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

ToleranceLiving/LearningHuman DevleopmentCommunity

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

Bulletin Board Contest—A winner

Bulletin Board Contest—A winner

Bulletin Board Contest—A winner

Bulletin Board Contest—A winner

Bulletin Board Contest—A winner

Bulletin Board Contest—A winner

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?

What’s on Your Disc

Paraprofessional Class Diversity Curriculum

Tolerance Day Information

Departmental In-Service Information

Examples of some diversity efforts by RDs

Residential Learning Community Info

Miscellaneous Information

Presenters’ Contact Information

Amanda Thompson740-597-5277thompsa2@ohio.edu

Chris Reghett-Feyler740-597-5956reghetti@ohio.edu