. Now, he is a PhD Candidate in the History Department at SUNY Binghamton.

Thank you, David. Really loved your reflection.

That was great! Thank you to all panelists!

Wonderful panel. Thanks to everyone

David, a wonderful ode from an educator.

Thanks so much, everyone!

Thanks you so much panelists

stack!

Thank you, all! So great to hear what you are all doing, carrying Asma’s lessons forward.

thank you to all the panelists…your articulate/insightful words are evidence of Asma’s incredible effectiveness as a teacher. Continue all the good work each of you is doing.

Totally agree with President Williams comment.

Thank you President Williams- it is wonderful to see you here.

yes yes! many thanks Ditto!

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my question for panelists is what asma taught them about islamic feminisms

Thinking about how I remember Asma rejecting “feminism” as a category in class

TAKE A BREAK !!!

Thats the human part that I love so much

Angela- provocative question and Hannah, great ‘Asma response’

we are taking a bit of a break until 6pm; see you back soon!

we will resume in 2 minutes

thank you so much to all of the panelists, and to everyone attending! and to Asma, so glad we did this....!

I will hand it off to Dr Peyi Soyinka-Airewele. thank you!

https://honoring.asmabarlas.com/

brava Peyi, great intro

^^^^^^

Brava Peyi. Eloquent, moving, well written, insightful.

CHIP!!

Dr Peyi still the GOAT

What a wonderful community we have!!! Politics department loves you all so much

thank you! :) glad to be here for this and helping

bravo Ulises: https://honoring.asmabarlas.com/

-dear all please post your tributes there^^^

Brava to the incomparable Politics Dept for organizing this tribute to Dr. Asma Barlas.

💞

Congratulations, Dr. Barlas, on your outstanding scholarship and teaching and on your many contributions to Ithaca College. May your intellect and courage continue to inspire us.

Dr Saunders, thank you so much for being here. I will always celebrate your role in the founding of CSCRE and supporting so many special programs at IC as well as the critical dialogues series. Not many students know how much you did to lay the framework of what they have today.

Congratulations, Dr. Barlas! It is an honor to celebrate your life’s work with you and a delight to see you today.

Thank you, Dr. Soyinka-Airewelele, for your kind words and for remembering me!

Colette, a shout out to you- your work at the center for faculty excellence has been a blessing to the campus and supported Dr Barlas’ work in encouraging faculty to go for full professorship.

Thank you, Peyi. Truly it is my pleasure to support our faculty and the campus. And I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with Dr. Barlas. She is phenomenal as are you and so many others present tonight.

Dr. Barlas, thank you for being true to you, for questioning things people are afraid to question, and for making a difference in the lives of Ithaca College students for decades. IC is better because you were here. You are appreciated and I salute you!

Thank you Asma!

from Nimat Hafez Barazangi, Cornell University: Thank you for inviting me to participate in this event. I am grateful to all the things I learned from everyone and about everyone. Peace and Salaam.

Dear Asma, it’s beautiful to hear your voice again. Thank you being a gift to all of us in our journeys as human beings.

Asma, I deeply loved your talk - and this whole event. It brought me back to what feels sacred about academic culture and community. I wish our paths had crossed more often/substantively. I hope they will in the future.

Thank you, Asma, for providing us with another wonderful thought-provoking presentqi

Thanks to Politics for organizing this event. Thanks Asma. WE miss you.

Asma, your classes not only provided me with an irreplaceable educational experience, but they forced me to do some really difficult internal growth which I am forever appreciative for. Your presentation tonight was wonderful, as I remembered classes being! (Also, it’s very nice to see so many familiar faces here!)

Thank you, Peyi and Patricia, for organizing this; it felt healing to celebrate such brilliance and poise! And thank you Dr. Barlas for your beautiful lecture.

Thank you James and thank you for all you do to bring us into community here

Thank you everyone.

Asma, your brain will never shut down.

Thank you, Asma, for your wisdom, especially in response to this important question about strangers.

thank you James! agree

Lurker from Denver here - thank you for letting me join in this wonderful set of tributes. Asma, I see your influence in both the rigorous self-reflexivity of your former students, and in their warmth and affection for one another and for you. Many, many thanks to all the speakers and to the organizers, and warmest congratulations to you, Asma!

Yes! Thank you so much for your leadership in the creation and growth of the Center. It is where I found my home at IC. I don’t know what I would have done without it or you!

Just email me bgonzalez@ithaca.edu and we’ll set something up.

Sorry that was meant for a student.

powerful tribute and question Paula

everyone just cried

wow, thanks Noah

Or the capacity for love to exceed the limitations of our (supposed) logic.

Noah has been bringing us to good place of tears today.

Shameless plug (the piece Asma mentioned): https://honoring.asmabarlas.com/author/prof_mejias/

Thank you for sharing @Uli :)

Thank you Ulises for creating this phenomenal site and for allowing the department to benefit from this labor of love

Thanks for saying that, Jeanette. I can testify to that!

Thank you all for attending - with love the Politics Department.

kenesha thanks to YOU! for all the support always

Wait….Asma has a podcast? Someone fill me in!

Mrs Kenesha Chatman- you are a pillar of our department. Thank you for working with all of us faculty and making the department function. You are a treasure

Thank you Ulises, Patricia, Peyi, Tom, and all who organized and participated. What an enlightening and moving tribute to an extraordinary teacher, colleague, thinker, and spreader of love. It has been a privilege to witness this, as it was a privilege to be on the stand against hatred and ignorance alongside Dr. Barlas on more than one occasion. May you all fare well.

Maura!!!!

Forever thankful to Prof. Barlas for her scholarship, support and solidarity. Sending love and gratitude.

Maura!! Thank you- and for leading a charge to celebrate Asma some years ago and empower the campus. We miss you.

Thanks, Sofia, for joining at this late hour (11:30 pm in the UK)!

Couldn’t miss it, Ulises! Its been an honour and privilege to be here!

As other have said far better than I can, we are all so fortunate to have been able to learn from and with Dr. Barlas. I, myself, count myself as incredibly lucky. Thank you Dr. Barlas! Thank you to all for organizing all of this. (And greetings to the incomparable faculty of IC Dept of Politics!)

https://honoring.asmabarlas.com/

Thank you all! What a wonderful afternoon!

thank you to all the organizers for this amazing event, and to the panelists for sharing yourselves and your stories. and of course, to dr. barlas for your teachings & community. thank you

Thank you Politics Dept!