Collins LLC conference promotes diversity education

Junior Alise Perry defined diversity as “people of different races, social classes and religions coming together for a common purpose” Saturday at Collins Living-Learning Center’s “Making Sense of Diversity” conference. \nThe goal of the conference, organized by CommUNITY educator Brittany Gause, was to promote education and consideration of diversity and related issues. About 20 people came to the event, which was comprised of five parts. Each part corresponded to one of the five senses.\nThe event started with discussions at each table about how everyone viewed the subject of diversity. On the key to handling diversity issues, Perry pointed to “education, programs like this where people are talking ... that’s the key.”\nThe first session, “FEELING your way out of the box,” was run by Ashton Center CommUNITY educator Rosalina Elliott. First, Elliott asked attendees where they get their news. She then told them to rate themselves on how much they knew about their own culture as well as other ones.\nThe two teams then competed to answer questions about different religions, countries and history. Some people were surprised at how much they knew; most were not surprised at how much they didn’t.\nNext came “SEEING privilege,” when participants played “crossing the line,” in which participants stood on one side of the room. CommUNITY educators Erin Norton and Drew Stecklemann would then read a description, such as “you are a feminist,” “you have been discriminated against for your sexual orientation” or “you consider yourself middle-class.” If someone agreed with the statement, he or she crossed to the other side.\n“I feel (the discussions were) when people were most able to learn from the program,” Gause said, adding that she felt people were very open and not afraid to share their opinions. \n“I enjoy listening to people talk about diversity ... it’s really beneficial to the university,” said sophomore Janis Crawford.\nBaklava was served for dessert at lunch, which was titled “A TASTE of something new.” The pastry is popular in Turkey and Greece and generally consists of phyllo dough wrapped around nuts, honey and spices, then drenched in syrup.\nAfter lunch, Gause led a panel discussion entitled “LISTENING to change,” with Janet Hamilton, Omair Ali and Nessa Feinstein. Hamilton is president of Collins, Ali is the Muslim Student Union public relations representative and Feinstein is involved with the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center.\nGause ended the conference with “Do I SMELL fear?,” during which she encouraged attendees to examine their own feelings and confront any fears they may have. She also asked that they work to stimulate diversity, even if only in small ways.\n“Because it’s a big campus ... it is too easy to get isolated from what’s going on outside IU,” Hamilton said.\nThe panelists agreed that college students are often too afraid to move out of their own comfort zone or clique.\n“It’s a death of curiosity,” Feinstein said.