Campus needs decision on diversity to be a unified one
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Opinion
The Student Government Association last Thursday, Oct. 29 amended its constitution and adopted diversity training for students that receive a stipend.
This will guarantee that all staff members will have at least some training in how to be more sensitive toward minority groups on campus.
Current members of SGA have also agreed to take diversity training this year as well.
SGA President Nick Barcio recommended that all SGA sponsored organizations make such a change.
But there's an ethical dilemma with the idea of the asking the groups to change at this point in time. With GA agreeing to make such a change, other groups will undoubtedly follow suit.
Barcio said SGA won't mandate it yet, but will see if other groups adopt the plan first.
But by recommending such a plan could be perceived as a type of "punishment" in the wake of The Rocket controversy.
Discussions of SGA amending its constitution to include diversity training started after the publishing of a controversial "K Chronicles" cartoon on Sept. 18. Afterward some students on campus raised the issue of racial sensitivity. The idea of SGA sponsored groups undergoing diversity training isn't punishment itself.
Anyone who partakes in such an activity will only benefit from the experience.
It's an opportunity for people to learn about other cultures in a safe environment.
If SGA decided to mandate it so every group had to change its constitution to undergo diversity training, there'd be a perception that any controversy a student sponsored group may go through, no matter what the issue, may be accompanied by a fallout of people trying to cover themselves.
What happens if another one of these controversies happens after all the students go through diversity training?
A few classes in diversity training can't encompass everything a student needs to know about diversity.
Some of the best education in diversity students can receive is by challenging themselves to go to different events on-campus that push their comfort zone. For example, in Communication Concepts, students are encouraged to go to an event where they may be a minority.
This will guarantee that all staff members will have at least some training in how to be more sensitive toward minority groups on campus.
Current members of SGA have also agreed to take diversity training this year as well.
SGA President Nick Barcio recommended that all SGA sponsored organizations make such a change.
But there's an ethical dilemma with the idea of the asking the groups to change at this point in time. With GA agreeing to make such a change, other groups will undoubtedly follow suit.
Barcio said SGA won't mandate it yet, but will see if other groups adopt the plan first.
But by recommending such a plan could be perceived as a type of "punishment" in the wake of The Rocket controversy.
Discussions of SGA amending its constitution to include diversity training started after the publishing of a controversial "K Chronicles" cartoon on Sept. 18. Afterward some students on campus raised the issue of racial sensitivity. The idea of SGA sponsored groups undergoing diversity training isn't punishment itself.
Anyone who partakes in such an activity will only benefit from the experience.
It's an opportunity for people to learn about other cultures in a safe environment.
If SGA decided to mandate it so every group had to change its constitution to undergo diversity training, there'd be a perception that any controversy a student sponsored group may go through, no matter what the issue, may be accompanied by a fallout of people trying to cover themselves.
What happens if another one of these controversies happens after all the students go through diversity training?
A few classes in diversity training can't encompass everything a student needs to know about diversity.
Some of the best education in diversity students can receive is by challenging themselves to go to different events on-campus that push their comfort zone. For example, in Communication Concepts, students are encouraged to go to an event where they may be a minority.
Comments which include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use, privacy policies, or any other policies governing this site at the time of posting. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. Abuse of this feature may lead to the termination of your account or complete removal of this feature. Your posting of content on this website indicates acceptance of these rules. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Terry
posted 11/09/09 @ 4:39 PM EST
Forcing people to be trained on how to be more sensitive towards minority groups (so they can get money). This is what is wrong with our country, everyone feels they need to be special and treated as such! All people and groups are free to believe in what they want and practice their beliefs as a person or group. (Continued…)
Butch Oxendine
posted 11/12/09 @ 2:09 PM EST
Most public institution Student Government officers are compensated for serving in student government. But ASGA isnt aware of any other student governments that require "diversity training" to receive the compensation. (Continued…)
Post a Comment