2008 Woodie Awards
Why Can't We All Just Get Along?
Goucher Forms Student Circle to Discuss Diversity Issues
Shoshana Flax
Issue date: 4/21/04 Section: News
"The college is building on our efforts to respond to recent hate incidents on campus," asserted Dean of Students Gail Edmonds in an email to official students on March 10th. "We are asking you to consider being one of fifteen or so students who will take part in a six-week group process that will provide you with the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation with your peers around a multitude of diversity issues at Goucher. Our central focus will be on issues of race raised by the recent incidents and the discussion will also be open to issues of class, sexual orientation, and other categories of diversity that might emerge in the dialogue."'
The study circle, organized by Edmonds along with Associate Dean of Students, Emily Perl, exists in response not only to the recent incidents, but also to the Strategic Plan's goals to facilitate diversity. It meets on Thursdays from 7 - 9:30 p.m. Facilitators Dottye Burt-Markowitz and Keisha Robinson both come from outside the Goucher community, and according to Edmonds, "have a great deal of experience working in both higher education and community settings as facilitators of diversity dialogue."
"As we were recruiting students," says Perl, "we were specifically looking to have a diverse group -- so that a variety of identities, experiences, and perspectives would be represented in the conversation." Participants include Dallea Caldwell '07, Kaitlin Goldfield '06, Dalya Hassan '07, Randi Inniss '07, Sofia Jasani '06, Todd Jones '06, Morgan Harpster '05, Michele Kirschstein '05, Julia Kunin '07, Anna Lehnen '07, Joanna Lowin '06, Nehal Mehta '06, Priscilla Pan '07, Erin Felarca '05, Dan Phillips '06, Josh Stober '06, Brannigan Trahan '07, and Brittiney Williams '07.
"I decided to become involved because I think Goucher needs these forums of discussion," explains Felarca. "At Goucher there's a lot of talk, but not a lot of action. This is an opportunity for me to become active in something that will hopefully take effect while I'm still at Goucher."
The study circle, organized by Edmonds along with Associate Dean of Students, Emily Perl, exists in response not only to the recent incidents, but also to the Strategic Plan's goals to facilitate diversity. It meets on Thursdays from 7 - 9:30 p.m. Facilitators Dottye Burt-Markowitz and Keisha Robinson both come from outside the Goucher community, and according to Edmonds, "have a great deal of experience working in both higher education and community settings as facilitators of diversity dialogue."
"As we were recruiting students," says Perl, "we were specifically looking to have a diverse group -- so that a variety of identities, experiences, and perspectives would be represented in the conversation." Participants include Dallea Caldwell '07, Kaitlin Goldfield '06, Dalya Hassan '07, Randi Inniss '07, Sofia Jasani '06, Todd Jones '06, Morgan Harpster '05, Michele Kirschstein '05, Julia Kunin '07, Anna Lehnen '07, Joanna Lowin '06, Nehal Mehta '06, Priscilla Pan '07, Erin Felarca '05, Dan Phillips '06, Josh Stober '06, Brannigan Trahan '07, and Brittiney Williams '07.
"I decided to become involved because I think Goucher needs these forums of discussion," explains Felarca. "At Goucher there's a lot of talk, but not a lot of action. This is an opportunity for me to become active in something that will hopefully take effect while I'm still at Goucher."
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