Breaking Barriers: CASS Extends Academia Through DisCASSion

Veering away from the notion of isolated academia, the College of Arts and Social Sciences featured a research gallery on Indigenous People (IP) Studies for students through DisCASSion on Indigenous Methodologies in Ethnohistorical and Language Studies, held at MSU-IIT PRISM on October 23, 2023.

The program underscored scholarly conversations, particularly on research works immersed in indigenous people, that contribute to the representation and understanding of the community. Furthermore, it explored ethical considerations in data elicitations, such as building a rapport grounded on cultural sensitivity.

“I already had an understanding in my mind of how many there could be [indigenous people], but seeing this list of communities as well as visual aids/proof really opened my mind up more, and my initial understanding wasn’t even half of what there could actually be,” expressed 2nd-year sociology major, Marxlen Sumondong on how informative the discussion was. In a written interview, she emphasized her experience engaging with the program as “enjoyable” due to the meaningful talks shared during the parallel session.

Meanwhile, plenary speakers of the DisCASSion include Dr. Jay Alovera of the Department of Sociology, Dr. Marjorie Almario-Magdadaro of the Department of History, Assoc. Prof. Honeylet Dumoran of the Department of English, and from the Department of Filipino and Other Languages, Dr. Danilyn Abingosa and Ms. Beverly Joy Mejos.

The endeavor was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research Enterprise (OVCRE), Mindanao Heritage and Indigenous Research Center (MHIRC), Center of Language Studies (CLaS), MSU-IIT Center for Culture and Arts, Department of History through its project Pasundayag, and MSU-IIT Historical Society (MIHS).

Graced by the Vice Chancellor for Student Services, Dr. Rohane M. Derogongan, and the Acting Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Sittie Noffaisah B. Pasandalan, the program is only one among the slate of initiatives in line with the university’s celebration of Indigenous People’s Month.