This is an interesting but debatable issue and calls for student affairs practitioners to air out their views if confronted with a similar development. This perspective about how people can debate mainly motivated me to choose the article.
It’s all about orientation, which is organized for different groups of people in a college. The substantive issue is that Mount Holyoke College, which has for many years had a voluntary program for minority students in advance of the general orientation, now decides to organize a similar orientation for the White students. Different schools of thought feel that it creates segregation and discrimination. The object for the separate organization was to talk extensively about racial issues, but is it correct? Will a time come when male students will also request for a separate orientation? What are your views about this innovation? Please. Follow the link below, read the entire article and let me know your stand on this issue http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/04/13/holyoke
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Reposting 3 comments from your other blog:
ReplyDeleteDavid said...
I think the general idea is good, particularly the way it is structured so that both groups spend about half of the time together. Reading through some of the comments makes it clear that some people need some kind of diversity and sensitivity training, as they discuss in ways that are not helpful to the debate. I too ask, where do the mixed-race people go? And what about hispanic or asian Americans?
October 28, 2009 6:50 PM
Slandie said...
This orientation seem to be creating a slippery slope where other under represented groups such as Asians and Hispanics would soon need an orientation for themselves. I like the idea that it brings the black and white students together to talk about race. But, this should be a discussion with all of students not just these two groups.
October 29, 2009 5:49 AM
Onomen said...
I think this seperate orientations for the different groups is a great idea, in that it sensitizes everyone before the general orientation. Some people need this kind of fora to air their views and be corrected if the need arises. Like Slandie rightly said, it should be a program encompassing of all the diversities represented in the school.
November 1, 2009 6:50 AM