Through the Lens: Power & Privilege

A look back at the 2025 Power & Privilege Symposium at Whitman College

Photography by Patrick Record and Yahir Tzec ’25

Several seated students. One wears a black T-shirt with the text "Whitman College Power and Privilege Symposium 2025"

‘Reclaiming Hope.’ Nearly 1,597 people attended this year’s Power & Privilege Symposium—with most attending multiple sessions.

Each year since 2013, Whitman College students, faculty and staff have gathered for the Power & Privilege Symposium—a unique opportunity to center important conversations about structural oppression. This year’s theme: “Reclaiming Hope: Resistance and Resilience in Action” proposed that hope can be a transformative force that empowers us to resist and rebuild.

The student body that led the Power & Privilage Symposium. Spenser Lamphear ’27, Marketing & Communications Director; Gauri Vaidya '28, Programming Co-Director; Ariadna Villavicencio ’28, Operations Co-Director; Angela Eliacy ’25, Executive Director; Vinson Russell ’28, Programming Co-Director; and Yael Hensen Anaya ’26, Operations Co-Director.

Student-led, student-centered. This year’s symposium was organized by a hardworking leadership team of students, including (from left) Spenser Lamphear ’27, Marketing & Communications Director; Gauri Vaidya '28, Programming Co-Director; Ariadna Villavicencio ’28, Operations Co-Director; Angela Eliacy ’25, Executive Director; Vinson Russell ’28, Programming Co-Director; and Yael Hensen Anaya ’26, Operations Co-Director.

The power of laughter. Featured speaker Kausar Mohammed, a queer Muslim comedian, actor, writer, and equity consultant, kicked off the symposium with “Laughter and Liberation: Comedy as a Tool of Hope” in the Reid Campus Center’s Young Ballroom on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Fatimah Hossaini presenting as students listen attentively.

‘Beauty Amidst Conflict.’ On Wednesday, Feb. 19, photographer and activist Fatimah Hossaini delivered the keynote address “Beauty Amidst Conflict—Resilience, Resistance and the Story of Women of Afghanistan Through Art.”

Whitman College guest speaker Hossaini speaking onto the crowd.

The meaning of home. Hossaini shared how she explores the diverse beauty and strength of Afghan women through her photography.

In the moment. Students listened to Hossaini’s powerful story of leaving Kabul when it fell to the Taliban in 2021 and how she became a refugee in France.

Dr. Terrell Strayhorn getting ready to deliver his speech.

Bringing community to light. On a sunny morning, Thursday, Feb. 20, educational consultant Dr. Terrell Strayhorn opened the symposium with his speech “From Me to We: Cultivating Community, Hope and Belonging” in the Reid Campus Center’s Young Ballroom.

Dr. Strayhorn taking a selfie with a group of students.

Savoring the moment. Speaking to a packed audience just days after his father’s death, Dr. Strayhorn spoke about the value of preserving important moments and paused to take pictures with the crowd of students, staff and faculty.

Dr. Strayhorn’s sharing stories, song, and practical advice on creating community and making “belonging renovations” on campus.

Whitman College students enojying the speech of Dr. Strayhorn.

Building belonging from the ground up. Dr. Strayhorn’s speech was energetic and hopeful, as he shared stories, song, and practical advice on creating community and making “belonging renovations” on campus.

With the symposium officially opened, the Whitman community spent the rest of Thursday diving deeper into student-led presentations and workgroups across campus in sessions touching on politics, racism, gender, the environment and much more—including a special session by guest speaker, astrophysicist and science communicator Kihana Wilson.

Image of the Whitman College community breaking into groups and discussing.

Students at the Whitman College Power & Privilege Symposium asking questoins to presenters.

Presenters at the Whitman College Power & Privilege Symposium.

Whitman College student presenters at the Power & Privilege Symposium.

Whitman College Students talking after the presentation.

Presenters at the 2025 Whitman College Power & Privilege Symposium.

Whitman College students at the "How Routes get Named and the Debate around Renaming."

Whitman College student presenting at the Power & Privilege Symposium.

Whitman College students engage in conversation before the presentation.

Thank you to the leadership team, guest speakers, volunteers and participants who made this year’s Power & Privilege Symposium a success.