Inspired by tragedy, alumnus launches province-wide anti-bullying campaign

trevor.kenney — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:09:03 +0000

On what was otherwise a regular December afternoon this past year, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumnus Manwar Khan (BSc '07) witnessed a brutal event that changed his life forever.

But rather than try and put that day behind him and move on, he's using his experience as the impetus for change.

Khan, a 37-year-old father of two-year-old twins, was on the Edmonton LRT when one passenger attacked another just a few metres away and began a ruthless beating. Shocked by the savagery of the assault and the daunting task of stopping it, Khan appealed to other passengers for assistance, but no one came forward.

Although Khan desperately tried to stop the attack, one man died and the other now sits in a jail cell, awaiting trial on second-degree murder charges. Khan, with the images of that day still fresh in his mind, has launched a provincial-wide anti-bullying initiative in an effort to raise awareness of bullying and empower bystanders.

Alumnus Manwar Khan is bringing his anti-bullying campaign to the U of L campus for a Sept. 14 rally.

"Since that day, I have been haunted by that incident," he says from his Edmonton office where he works as an IT professional for Alberta Human Services. "Even when I go to bed, I think about this. When I'm in the LRT I think about it. What if I could go back to that day, what could I try differently? I can either sit here and hope that this will pass, or I can stand up and help other people by raising awareness among them to speak up against bullying. I want bullying to be stopped – period."

Khan's first anti-bullying rally was held in Edmonton on Apr. 27, with a second event staged in Calgary on May 11. He will be at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for a Sept. 14 rally at 1:30 p.m. outside the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport & Wellness.

"I want to encourage people to stand up against bullying, not just stand by," says Khan. "I thought of my own kids that day, what if something like this was happening to them, who is going to help them? People actually have the power together, they just don't know."

Khan came to study at the U of L in 2001 as an international student from Bangladesh. He met his wife, Nashid Sultana (BSc '06), on campus and looks back on his U of L experience as a springboard to the life he leads today. It also helped shape his character, something that was tested that December afternoon.

"My education at the U of L sharpened my self-awareness and moral values," he says. "These values have guided me throughout my career and now stimulate me to organize this campaign and to stand up against bullying."

His ties to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ still run deep, and Khan was pleased to welcome Dr. Bruce MacKay (liberal education) to the Edmonton rally as a guest speaker.

"He was not only a teacher to me, but he also provided some valuable advice whenever I was stressed out with academic life," says Khan.

He also credited Lesley Rode (academic advising) and Dr. Shahadat Hossain as key influences on his
U of L experience.

"Lesley was the one who guided me throughout my academic life at the U of L and was my academic mentor," says Khan. "Dr. Hossain was the one who encouraged me to enroll in the co-op program to get an understanding of the professional environment. That changed my life and led to my job in government."

Khan now has the opportunity to give back to the community he still considers as his Canadian home. It is one of awareness, understanding, empathy and strength, all attributes influenced by his time at the U of L.

"Bullying is not acceptable and there is no place for bullying in our society," he says. "Violence should never be tolerated. I want to encourage people to stand up against bullying, not only for yourself but for others."

Scholarships provide boost

trevor.kenney — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:22:25 +0000

When Faculty of Arts & Science students need help planning their academic careers, they often find their way to Lesley Rode.

An academic advisor at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge for the past 13 years, Rode gets to know students well and has come to understand the struggles they face – inspiring her to provide help above and beyond her advising role.

Lesley Rode gets great satisfaction out of helping students achieve their academic goals.

Starting as an academic advisor at Lethbridge College, Rode made the move to the U of L in 1998. More and more of the students she worked with at Lethbridge College planned to transfer to the U of L, so coming here seemed like a natural progression for her. One of the draws to the U of L for Rode was the unique student experience offered here.

"I really like the fact that students at the U of L are able to work with professors through independent studies and other unique learning opportunities," says Rode. "I see this as a real key to students finding success."

Rode revels in the opportunity to work closely with students and see them progress as they move through their academic careers. She says she has no problem being their biggest cheerleader, especially for those who may be struggling to find their way.

"I am most proud when the students with the greatest challenges complete their programs," she says. "When the students do well it's very validating, and makes you feel as though your work is really worthwhile."

Just as Rode's advising is important to students, she recognizes how important student success is to faculty and staff.

"Without students we wouldn't be here," she says. "Taking part in the Supporting Our Students campaign is a way to remind students of their valuable place here and how much we appreciate they have chosen to get their education here."

For Rode, scholarships are essential to students being able to achieve their goals.

"When students receive scholarships it's a tremendous boost to them," she says. "My hope is that scholarships can one day be given to all students. The SOS campaign is a step towards that."

For more information on Supporting Our Students, please visit www.uleth.ca/giving or call ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Advancement at 403-329-2582.

This story first appeared in the April 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Lesley Rode

Inspired by tragedy, alumnus launches province-wide anti-bullying campaign

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