Volume 1, Issue 1 August 27, 2009
Lynchburg College 2009-2010
Year of Alliances and Diversity You’re Invited to Party with YoAD on September 10, 2009
In This Newsletter, You Will Find Information About Upcoming Events The Year of Alliances and Diversity Our Measurable Results What We’re Planning and Who’s Involved
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Etymology of the Theme & Origin of the Logo
2
Our Purpose and Intention
2
Proving It as Effective
2
Friendship Circle (VCIC)
3
Class of 2013
3
Cover Story (party) cont.
3
Additional Information
4
On September 10, 2009 from 4:30 to 7 in the Dell, Year of Alliances and Diversity (YoAD) will party. September 10 will be the official kick-off for this inclusive theme. While pairing with Spiritual Life and the Congregational Fair, YoAD hopes to celebrate and recognize a variety of concepts related to diversity. The Congregational Fair welcomes religious groups from the Lynchburg Area to the Lynchburg College campus, giving students the opportunity to know and recognize which religious groups are represented in the area. Understanding that spiritual diversity is an important piece of the themed year, YoAD‟s committee paired with the Office of Spiritual Life to hold both events (the kick-off AND the fair) at the same place at the same time. The event will be open to the entire campus community. Dining Services will serve
up a cultural feast of Mexican, Chinese, and American cuisines in an effort to represent cultural diversity. In addition to the food, Annette Stadtherr (Coordinator of the Multicultural, ACCESS, and Commuter Services) and the MACS office will display the International Flags for a splash of color and worldwide representation. The MACS Office will also be sponsoring a variety of additional events, including entertainment and activities that the campus community is welcome to (and encouraged to) participate in. There will be a variety of additional activities taking
place in the Dell, including activities from student groups, sponsored events from offices around campus, and representation from guests in the Lynchburg Community. The Student Activities Board and Bonner Leaders will be sponsoring a tie-dye activity, so please bring a white (or lightly colored) shirt if you would like to tie-dye something. Freshmen, Connection Leaders, and Faculty and Staff are all encouraged to bring the shirts that were given to them at the beginning of the year (the same shirts that have the YoAD logo on them)... cont. on page # 3
Everyone Can Relate and Engage This year is meant to be inclusive, something that every member of LC‟s community can get involved with. Often, “diversity” is associated with a stigma that „acceptance‟ is over-taught and overemphasized. The Year of Alliances and Diversity plans to challenge this stigma. We want to take it to a bigger
level. This isn‟t about handholding, hugging, or world peace; the ultimate goal is a transformed LC campus that is full of allies aware of their prejudices and how they affect others. The goal is that we will discuss and understand diversity with one another. YoAD will address body image, socioeconomic status, diversity in
age, race, ability status, and to represent perspectives that are not always represented. After all, one of our institutional values is diversity, and our community benefits from the contributions of individuals from a variety of ethnicities, nationalities, sexualities, religions, ages, and political beliefs.
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YEAR OF ALLIANCES AN D DIVERSITY
Etymology of the Theme & Origin of the Logo As mentioned on the last page, there is often a stigma associated with the word “diversity.” The committee recognized this challenge and decided to emphasize “Diversity” after first emphasizing “Alliances.” While it is important to understand and appreciate diversity, it is more important to understand what it means to form an alliance with different groups of people. The committee wanted the “Year of” theme to challenge assumptions people might associate with the word, “diversity.” The conversation bubbles represent the campus dialogue that will be taking place during second semester, providing an
“This is about more than differences. It’s about understanding the differences and personal prejudices to be an ally with someone that’s different.”
outlet for discussions about issues of diversity (such as racial advantage, institutional bias, and the gender-based glass ceiling). The bubbles overlap one another, showing a transparency in colors...allowing two colors to mix together— creating a single shade. The speech bubbles are transparent, representing the hope that campus dialogue will be transparent as well. Transparency should foster honesty and understanding at LC. Lynchburg College‟s Public Relations Office designed a variety of logos to represent
YoAD, and for the reasons already listed, the YoAD Committee decided that this particular logo represented a great deal of YoAD‟s purpose. If you are planning an event that ties into Year of Alliances and Diversity, please contact Ally Datz at datz@lynchburg.edu and she will provide the logo to you for promotional purposes. Also, your event will be included in the YoAD calendar. Alliances: A close association of nations or other groups, formed to advance common interests or causes.
Our Purpose and Intention During Convocation on August 23, 2009, the Faculty and Staff recited the following: “We commit ourselves to modeling Integrity through practices and disciplines that promote honest and fairness in all that we do. We will keep our promises to our students, to our colleagues, and to ourselves. We commit ourselves to fostering Alliances and Diversity by consistently seeking ways to value, re-
spect, and uphold the differences among us. We will do more than appreciate diversity. We will celebrate diversity.” And truly, that‟s what it‟s all about. The concept for the year is about more than differences. It‟s about understanding the differences and personal prejudices so that we can form alliances with someone that‟s different. In a Critograph article, Kaitlyn Edwards (Sr) said
that the theme would give her the opportunity to “raise awareness of other perspectives outside of [her] comfort zone.” She continued on to say, “I think it will give us a more open mind to what‟s out there. We‟re not always going to be stuck in this little school.” YoAD plans to highlight these differences, and also to celebrate our similarities.
We Can Prove that We Did What We Set Out to Do... At the beginning of the year, we will conduct a study to measure Lynchburg College‟s campus climate. This study will analyze how students in the majority perceive the experience of minority students. This study has been completed on other college campuses, demonstrating that students in the majority often perceive the campus as colorblind and think that diversity and inclusion is not an issue. Students in the
minority population, however, do not feel well-represented and do perceive that there is a clear difference between minority and majority students. With the initial survey complete, YoAD will have a clearer vision about what to focus on specifically and where the challenge areas lie. At the conclusion of the academic year, YoAD will survey the
students again, to measure the level of change regarding the perceptions about the campus climate. We cannot create change overnight, and the campus will not become allinclusive in one academic year. The concept behind Alliances and Diversity should carry on into future years at Lynchburg College (as students grow, and as students graduate).
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
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Finding a Friend in Friendship Circle
In 1935, Lynchburg College held Lynchburg‟s first meeting of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, bringing together a rabbi, and priest, and a Protestant minister to develop an educational program of communication and understanding. In 1998, the organization re-launched as The National Conference for Community and Justice, reflecting an expansion to in-
clude additional religious groups as well as other human relations issues of the day. In 2005, affiliates of NCCJ became independent not-for-profit organizations. The local chapter was then called “The Virginia Conference for Community and Justice.” And finally, in 2007, the organization (with a new name) re-launched as the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC). VCIC‟s “Harold M. Marsh Sr. Connections Institute” served as the catalyst to inspire this themed year. While at Connections, student participants learn to break down barriers, deal with biased behavior, and develop action plans to reduce prejudice in their schools. The highly engaging program, its activities, and its purpose, led to the proposal that the 2009-2010 academic year be “Year of Alliances and Diversity.” During the Year of Alliances and Diversity, Lynchburg College will once again partner with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. VCIC‟s resources and
experience in reference to issues of diversity and social justice will aid Lynchburg College in its efforts to create an inclusive, diverse campus that is full of allies and support networks. From January 12-16, 2010, Faculty/ Staff/and Students will attend VCIC‟s Allies Institute. The Allies Institute (formerly Collegetown) is the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities' signature higher education program. The Allies Institute features interactive workshops, intense small group discussions, and exercises designed to allow participants to think deeply about prejudice and discrimination. At the end of the program, they develop action plans to share with their peers. The Allies Institute has been credited with serving as a catalyst for heightened awareness, dialogue, and human relations programming. YoAD will select students to attend Allies Institute based on a nomination process from faculty and staff.
Class of 2013; We Don’t Know Them...Not Yet, Anyway. On August 22, 2009, nearly 600 freshmen joined Lynchburg College‟s community as the most recently enrolled students. In recognition of the Year of Alliances and Diversity, their t-shirt reads, “You don‟t know me…” This message reflects the idea that freshmen begin at LC without others knowing much about them. Freshmen T-Shirts
serve as a good indicator for the rest of us on campus to easily recognize who may be a freshman and who is not. The back of the shirt reads, “...Not yet, anyway,” implying that the opportunity to get-toknow the individual is there, and that freshmen will certainly have the opportunity to make a name for themselves; before too long, the freshmen
will no longer be recognized as newcomers...they will instead be celebrated as contributors to the LC community. Freshmen will be given the opportunity to tie-dye their shirts at the Sept. 10 kick-off event. The tie-dye will then make their shirts one-of-a-kind, as each student is one-of-a-kind as well.
“...each student is one-of-a-kind...”
YoAD Party and Kick-Off on September 10 (cont. from page #1) ...The event is meant to be allinclusive and totally celebratory; it will set-the-scene for the academic year and will raise awareness of LC‟s 2009-2010 theme. All student organizations are invited to attend and to hold an event or activity that supports diversity. Groups are encouraged to be creative and activities are encouraged to be engaging and inclusive.
If a student group wishes to participate, the group needs to RSVP to Ally Datz at datz@lynchburg.edu with their group name, the group contact, and the activity that the group would like to sponsor.
For more information, or if you‟re interested in sponsoring an activity, please contact Ally Datz at datz@lynchburg.edu.
Year Of Alliances and Diversity Contacts Ally Datz ‘09, Office of Alumni Programs Alumni Programs Assistant Phone: 434-544-8296 E-mail: datz@lynchburg.edu
Groups of people that will be partnering with the Year of Alliances and Diversity (in no specific order): The Thornton Endowment, The English Department, Gay-Straight Alliance, Geraldine Lyon Owen
Dr. Virginia Cylke, Psychology Department Assistant Professor Phone: 434-544-8315 E-mail: cylke@lynchburg.edu
lectures, First Year Programs (Connection Leaders and the Connec-
Dr. Jeri Watts, Education Department Assistant Professor of Human Development and Learning Phone: 434-544-8715
for Community Development and Social Justice, Multicultural ACCESS
tions program), The Psychology Department, The Office of Student Activities, Student Activities Board, Bonner Leaders, Spiritual Life, The Student Government Association, Fine Arts Programs, The Center and Commuter Services, Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, The Dean of Students Office, The LC Music Department (and Concert Choir), and The Office of Residence Life…(just to name a few).
“Working Together to Appreciate Our Differences”
Don’t Forget... Don‟t forget to mark your calendar for September 10, 2009 for the Year of Alliances and Diversity Kick-Off event (also sponsored by the MACS office, The Spiritual Life Office, Student Activities Board and Bonner Leaders). If you would like to be involved or if you would like to sponsor an activity or an event during the allotted 4:30-7:00 PM time-slot, please contact Ally Datz at datz@lynchburg.edu. If you have any questions or curiosities, don‟t hesitate to contact one of the YoAD contacts (Ally, Virginia, or Jeri). Lynchburg College‟s Year of Alliances and Diversity can succeed when the entire Campus Community gets involved. We hope that each and every one of you finds some way to engage in these efforts. Let us know what you‟re interested in and we will find a way to meet your need.