Last year, several students expressed their concern about DePauw University’s campus climate and community development and began a group called The Movement. In response to The Movement, the Office of Intercultural Life developed a new program to help facilitate conversations about diversity and identity.
The Intercultural Community Conversations Facilitators Program (ICCFs) aims to help first-years navigate identity exploration for themselves and others while serving as a conduit for difficult discourse.
“I believe this program is necessary to bring the DePauw community together as well as bridge cultural differences,” said ICCF leader and sophomore Maria Rummel.
Vince Greer, director of intercultural life, and Vivie Nguyen, director of cultural resource centers and coordinator of LGBT Services, run ICCF. Through student coordinators, Greer adn Nguyen hope ICCF will provide an introduction into differenct cultures and backgrounds, as well as teach first-years to have productive conversations with their peers.
“It is basically just a conversation,” said sophomore ICCF coordinator Busola Shifatu.
During their training, ICCF coordinatorss met with first-year resident assistants and began practicing how to create a ‘brave space.’ In this brave space, ICCF coordinators are told to remind first-year students that some conversations will require them to push themselves, but they should know their personal limits.
“The facilitators are extremely well qualified for their positions and help make every aspect of the program possible," said first-year resident assistant Mackenzie Sikora. I" am grateful for that.”
Thirteen student leaders were hired to be ICCF coordinatorss after the applicants went through a written application and interview process. The coordinators were required to return to Greencastle on Aug. 20 to undergo training. They then partnered-up to co-facilitate conversations of identity and privilege with RAs and first-year students. The ICCF leaders are required to have two hours of training prior to each conversation that is held with their assigned freshmen floor.
“We have already had our first conversations in the freshmen dorms," said Maria Rummel, and ICCF coordinator. "It is very encouraging and inspiring to see the first years interact with genuine interest in one another and what each of them left behind when they arrived in Greencastle just a short time ago.”
In the first conversation students were asked to introduce themselves and state where they are from to openly discuss hometowns and diversity.
“I was concerned that these freshmen would not respond well to the program,” said Sikora, “but I was pleasantly surprised with their openness to the dialogues that were being facilitated at the first meeting.”
Throughout the conversation, first-year students not only participated in open conversation but also in a speed dating activity to lighten the setting.
“Everyone was really open and willing to meet knew people," said first-year Chelsea Conrad. "I enjoyed the variety of topics that were discussed.”
The facilitator is in charge of providing support and guidance throughout the discussion, but is instructed not to dominate the conversation.
The ICCF meetings are not required, but are strongly recommended for first-year students.
“I fear that attendance will decrease as the school year becomes more hectic, but I think that the program will remain an important resource for all first-year DePauw students,” said Siroka.
Many freshmen did not know what to expect when the RAs told them their attendance was required at a floor meeting.
“I felt that the meeting was poorly communicated toward the freshmen and too long," said Conrad. "If it became more routine it will be a little more enjoyable."