Transforming students and community through experiential diversity education

1
Transforming students and community through
experiential diversity education

• Assistant Professor Helen Moll
• Montreal Miller
• Shelley Schaefferkoetter
• Marian College

2
Marian at a Glance

• Fond du Lac Wisconsin (population 40,000)
• Private Catholic college (Sisters of St. Agnes)
• ACT scores 20.2
• Tuition 15,500 Room and board 5, 240
• Total enrollment 2,918 Full time undergraduate
  1,319, Graduate 919

3
Marian continued

• Gender 30.1 men, 69.9 women
• 87 Caucasian
• Applied liberal arts (Nursing, education,
  social work, administration of justice, business)

4
How it all started- 1999

• Hate Crime occurred to a student on campus
• Junior level social work students asked to do a
  class project about this event
• Planned a diversity Rally within 2 weeks
• Included legislators, city council members
• Walk with signs, speakers, t-shirts

5
Reactions

• Why are you (a white student) doing this?
• Students of color started to seek out the
  students planning the event
• Students of color afraid to come to the event
• Students planning had to take safety precautions
• College started a diversity task force

6
Campus Diversity activities

• Diversity week celebration
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration
• Afghan refugee camp
• Black History Month activities
• Womens History Month activities
• Shantytown experience
• Black Holocaust museum field trip
• Campus Climate Survey
• Climate Focus groups
• Class projects

7
Activities continued

• Mix it up day
• Diversity Study Circles
• 1 credit class Social Perspectives on Diversity
• Workforce development Conference (Spring 2003)
• Student Social work association sponsored a
  candle light walk to protest a Hate Crime (spring
  2001)

8
Presentations during diversity week

• Always open and close with these two events
• Opening ceremony (different faith traditions)
• International night (20-25 countries)

9
Presentations continued

• Oneida Pow-wow
• Succeeding with disabilities
• Racism our unfinished agenda
• Diversity and the workforce of tomorrow
• Aging and the elderly
• Religions of the world
• From all nations they come dancing

10
Presentations continued

• Globalism Business and Politics
• Envisioning a multicultural resource center
• Creating a safe place for all
• Courage to explore - an interactive childrens
  center
• Re-inventing gender
• Healing the Wounds of Racism through dialogue and
  partnership

11
Presentations continued

• The African Drums are calling
• Native American storytelling
• Challenge of women in politics
• A safe place for all - Homophobia and its
  impactus all
• Video and panel discussion Coming out
• A musical journey Growing Nation
• A Glimpse of the Global Village through the eyes
  of Hispanic and Latino Americans

12
Presentations continued

• An evening of poetry with Elece Kunungra McKnight
  (Zimbabwe poet)
• Unheard voices Living in a post 9/11 America
  (international students)

13
Results

• Certificate of commendation from Governor (2000)
• Proclamation from city council (2000)
• Spawned community grassroots groups
• Increased knowledge and exposure to different
  groups
• Discussion of expanding international night
• Students taking responsibility for planning events

14
Martin Luther King Jr. day activities

• National speakers (Bob Zellner, Dr. Cain Hope
  Felder)
• Community potluck and worship service
• Breakfast (community leaders)
• Community celebration with reflection and music

15
Community Groups

• United for Diversity (Peacefest)
• Communities First (ministerial)
• We welcome diversity (united for diversity, FDL
  newspaper)
• Ebony Vision

16
Projects used in community practice class

• Diversity Rally
• Campus Climate Survey
• Campus focus groups on diversity (2000)
• Community Needs assessment focus group
  facilitation
• Community diversity assessment
• Diversity week community projects
• Diversity week special group presentation
• Diversity week same sex marriage presentation

17
Climate Survey Results

• Majority of students experienced or observed one
  or more incidents reflecting insensitivity to
  diversity at some time
• Insensitivity is frequently seen in humor or
  jokes
• Sexual preference is the area where greatest
  insensitivity is shown, followed by race and
  gender

18
Results continued

• Many freshman appear unaware of efforts being
  taken by the College to support diversity
• Few admitted responsibility for overt acts of
  discrimination, although 1/3 admitted to
  spreading rumors that reinforce prejudiced
  attitudes
• Problems of interracial tension most often in
  residence halls, followed by classrooms and
  student center

19
Results continued

• Among the negative consequences reported,
  although not a frequent event, 1in 5 admitted
  fearing reactions of others at some point, 1 in 7
  have attempted to hide or minimize aspects of
  their culture, and 1 in 15 have feared for their
  personal safety as a group member at some time

20
Focus Group Questions

• Which statement about diversity (tolerance versus
  acceptance and celebration) did you choose and
  why?
• What are some positive things about diversity
• What are some negative things about diversity
• Which groups would be least likely to be accepted
  here? Why?

21
Questions continued

• Which groups would you have the hardest/easiest
  time welcoming?
• Do you feel included/accepted on campus
• (FDL)? What are some examples of being accepted
  or not accepted?

22
Results

• Students had different views of tolerance and
  acceptance
• Because your tolerate, youre open minded and you
  accept. With all that comes respect
• Diverse students need to make the first move and
  then others will accept them

23
Reflections from studentsneeds assessment focus
group

• Focus group made me feel the pain of the people
  in the group
• Embarrassed that I was white
• Powerful and valuable experience
• Grown from the experience
• I will never forget what these individuals said
• Have lived a very sheltered life

24
Reflections continued

• Eye opening experience
• One of the most enriching experiences of my life
• Helped me grow personally
• Really opened my eyes
• Never realized this was a problem
• I was shocked at what came out of their mouths

25
Reflections continued

• Actually embarrassed to be a white person
• Most informative project
• Most rewarding project
• Could feel my stomach turn

26
Reflections on Homophobia presentation

• Learned how homophobia affects everyone
• Presentation an excellent idea
• Students that were forced to go still got
  something out of it
• Presentations were discussed in classes and
  brought a lot of new ideas and concepts to
  individuals

27
Reflections continued

• Events touched something deep inside and gave me
  the strength to share one of my deepest hidden
  feelings
• One of the quotes broke my heart and left me in
  silence