PowerPoint Presentation

The Multi-Racial Unity Living ExperienceGlobal Learning, 20122013Assessing Progress & Improving Practice

Jeanne Gazel, PhD.Amy Franklin Craft, PhDJordyn Bussey, MRULE, IDS (2014)

BackgroundIn August of 2014, MRULE will be 18 years old, the life of an incoming college student. From its inception we have refined several key pedagogical approaches. It was designed to ensure students gain consistent practice at studying social reality, acting in the world to improve social conditions and reflecting on that action to further study, act and reflect. The goal is to develop competencies around an informed practice. It was designed around three pillars: Social Justice, Human Agency and Action Research.

MRULE ComponentsWeekly Round Table DiscussionsWeekly Community Service/Engagement Monthly SocialsSemester Community Building TripStudent Leadership/Peer Education supported by academic rigor and accountability to mission. The goal

MRULE Mission(MRULE) offers students in Residence Halls and beyond opportunities to increase knowledge and understanding of what they can do to contribute to positive race relations in their lives and their communities. It provides students from all backgrounds a unique forum to come together. Through open and frank discussions on controversial issues, informative presentations, interactive exercises and a variety of experiences that encourage the development of genuine friendships, students create and cultivate the experience of multiracial unity. They learn through action the concept of unity and diversity, while developing leadership skills that give them an edge on working and thriving in diverse environmentsMRULE 2012-2013 End of Year EvaluationQualitative and Quantitative ResultsN = 98Neighborhood Participation

1%48%Gender, N = 99; Race/Ethnicity, N = 94Class Level, N=93; Semesters, N=94; RTDs, N=95 *Other Includes: bulletin board, Dr. Jeanne Gazel, MAGIC, Sparticipation, and walk in. N =97*Other Includes:

Critical thinkingDifferent types of discussion with members of the neighborhoodFamilyFUNIntellectually stimulating late night discussionsLearning about people and things that are different from the customs that I practice (SIC)Making friendsPersonal GrowthThe love

N=96; 502 ResponsesN=94; Presented as %ISS 315ISSWRAAll Science CoursesIAHSOC 215SOC 131ISS 210SOC 216ISS 335TE 250HST 311TE 150WRA 125

ESA 324ISS 215IAH 231PHL 200ISB 202CCP 231URA 130Madison CoursesIAH 202MC 325IAH 211Economics CoursesMC 380FW 211

WRA 150WRA 130ESL 220ISS 330IAH 207LINANP 201MC 221NSC 100ISS 220Environmental Issues SeminarMC 280SW 201Course examples given:How helpful was MRULE in assisting you to communicate and interact with diverse audiences?This helped me more easily approach someone of another ethnicity. Brody ParticipantIt gives me the opportunity to ask questions about things I was already curious about. South ParticipantMRULE Community Building Trip This was the most diverse group of people I have ever interacted with! Brody ParticipantI liked the people in meetings, but late night helped me more. East ParticipantBefore attending MRULE I didnt interact with different audiences. South ParticipantN=95How helpful was MRULE in assisting you to engage in genuine relationships with people from different backgrounds and perspectives?MRULE gave me the opportunity to meet people. I did the rest. South ParticipantI met people from my hall and all of Brody Neighborhood through MRULE. Brody ParticipantThe family that I have made in MRULE are some of the most genuine friendships that I have ever made. East ParticipantI am open to having conversations with language barriers. East Participant The LBGT topic helped me talk to my friends who go through these issues. East Participant N=95How helpful was MRULE in developing your capacity to actively listen and dialogue with people from different backgrounds and perspectives?Usually I am always talking so this made me step back and listen. Brody Participant I became a better listener because Ive become more interested in what others have to say. Brody ParticipantIve been involved in the Superwoman group, and was able to use MRULE knowledge to improve and augment my comments. South ParticipantFirst, I get to practice my English. Second, the students in MRULE are friendly, which gives me courage to talk with them. East ParticipantN=96How helpful was MRULE in assisting you to recognize commonalities among people of different cultures?I already appreciated different cultures and diversity. East ParticipantWhen we talked about problems weve faced as individuals I was able to relate to more people than I thought. South ParticipantI could actually realize we are all people and these are human issues. South ParticipantI met people from all over the world that love to help other people. East ParticipantWhen we talked about problems weve faced as individuals I was able to relate to more people than I thought. Brody ParticipantN=96How helpful was MRULE in assisting you to recognize differences and nuance among people within common cultures?I learned this growing up, but I didnt have the terminology to describe it before college and MRULE. East ParticipantIt actually heightened my ability to perceive religious differences in people seeming very socially similar. Brody ParticipantThe LBGT day, when people of the same race were on different sides shows how grounded this is. South ParticipantOpinions arent restricted to cultures. South Participant N=94How helpful was MRULE in assisting you to recognize implicit and explicit forms of power and privilege?Male privilege/misogynistic culture. We teach dont get raped instead of dont rape. Brody ParticipantIt reinforced common knowledge (for me) about poverty. East ParticipantI learned some from the discussion, but I still need to learn more about privilege. South ParticipantThe bootstraps game really helped with this. Brody ParticipantComing into MRULE I wasnt aware of implicit and explicit power and privilege as scholarly terms. South ParticipantN=96Was your participation in MRULE influential in changing/challenging your attitudes and beliefs?N=94How helpful was MRULE in your personal development (learning, critical thinking, self-understanding)?I was provided the opportunity to reflect on my experiences getting to MSU and also how I interact with my peers. Brody Participant Talking about a different issue each week really made me consider my own reaction to each issue, and I learned a lot about myself that way. South ParticipantIm still working on it, but this has helped with my stereotyping and judgment of others. South ParticipantIt helped me realize that my beliefs were not the only right beliefs and that as I become more aware of the world my perception changes. East ParticipantN=93How helpful was MRULE in increasing your awareness on various topics?I try to keep up to date on the news anyways, but coming to MRULE helps too. Brody ParticipantI find myself looking up global issues everyday due to the discussions presented in MRULE. East Participant

I learned a lot about the cycle of poverty. I thought I knew it all, but theres so much more. East Participant

Learning about the prison industrial complex completely made me rethink my life. South Participant

N=94How helpful was MRULE in increasing your openness to different beliefs and opinions?I was aware of why people stood behind something, which gave me a better understanding of the issues. Brody ParticipantMy openness hasnt changed, but my understanding has! South ParticipantThis has particularly helped me regarding the topic of race. South ParticipantThe LBGT program really opened my eyes. East Participant N=93ICA 2012-2013 End of Year Evaluation of MRULEQualitative and Quantitative Results*Rating on a scale of 1(Strongly Disagree) 5(Strongly Agree)

It really allows you to get more of an in-depth look at how your residents may think about certain situations because sometimes you just assume people feel a certain way about a situation, but really in a lot of instances it turns out to be the exact opposite. This can present educational opportunities for both Aides and students. Participation in MRULE has been helpful by presenting me with ideas and approaches for programming and event planning that my team has been able to use, as well as other groups Ive been involved in throughout West Circle. Due to my neighborhood not having an MRULE meeting held within it, it has been challenging to get residents to attend, although I feel that many of them would have benefited from attending.It gives me a great venue to meet students of great diversity and allows me to connect with them in a cultural setting. This amplifies what we do as aides.N=50MRULEs policy of keeping it in the middle, I feel, hinders a lot of the learning when it comes to communicating with residents. When you keep it in the middle it usually doesnt allow you to address certain issues with a student and doesnt promote ownership of your statements.I was able to communicate with my peers before attending MRULE, but I think it has helped me communicate differently, in that I am able to ask people why they think the way they do about certain matters.MRULE has done less of assisting me in communicating with my peers and more of providing me with situations and a venue where communication is easier and less awkward for some residents. In the halls some residents might not want to be that open but when there is a discussion topic I found they open up more.I think it provided me with a bank of knowledge that was not something you can read in a book; it was life experience and research on topics that I wouldnt have googled. This gave me an edge when engaging in a discussion.N=52Yes, because MRULE elaborates on differences, more than T&D, so what you dont learn from T&D MRULE provides another opportunity to teach you.This has been the greatest thing MRULE has given me. It has fostered a way for me to learn how to approach differences and have educated conversations about differences as well as have conversations with individuals that are different from myself.It has definitely given me more practice or a platform for expressing my feelings fluidly as well as step out of my comfort zone and really understand how to have difficult conversations with residents without making it uncomfortable for myself or the resident.Before MRULE I had a pretty good idea of how to cross-culturally communicate. After having attended many MRULEs I feel not so much more competent in how to communicate this way, but I feel more comfortable doing so.N=51Most of the MRULE programs have enlightened me on many issues including health, health care, human rights, the prison industrial complex, and different worldly laws. All these issues have helped me become more informed in a plethora of subjects. I feel like I can participate in more discussion that happen with friends and even in classes where I am able to give input and provide meaningful commentary.Most of the issues that are brought up in MRULE I already know about, but the meetings help me expand on what these topics mean to my life.We spoke about many different topics and issues that I was not even aware existed in our world. Going to MRULE has helped me become more well rounded and an informed individual about issues that are affecting me everyday and I didnt even know it.MRULE brings up fresh topics where I am presented with new information and encouraged to develop my own ideas about it.N=52Engagement Center Data 2012-2013BrodyEastSouthTotalFirst Year Count186541124% of class14.5%52.4%33.1%100.0%% within Neighborhood28.1%46.8%37.3%39.6%Second Year Count30333194% of class31.9%35.1%33.0%100.0%% within Neighborhood46.9%23.7%28.2%30.0%Third Year Count8242052% of class15.4%46.2%38.5%100.0%% within Neighborhood12.5%17.3%18.2%16.6%Fourth Year Count8171843% of class18.6%39.5%41.9%100.0%% within Neighborhood12.5%12.2%16.4%13.7%Total Count64139110313% of class20.4%44.4%35.1%100.0%% within Neighborhood100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0% Table I. Class by Neighborhood

BrodyEastSouthTotalTotal US Citizen Count54117101272% within citizen19.9%43.0%37.1%100.0%% within Neighborhood84.4%84.2%91.8%86.9%Total Non US Citizen Count620733% within citizen18.2%60.6%21.2%100.0%% within Neighborhood9.4%14.4%6.4%10.5%Total Permanent Resident Count4228% within citizen50.0%25.0%25.0%100.0%% within Neighborhood6.3%1.4%1.8%2.6%Total Count64139110313% within citizen20.4%44.4%35.1%100.0%% within Neighborhood100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%Table 2. Citizenship Status by NeighborhoodBrodyEastSouthTotalFemale Count377058165% within gender22.4%42.4%35.2%100.0%% within Neighborhood57.8%50.4%52.7%52.7%Male Count276952148% within gender18.2%46.6%35.1%100.0%% within Neighborhood42.2%49.6%47.3%47.3%Total Count64139110313% within gender20.4%44.4%35.1%100.0%% within Neighborhood100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%Table 3. Gender by Neighborhood

BrodyEastSouthTotalAsian Count64717% within race35.3%23.5%41.2%100.0%% within Neighborhood9.4%2.9%6.4%5.4%Black (non-Hispanic) Count224147110% within race20.0%37.3%42.7%100.0%% within Neighborhood34.4%29.5%42.7%35.1%Caucasian (non-Hispanic) Count226029111% within race19.8%54.1%26.1%100.0%% within Neighborhood34.4%43.2%26.4%35.5%Hispanic Count281828% within race7.1%28.6%64.3%100.0%% within Neighborhood3.1%5.8%16.4%8.9%Not Reported Count2125% within race40.0%20.0%40.0%100.0%% within Neighborhood3.1%.7%1.8%1.6%Not Requested Count519529% within race17.2%65.5%17.2%100.0%% within Neighborhood7.8%13.7%4.5%9.3%Two or More Races Count56213% within race38.5%46.2%15.4%100.0%% within Neighborhood7.8%4.3%1.8%4.2%Total Count64139110313% within race20.4%44.4%35.1%100.0%% within Neighborhood100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%Table 4. Race by Neighborhood