WARTBURG TRADITIONS

1. WARTBURG TRADITIONS

2. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Agenda • Welcome/Diversity Activity • Review Goals of Project RESPECT • Ground Rules for Training • What is a Safe Space? • What is an Ally? • Identity Development • Stages of Community Inclusion • Taking it to the Streets

3. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Why are we here? • Goals of Project RESPECT: • Create safe spaces within the residence halls for students of all backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. • Help establish venues, where through dialogue students are free to express their opinions and beliefs in a safe environment. • Educate and empower our students and leaders to not accept just mere tolerance. • Encourage students to integrate the knowledge gained from this program into their sense of self. • Prepare students to serve as an advocate and role model for RESPECT within the many communities of which they are a part.

4. WARTBURG TRADITIONS What is a safe space? • There are some under-represented groups on campus who may not be visible; it is equally difficult to determine who will support them • Safe spaces are designed locations where students can feel safe and supported without fear of judgment. • Supportive faculty, staff, administrators, and students on college campuses and within various communities prominently and non-verbally illustrate that they are a safe contact for all diverse students.

5. WARTBURG TRADITIONS What is an ally? • A safe person to be around • Has good intentions that can be seen and felt. • Doesn't depend on just one person to represent an entire group. • Can hear a variety of opinions within a group or community. • Can see the similarities and differences between all people and other forms of oppression. • Is consistently supportive. • Is beyond tolerant; s/he is supportive, understanding, and accepting. • Celebrates others. • Is not expecting rewards or forgiveness. • Is not motivated by guilt. • Is willing to admit s/he doesn't know everything. • Knows when to speak up, and when not to. • Is comfortable with people assuming that they identify with a minority group or have a minority human circumstance.

6. WARTBURG TRADITIONS An ally is… • Visible Support - Safe Zone - Role Model - Someone who combats any type of ISM. An ally can be… • Activist - Speaker-Educator An ally is not… • Expert on Issues - Counselor - Spokesperson for all

7. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Ally Theory – Levels of Involvement • Awareness - aware of who you are and how you are different from and similar to all people • Knowledge/Education - acquire knowledge about all human characteristics, conditions, and circumstances and what the experience is for all oppressed people in the world • Skills - using the knowledge that you have learned. Attending workshops, developing support connections, etc. help develop skills • Action - most frightening step; there are many challenges and liabilities for privileged groups in taking actions to end oppression of less privileged people. 

8. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Celebrating Diversity vs. Multiculturalism Too often, multicultural efforts toward inclusion in college and university campuses focus on surface-level programs on celebrating diversity. While these are important and contributive programs, they do not approach the ultimate goal of multiculturalism--to ensure that all members of a community are provided equitable safety, comfort, and voice.

9. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Cass Model of Coming Out • Identity Confusion • See self as member of mainstream group. • Denial of inner feelings. • Who am I? • Am I different?

10. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Cass Model of Coming Out • Identity Comparison • Begin to come out of the “fog.” • Maybe I am gay. • I’m alone. • What are gay people like?

11. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Cass Model of Coming Out • Identity Tolerance • Encounter someone or something that breaks through the denial system. • I accept the possibility that I may be gay. • Looking for gay contacts.

12. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Cass Model of Coming Out • Identity Pride • Feel arrogance/pride in new identity and deep rage toward majority culture. • May adopt/heighten stereotypical behaviors or characteristics. • (i.e. “I’m different and proud of it!”) • May isolate self from mainstream values and activities. • I am proud to be gay. • I don’t (and won’t) pass for straight.

13. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Cass Model of Coming Out • Identity Synthesis • Acceptance and integration of new identity. • May go through five stages of grief to let go of old identity • and all advantages of heterosexual privilege. • Internalize pride/positive feelings about identity. • Typically is “out” (with friends, family, at work). • More at peace with self. • I am an okay person who happens to be gay

14. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Gorski’s Stages of Community Inclusion • Exclusion - no thought or consideration to diversity or multiculturalism • Heroes and Holidays Programming - design individual programs to "celebrate" diversity. These programs are often built around holidays or celebratory months such as Black History Month or Women's History Month • Representational Inclusion Programming - my programs transcend surface-level cultural celebrations to focus on serious issues including racism, sexism, and heterosexism/homophobia

15. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Gorski’s Stages of Community Inclusion (continued) • Participatory Inclusion Programming - programs are designed to engage the residents themselves in dialogues about the issues, concerns, prejudices, stereotypes, and oppressions that affect the community • Equity and Social Justice - determination to provide a safe, comfortable, equitable experience for ALL people, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic class, (dis)ability, first language, gender, sexual orientation, or any other social or cultural identifier; become proactive instead of reactive

16. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Project RESPECT Allies Need: • a clear understanding of the goals of Project RESPECT and the reason for committing to those goals • the ability to create warmth between themselves and students as a personal and genuine connection • the ability to 'interview' a student to determine what that student needs and how best to help them meet their goals • the ability to give constructive feedback to students and to help them facilitate their own problem-solving process by fostering their sense of independence • the ability to manage themselves - to be aware of their own needs, goals and support structures • a willingness to learn from their own experiences, the program, other Allies and their students

17. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Project RESPECT Guidelines: • Discuss issues of confidentiality with your students in terms that the student can understand. While it is important to keep things private, you also need the option of being able to talk to someone about your Ally experience. • Have reasonable expectations of the student you are working with as an Ally. • Acknowledge their achievements - positive encouragement is a much stronger motivation than criticism. • Remember to respect other people's opinions, ideas and cultures, even though they may be divergent from your own. Tolerance and open mindedness are challenges you can meet. • You cannot solve all your mentee's problems and that's not your job. You can help them, guide them and make recommendations but you are not their fairy godmother! • Be careful when establishing your relationship with students, you want them to go to you for guidance but not become dependent. • Always be positive - try to avoid using negative phrases. 'Don't call me after ten' can be reworded to 'I'm here for you but please call before ten' or 'I'm not your tutor' can become 'I can help you hook into the Study Skills Center' • Remember this is not a normal social interaction, you will have to take the initiative and work hard to maintain the relationship.

18. WARTBURG TRADITIONS Campus Resources Organizations: • Alcohol Wisdom and Real Education (AWARE) - Stephanie Newsom, adviser, ext. 8596 • Alliance – Chris Knudson, adviser, ext. 8580 • Amnesty International - Dr. Joyce Boss, adviser, ext. 8223 • Black Student Union - Krystal Madlock, adviser, ext. 8434 • Campus Ministry Board - Rev. Ramona Bouzard, Rev. Larry Trachte, advisers, ext. 8234 • International Club - Kevin Roiseland, adviser, ext. 8220 • Sexual Misconduct and Assault Resource Team (SMART) - Stephanie Newsom, adviser, ext. 8596 • Students for Peace and Justice - Dr. Ed Westin, adviser, ext. 8397 Project RESPECT Committee: Dr. Deb Loers, Student Life Rev. Ramona Bouzard, Campus Ministry Dr. Penni Pier, Communication Arts Dr. Susan Vallem, Social Work Mary Dorman, Information Technology Services Sarah Glascock, Director of Campus Programming Chris Knudson, Information Technology Services Krystal Madlock, Student Life Stephanie Newsom, Student Life