same kind of different

Transcription

1 same kind of different FRATERNITY VALUE: PERSONAL AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH SUGGESTED FACILITATOR: VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBER DEVELOPMENT Goals: To understand why diversity among participants is important. To discover how participants are different and similar to each other. To learn about various diverse populations. Room setup/materials needed: Make sure you have enough room for participants to sit comfortably Flip chart paper and markers Four to five copies of each of the Quote to Consider handouts found at the end of this seminar LCD projector, large screen and computer with internet access. Audio capabilities should also be provided Getting Started Talking points are indicated with a callout bullet ( ). Please use these as speaking guidelines, but be sure to jazz up the presentation with your own personality. Facilitation instructions are indicated with an arrow ( ) and serve as hints you might find helpful when administering the material. Most importantly, have fun! Instructions and Ground Rules Introduce the activity Why is it important to discuss diversity? How does it affect Pi Beta Phi? How does it affect our university? Today we will learn more about what diversity is and ways to appreciate the uniqueness of each Pi Phi. Begin the conversation by establishing some ground rules and facilitating the opening activity. Let s establish some ground rules to follow during our discussion. At the end of this seminar, we will review these statements to track our progress and lay groundwork for moving forward. Let s start with these: o Respect what other people say, don t interrupt. If you have an issue with what someone says, don t attack the person, but respond to the issue. o Please don t use offensive comments/language. o Remember people are entitled to their opinion. What are some additional ground rules you would add to this list? (Use a piece of flip chart paper to write down participants responses.) What is Diversity? Ask the following questions and share the following information to begin the group discussion on diversity. Allow time for participants to respond and record some of the answers on flip chart paper. Merriam-Webster s Dictionary defines diversity as, the condition of having or being composed of differing elements: variety; especially: the inclusion of different types of people in a group or organization. Diversity can be defined in many different ways: Diversity is a commitment to recognizing and appreciating the variety of characteristics that make individuals unique in an atmosphere promoting and celebrating individual and collective achievement.

2 What are some elements of diversity? What makes us unique? o Have the participants offer suggestions and record them on the flip chart paper. o Examples might include education, culture, race, disability, ethnicity, gender, physical difference, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, political affiliation or language(s) spoken. In an organization like ours we should create a culture where individuals can thrive and contribute to our organization. This is the first step for us in understanding why we re unique. One of the things we value about our members is our individuality. This means personality, background and all the other elements we listed above. But remember, what we share are our core values: Integrity; Lifelong Commitment; Honor and Respect; Personal and Intellectual Growth; Philanthropic Service to Others; and Sincere Friendship. How does diversity tie into our core values? Which values immediately jump out when discussing diversity? o Allow members to offer ideas and write them on a piece of flip chart paper. Some examples might include: Integrity: You should stay true to yourself and who you are regardless of your background without conforming to the norm. Honor and Respect: You should honor and respect other participants despite our differences. Personal and Intellectual Growth: You should Expand your horizons by learning about others backgrounds. Sincere Friendship: You should accept others regardless of their backgrounds and how you perceive them compared to yourself. Next, break the participants into groups of eight-10 members. Pass out one of the Quote to Consider pages to each group. Have the group read the quote, discuss why they agree or disagree and after five-10 minutes. o One can walk the streets of almost any major city in America and see diversity but unless you are living, working and playing together with people from varied backgrounds and experiences, you will never fully experience diversity s most powerful impact. That s the special and often lost opportunity for America s colleges and universities. (Richard Light, Harvard professor) o In total darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge separates us. Don t let your eyes deceive you. (Janet Jackson, musician) o The price of the democratic way of life is a growing appreciation of people s differences, not merely as tolerable, but as the essence of a rich and rewarding human experience. (Jerome Nathanson, author) o The problem to be faced is how to combine loyalty to one s own tradition with reverence for different traditions. (Abraham Joshua Heschel, philosopher) After about five-10 minutes of group discussion, come together for large group sharing. Ask participants from the small groups to stand and read their quote, and then summarize what their group discussed. Pi Beta Phi and Diversity Begin the next part of the seminar by highlighting how diversity exists between participants and within the organization. TIP: For this activity, ask someone to assist you by following the instructions below for this activity. Tape down a line in the middle of the room. Let s take a closer look at how diversity exists within Pi Beta Phi and how each of us is unique. For this activity we have taped a line down the center of the room. When I read out the following traits or experiences to the group, step to either Side A or Side B, depending on which statement more accurately applies to you. If you are unsure, simply remain where you are and wait for the next statement. This activity is to simply illustrate the differences in experiences among participants. This is a silent activity.

3 Step to Side A if you re a Democrat. Step to Side A if you live with someone of a different race. Step to Side A if you or your sibling is adopted. Step to Side A if you ve been to another country. Step to Side A if you re left handed. Step to Side A if you re currently studying a foreign language. Step to Side A if you re considered a racial minority. Step to Side A if you were born in the north. Step to Side A if you attend a religious service regularly. Step to Side A if you are friends with a member of the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender community (Feel free to add other dichotomies to this list.) Step to Side B if you re a Republican. Step to Side B if you do not live with someone of a different race. Step to Side B if neither you nor your siblings are adopted. Step to Side B if you ve never been to another country. Step to Side B if you re right handed. Step to Side B if you re not currently studying a foreign language. Step to Side B if you re considered a racial majority. Step to Side B if you were born in the south. Step to Side B if you do not attend a religious service regularly. Step to Side B if you do not have a friend that is a member of the gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender community Thank you for your participation, you may be seated. Here is something to think about: o Every year more than half a million college students are targets of bias-driven or physical assaults. o Every day at least one hate crime occurs on a college campus. o Every minute a college student somewhere sees or hears racist, sexist, homophobic or otherwise biased words or images. If time permits, ask members to return to their small groups and discuss the following questions. These can be written on flip chart paper so all members can easily see them. o How can backgrounds and experiences contribute to/influence our chapter s membership? o How does respecting our differences help us move closer to living Pi Phi s core values? o How does disrespecting our differences move us not only away from our values, but each other? Discovering our Differences Three prevalent topics. There are three important diversity issues prevalent in our culture today in media, the news and the culture we interact in every day. These include race, religion and sexual orientation. This is not to say these are the only forms of diversity. Race We have talked about several specific areas of diversity today. One specific topic I would like to discuss is race. Something to remember is, Pi Beta Phi bases our membership selections strictly on women who meet our standards, regardless of race. We are now going to watch a short video about an incident that happened on the campus of North Carolina State: Now, return to your small group and discuss the following questions. (You may want to write these on flip chart paper to help participants remember the questions being asked.)

4 o How do you feel about what was written in the Free Expression Tunnel? o Do you think the people that did it should be punished or do you think it is their freedom of speech? o Where should we draw the line? o Legally, what is a hate crime? The Mirriam-Webster Dictionary defines a hate crime as, Any of various crimes (as assault or defacement of property) when motivated by hostility to the victim as a member of a group (as one based on color, creed, gender or sexual orientation). Bring the group back together and continue with the next topic. Religion Now, let s discuss religion and how it relates to Pi Beta Phi. When we think about our Ritual, do you ever think it should be changed to non-sectarian language? o During the 1971 Convention, a committee was appointed to study ritual and ceremonies. They polled chapters and alumnae organizations about whether or not to change Ritual. Out of the 1,723 pieces of o mail received, 158 were for change, 1,479 were against change and 86 had no opinion. Ritual was last discussed at convention in After a ballot vote, the motion to change ritual was again defeated. What are some ways you can be sensitive to others views on religion and religious activities within the chapter? (Write these ideas on flip chart paper.) What are some ways you can expand your knowledge about religious and spiritual practices different from your own? (Discuss opportunities for learning about other religions and write on flip chart paper.) Religion in Pi Beta Phi and Panhellenic In the cover story of the Spring 2007 issue of The Arrow it states: o The debate is over whether or not Pi Beta Phi is a religious Fraternity, or more specifically, a Christian fraternity. Answers vary depending whom you ask. The Fraternity was created by Christian women and based on Christian values, but these are also the basic tenets of many religions. Being a Christian has never been a requirement to become a member of Pi Beta Phi. o It should be noted several National Panhellenic Conference member organizations were originally founded to offer sisterhood opportunities to women who felt they did not have an opportunity to join the established organizations. A few examples include: Alpha Epsilon Phi s founders were Jewish women and the sorority has its foundation in the Old Testament. Phi Sigma Sigma was founded at Hunter College by 10 sorority women who felt the only way they could belong to a sorority was to found one of their own. They established a group whose ritual was non-sectarian. Theta Phi Alpha was founded in 1912 at University of Michigan as a sorority for Catholic women as it was a time when there was a lot of discrimination against Catholicism. Sexual Orientation Have you ever known anyone of a different sexual orientation than your own? Did you know that you have Pi Phi sisters that are in the minority when sexual orientation is considered? Many gays and lesbians, similar to straight men and women, join traditional Greek-letter organizations because they are looking for close friendships and want to belong to a group of people with whom they can share experiences. In light of our core values of Honor and Respect, Integrity, and Sincere Friendship, let s keep the following in mind:

5 Final Wrap-Up o Members who are gay, lesbian or considering their orientation are not obligated to share that with you. o Treat these members like any other member, and their dates/partners with respect, just as you would anyone else. o What is Pi Phi s stance on bringing a same sex date to a function? It is allowed, members are allowed to bring anyone including women of other chapters. The only exception is bringing alumnae. Have members think about the following questions to themselves: Have you ever felt like you couldn t bring a same sex date? Have you ever judged someone who did? o Treat any inappropriate conduct the same as you would with any other behavior by a sister that is inappropriate. Take time to create ground rules for how the chapter will choose to react to and accept diversity. Write these on flip chart paper. Just as we did at the beginning of this seminar, let s take just a couple of minutes to create some ground rules for how our chapter will choose to react to and accept diversity. Evaluation: Don t forget to help the Fraternity assess this program. The program facilitator, as well as a member of each class, should be asked to visit the Leading with Values website, to fill out a quick survey. Remember, the name of this seminar is Same Kind of Different. The chapter s Vice President of Member Development should remember to record the presentation of this program in the chapter s monthly regional report.

6 Quote to Consider 1 One can walk the streets of almost any major city in America and see diversity but unless you are living, working and playing together with people from varied backgrounds and experiences, you will never fully experience diversity s most powerful impact. That s the special and often lost opportunity for America s colleges and universities. ~ Richard Light, Harvard professor

7 Quote to Consider 2 In total darkness we are all the same, only our knowledge separates us. Don t let your eyes deceive you. ~ Janet Jackson, musician

8 Quote to Consider 3 The price of the democratic way of life is a growing appreciation of people s differences, not merely as tolerable, but as the essence of a rich and rewarding human experience. ~ Jerome Nathanson, author

9 Quote to Consider 4 The problem to be faced is how to combine loyalty to one s own tradition with reverence for different traditions. ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel, philosopher