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Engaging Student Staff in Social Justice Education. Amanda Thompson & Chris Reghetti-Feyler Ohio University Department of Residence Life. Quick Overview of Ohio University. 7825 students living in the 41 Residence Halls (2005-06) 186 Resident Assistants 27 Security Aides
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Engaging Student Staff in Social Justice Education Amanda Thompson & Chris Reghetti-Feyler Ohio University Department of Residence Life
Quick Overview of Ohio University • 7825 students living in the 41 Residence Halls (2005-06) • 186 Resident Assistants • 27 Security Aides • 40 Professional Staff members • 253 Staff members total
Diversity Climate at OU • Vision Ohio • Diversity is one of four main priorities set forth by President McDavis • Focusing on National Prominence, Partnerships, and Resources • Division of Student Affairs • Potentially moving to National Coalition Building Institute as standard diversity education model
Departmental Goals • Tolerance • Living/Learning • Human Devleopment • Community
Paraprofessional Class • 5 part series about diversity issues • Incorporates theory and activity • Two projects centering on social justice issues • Voice Project • Community Service Project
Diversity Day • Conference-style • Two inceptions: • Focusing on specific “ISMs” • Focusing on broader topics, i.e. Language, History, etc. • Why did we begin this type of education strategy?
Diversity Day—Some Thoughts from Staff • “Really made you think about what was important” • “The session made me think about language in a way I hadn’t” • “It was very engaging and educational” • “Liked that they didn’t’ just focus on “isms” but broad topics!”
Departmental In-services • Purpose: to create a common diversity education experience for staff • Examples: • Paul Ruesesabagina: Genocide in Rwanda • Diane Gilliam Fisher: Classism and Coal Mines • Passages: Readings about Women’s Lives
Focusing on Professional Staff • Began formalized efforts in Fall 2004 • Examples: Brother, Outsider; Spinning into Butter, Trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Focusing On Paraprofessional Staff • Diversity Book Club In-service • i.e. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, How the Garcia Girls Lost their Accents, etc. • Individual Resident Directors’ Efforts
Recognizing Staff Diversity Efforts • Cards from the Diversity Team • Diversity Programming Recognition Reception • Diversity Bulletin Board Contest
Areas for Growth • Focusing on professional staff • Reaching students through our efforts • Assessment
Roundtable • Comments or questions about our efforts • What are you doing on your campus?
Paraprofessional Class Diversity Curriculum Tolerance Day Information Departmental In-Service Information Examples of some diversity efforts by RDs Residential Learning Community Info Miscellaneous Information What’s on Your Disc
Amanda Thompson 740-597-5277 thompsa2@ohio.edu Chris Reghett-Feyler 740-597-5956 reghetti@ohio.edu Presenters’ Contact Information