In theory, diversity training and workshops are meant to foster a sense of community and promote empathy amongst a student body. In practice, many students walk away from them feeling drained and more disconnected than before.
“A general thought is that for the issues that arise with diversity and inclusion, it’s great to have sessions that are in person, highly interactive and immersive,” poet and speaker Carlos Andrés Gómez said.
This statement rings true; however, students still find themselves distracted from the real issues–and more importantly, each other. While there are countless benefits to having events in colleges that foster diversity and community, many think that there are better ways to do it.
On Oct. 10, the first-year class of 2029 went to a diversity workshop taught by Andrés Gómez. The lecture itself was informative, but if one were to walk into the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts at nine a.m., they would see half of the room engrossed with their phones.
Why? For many, it is because they feel forced to be there.
The whole purpose of these workshops is to foster a safe space where differences can be celebrated, especially with the ever-changing political landscape of the United States. For many people, these workshops are not an effective way to address these issues.
It is easier to connect with a smaller group of people, especially when you are first entering an environment such as college. Most of us would agree that it is far easier to connect with five people than it is to connect with 90 random people. If we truly want to create safer and more inclusive spaces, we have to make it easier for people to share their stories with others.
I don’t think that many of us, especially the first-year class, feel safe enough to stand up in front of a room of our peers and talk about the ways that stereotypes have affected us.
I fundamentally agree with Andrés Gómez when he says that in-person and interactive sessions are the way to go. It is so valuable to have a room where the option exists to share your thoughts and experiences; however, many students don’t utilize this option. These workshops should not be another box to check on the way to graduation, but should be more engaging for the attending students.
Instead of requiring large numbers of students to go to a concert hall early in the morning, there should be options for smaller groups of students to connect with each other, even if it is mandatory. These could be facilitated by speakers like Andrés Gómez, who have extensive experience in these types of conversations.
There is so much potential for growth in these conversations, and there is such a need for us to do better with how we approach them.
Sabrina Holmes is a first-year who is exploring her major.
