Oak Research Organization
About the Oak Research Organization (ORO)
The Oak Research Organization (ORO) aims to educate and mobilize the undergraduates of Colby as human rights activists and leaders. Through a multi-layered approach involving awareness, research, and engagement, ORO aims to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience of human rights fieldwork. After participation in ORO, students will emerge with essential tools to advance human rights advocacy around the world.
In the fall of 2011, six undergraduate students undertook ORO research projects on different groups of marginalized peoples around the world. Each student examined why and to what extent each group is marginalized and then used that information to answer a relevant research question regarding the link between human rights and poverty. At the end of the fall semester, each student wrote a 25-30 page research paper that was presented at a research symposium to the Colby community. Each paper will be published online for future use.
The 2011 ORO research team:
From left to right:
Alli Nolan – Quechuas (Bolivia)
Emma Eschweiler – Romani (Western Europe)
Kayla Lewkowicz – Berber (North Africa/France)
Jenny Sher – Uygher (China)
Katy Lindquist – Banyamulenge (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Rachel Rosenbaum – Travesti (Brazil)
Fatima Burnad – 2011 Oak Fellow (India)
Faculty Advisor – Walter Hatch
2011 ORO Presentations and Research Papers:
Podcast of Research Presentations