Picture this.
Students circle a room in silence, looking at images ofreligious symbols, cultural icons and controversial events that arechosen to evoke a range of emotions. Despite differences ofopinions, they must discuss how the pictures impact them andsociety.
“Picture This” and other interactive activities havebeen sponsored by the Diversity Education Program for the pastthree years to communicate a variety of issues to SMU students,faculty and staff.
Karen Click, coordinator of Asian-American student services anda DEP adviser, said that once it was acknowledged that SMU neededto improve diversity awareness on campus, it seemed that the mosteffective way to implement the program was through peer-to-peereducation.
Moumita Rahman, a senior peer educator, said she participates inthe program because it is important to know that diversity is aboutmore than race.
“It really spans a broad range of humanexperiences,” Rahman said.
Throughout a semester course, between 10 and 12 students aretaught about diversity and cultural awareness, through topics suchas stereotypes, racism, classism and sexism. They also participatein the various activities and learn how to effectively present themto others. Once the students have completed the course, they arecertified as diversity peer educators and are ready to beginfacilitating on campus.
The program offers 10 different workshops to any class ororganization that is interested.
Past workshops for the Student Senate concentrated on power andleadership, whereas some for sororities and fraternities emphasizedstereotypes and sexism.
Fernando Salazar, a DEP adviser, said that facilitations haveoffered diversity education to some students for the firsttime.
Not everyone is receptive to the program. Rahman has encounteredhostile people, but most of the time, however, she said it is veryencouraging. “People are open, and they want to make thingsbetter,” she said.
Matt Houston, a sophomore diversity peer educator, also had apositive experience with the facilitations.
“It opens your eyes to a world that doesn’t revolvearound you,” Houston said.
Houston, who led a workshop for the Leadership ConsultingCouncil, said many student leaders were able to take what theylearned back to their organizations.
The program also responds to current events in society thataffect the SMU community. For example, DEP held a workshop for theSMU chapter of the Kappa Alpha fraternity after a series of hatecrimes occurred at the University of North Texas chapter.
Salazar said the program is an integral part of the collegeexperience.
“It helps you understand who you are, and that’s theform and foundation of diversity,” he said.
Once a person learns how to work with other people of differentraces, religions and beliefs, he or she can apply those skills inthe real world, Salazar said.
Rahman said the program hopes to plant a seed in people’sminds and make people aware of their actions. “The goal isnot to change you, but to open you up,” Rahman said.
