2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial
Respect and Responsibility Workshop lacks messages
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
First-year students encounter several new things upon entering the hallowed halls of SCSU.
Their first Garvey meal, their first day and night spent in a dorm, their first college class and test - their first minor consumption ticket, perhaps?
In addition to all of those firsts, incoming freshmen and transfer students must also take part in the Respect and Responsibility Workshop, a mandatory two-hour session meant to educate students about various topics of diversity.
Students usual reaction upon finding out they must attend the event is a groan or moan and a begrudging acceptance of the fact.
Why does the univeristy expect students to attend this workshop? To allow a shift in blame when the GLBT flag disappears, twice?
To allow a shift in blame when a female (or male) student is sexually assaulted on campus? To allow the university to declare to parents of future students and victims of hate crimes the university cares so much it requires a session on respect and responsibility?
It's difficult to talk with the incoming freshman and not feel pity for some, for their lack of understanding of how the world works outside their hometowns. For some of them, the R & R Workshop is their first encounter with a very open talk about rape, domestic violence, GLBT rights and cultural acceptance.
A mass symposium with the intent of educating some who are ignorant to being more tolerant of peoples' differences is hardly the answer.
Young students working on easing into the college life are already uncomfortable in their own skin, let alone hearing about sexual predators next to their newly found peers.
The idea behind the workshop is profound, but even so, comments made by students about the workshop before and after are of little recognition to any growth in maturity or tolerance the workshop aims to provide.
The setting for the workshop is not the way to educate ignorant masses.
Take into consideration the maturity level of those attending and their experience and knowledge of the topics.
Bring them into a small group setting perhaps as part of the required CMST class. Utilize the same resources: volunteers from GLBT, the Women's Center and the well filmed video.
Have a speaker do exercises in learning about ourselves and those around us - but do it in a way that is meaningful.
Give those who are so embarrassed they make it a mockery a chance to learn and grow from the experience.
Their first Garvey meal, their first day and night spent in a dorm, their first college class and test - their first minor consumption ticket, perhaps?
In addition to all of those firsts, incoming freshmen and transfer students must also take part in the Respect and Responsibility Workshop, a mandatory two-hour session meant to educate students about various topics of diversity.
Students usual reaction upon finding out they must attend the event is a groan or moan and a begrudging acceptance of the fact.
Why does the univeristy expect students to attend this workshop? To allow a shift in blame when the GLBT flag disappears, twice?
To allow a shift in blame when a female (or male) student is sexually assaulted on campus? To allow the university to declare to parents of future students and victims of hate crimes the university cares so much it requires a session on respect and responsibility?
It's difficult to talk with the incoming freshman and not feel pity for some, for their lack of understanding of how the world works outside their hometowns. For some of them, the R & R Workshop is their first encounter with a very open talk about rape, domestic violence, GLBT rights and cultural acceptance.
A mass symposium with the intent of educating some who are ignorant to being more tolerant of peoples' differences is hardly the answer.
Young students working on easing into the college life are already uncomfortable in their own skin, let alone hearing about sexual predators next to their newly found peers.
The idea behind the workshop is profound, but even so, comments made by students about the workshop before and after are of little recognition to any growth in maturity or tolerance the workshop aims to provide.
The setting for the workshop is not the way to educate ignorant masses.
Take into consideration the maturity level of those attending and their experience and knowledge of the topics.
Bring them into a small group setting perhaps as part of the required CMST class. Utilize the same resources: volunteers from GLBT, the Women's Center and the well filmed video.
Have a speaker do exercises in learning about ourselves and those around us - but do it in a way that is meaningful.
Give those who are so embarrassed they make it a mockery a chance to learn and grow from the experience.