Culture and Diversity
The Education of Native Peoples
Not many Americans understand the unique contributions Native Americans (American Indian and Alaska natives) have made to the world, and many are not aware of the political relationships that exist between tribal groups and the U.S. government. William Demmert, a specialist in education and cultural issues, discusses these relationships and the challenges encountered by school systems and tribal groups working to improve educational opportunities for native students.Dr. William Demmert, a professor with Western’s Woodring College of Education, holds a doctorate in education from Harvard and is a former commissioner of education for Alaska, a former U.S. deputy commissioner of education and a former director of education in the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. He is of Tlingit and Oglala (Sioux) heritage and is currently working with the Rand Corporation, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, Educational Testing Services and other national studies regarding the education of native peoples and influence of culturally-based educational programs.
Cultural Diversity in the 21st Century
What does it mean to be an American? The answer to that question is evolving as minority groups grow in overall number and percentage of the population. Experts predict that before long, no single ethnic or racial group will make up a substantial majority. Explore the impacts of these changing demographics on our country’s social, cultural and economic climate with Larry Estrada.Dr. Larry Estrada, associate professor and director of the American Cultural Studies program at Fairhaven College, is the president of the National Association for Ethnic Studies, which is now based on Western’s campus. He is a former mayor of Fort Collins, Colo. and former chair of the Washington State Commission for Hispanic Affairs. He holds a Ph.D. from UCLA and has been a post-doctoral scholar at U.C. Berkeley and Harvard University.
Education in China Today
In China, three percent of the country’s GNP is now being directed toward setting up community colleges and technical schools, expanding the country’s 1,552 colleges and universities, and establishing local learning communities. Sandra Daffron reports on the advances in urbanization and industrialization that are driving forces in current efforts to expand educational and training opportunities. Daffron led a 2005 study tour to China and visited a variety of educational programs offered at community and regional levels.
Living in Palestine: A Personal Perspective
What is it like to live and work in Palestine? Sandra Daffron lived in Palestine for two years during the second intifada (2000 to 2001). While there, she served as a senior advisor for judicial and legal education and was involved in updating the curricula of four law schools and training programs for judges. She traveled to several territory schools and collaborated with faculty from universities in the West Bank and Gaza. Daffron presents a personal perspective of events happening in Palestine and shares slides, maps and pictures not normally seen outside the region.
Dr. Sandra Ratcliff Daffron, program director of continuing and college education, came to Western Washington University in 2001 after completing a two-year assignment as senior advisor for judicial and legal education in Palestine. She has done extensive research in public policy formation and served for three years as executive director and vice president of the American Judicature Society. Daffron received her Ed.D. in adult and continuing education at Northern Illinois University and has served on the board of directors for the American Association of Continuing Education.
Becoming an Ally: Building Community and Interrupting Prejudice
Most of us are committed to living in a diverse world free of prejudice and discrimination, yet we sometimes lack the concrete skills and experiences needed to become an ally for people who belong to groups other than our own. This workshop, facilitated by Pat Fabiano, offers an empowering and skill-building experience that celebrates similarities and differences. By listening to others’ stories we learn to identify misinformation learned about other groups, find ways to address internalized oppression, claim pride in our identity and the identities of others, assess the personal impact of discrimination, and practice skills for building community and interrupting prejudice. Fabiano received specialized training at the National Coalition Building Institute, a national nonprofit leadership training organization working to eliminate prejudice and inter-group conflict in communities throughout the world.
Dr. Patricia Fabiano is active nationally in the field of college student wellness. She has received several federal grants to develop new strategies to help students make healthy choices regarding drug and alcohol use. She is a recipient of the Miguel Garcia-Tunon Memorial Award in Human Dignity, presented by the American College Health Association, and received a 2005 Northwest Women’s Hall of Fame award for service to the community. Fabiano is an adviser to the U.S. Department of Higher Education’s Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention. She is currently serving as a Woodring College of Education faculty member in educational leadership. Her Ph.D. in community health is from the Union Institute.
Teaching Science in South Africa
How does a country with a long history of educational inequity adapt to a new “equal rights for all” constitution? Scott Linneman, a senior Fulbright Scholar in South Africa during 2001, says the answer depends on who is asked. Linneman describes the struggles of science educators in South Africa following the advent of democracy in that country in 1994, examines issues related to the implementation of a radical new national curriculum and discusses the challenge presented by the AIDS crisis.
Dr. Scott Linneman is an assistant professor in the department of geology and a member of the science education group. After teaching in Idaho for eight years, he joined the faculty at Western’s College of Sciences and Technology in 2000 and then spent a year in South Africa as a senior Fulbright Scholar. His research has included analyzing the hazards of Cascade volcanoes and studying the ways children and adults gain understanding of the earth sciences. His Ph.D. in geology is from the University of Wyoming.
Why Women Are Underrepresented in Math and Science
Commonly held beliefs about gender preferences and abilities strongly influence women’s choices of college majors and careers and present obstacles for entry into advanced math and science study. This influence is particularly consequential during the middle and secondary school years when students are actively forming their gender-based identities. Karen Bradley discusses research surrounding these issues as well as her collaborative work examining women’s underrepresentation in math and math-based scientific fields within colleges and universities in a wide range of countries.
Dr. Karen Bradley, associate professor of sociology, has done extensive research examining how gender influences educational choices. She is the coauthor, with Dr. Maria Charles, sociology professor at the University of California, San Diego, of a recent study examining higher education degrees awarded in 21 industrialized nations. Their study, which showed that women were consistently underrepresented in math and science, was presented in 2005 at the 100th annual meeting of the American Sociological Association and has received international attention. Bradley is the recipient of an Outstanding International Study of the Year Award for research relating to gender parity in education.
Gender Issues in the Workplace
Legislation related to affirmative action, sexual harassment and gender issues in the workplace attempts to define what relationships and interactions are, and are not, acceptable in the workplace. As a practical matter, defining those limits is much more challenging. Socialization, sex-role stereotyping and how men and women communicate have varying effects on those limits. What is acceptable in one situation or one workplace may not be acceptable in another. Sue Guenter-Schlesinger discusses how to find an appropriate balance, take effective steps that address equity issues, and work toward inclusive consensus building.
Preventing Sexual Harassment
How do you protect your workers and your company and keep all parties out of court? Sue Guenter-Schlesinger shows how developing clear guidelines and providing ongoing training to managers and employees can keep your company in compliance and send a message that affirms a commitment to respect each individual. Guenter-Schlesinger also talks about the importance of initiating an objective, thorough investigation if a complaint is filed, formally or informally, and how mediation can be used to resolve concerns.
Using Affirmative Action and Civil Rights Legislation to Improve Workplace Performance
Too often equal opportunity and affirmative action laws are viewed as policing documents that restrict employers and reduce employee morale. Sue Guenter-Schlesinger reviews current legislation and shows how equal opportunity laws can benefit you. By working collaboratively with staff to establish compliant policies, you can improve performance by encouraging active participation at all levels, establish team-based models for working through differences, and create guidelines that protect individuals as well as your company or organization.
Valuing and Managing Diversity
Appreciation for differences and clear communication are critical for employees in every work situation, especially for those in leadership roles. A first step in creating an environment in which everyone feels valued is to understand how to recognize and overcome biases we all have and to learn techniques to reach out to others different from ourselves. Clear and sensitive communication, which includes good listening skills, is also important in order to show others their opinions and approaches are valued. Sue Guenter-Schlesinger draws on her experience in designing and leading diversity workshops that utilize interactive discussions and group exercises to show how to break down barriers and promote an accepting environment.
Dr. Sue Guenter-Schlesinger, executive director of Western’s equal opportunity office, has 25 years’ experience working with issues related to diversity and legal compliance. Before coming to Western, she was assistant executive vice president for affirmative action and diversity at Utah State University. She also served for 10 years as a chief advisor for the U.S. Army Equal Opportunity Office in Europe and was appointed to the Defense Advisory Council for Women in the Services. She has developed training programs on diversity, affirmative action, sexual harassment and mediation. Guenter-Schlesinger earned her under-graduate degrees and her Ph.D. in higher education administration at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The Importance of Diversity in the Legal Profession
Underrepresented groups face many obstacles in the legal profession. In the American legal system, there is a current lack of diversity; only 10 percent of U.S. lawyers are people of color. Since 1991, Fairhaven College’s undergraduate Law and Diversity Program has been helping students in underrepresented groups overcome these obstacles. In this workshop, led by Julie Helling, you will learn what the obstacles are, identify possible solutions and examine how a multiplicity of voices strengthens the legal system for everyone.
Julie A. Helling has been the director of the Law & Diversity Program at Fairhaven College since 2000. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, West Africa, she was a domestic violence prosecutor in the city of Minneapolis and an employment discrimination investigator for a Minnesota state agency. She has a B.A. in English from the University of Iowa and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Homeground
Assistant Professor Kate Trueblood is the editor of an anthology of fiction and memoirs, Homeground, which draws from American ethnic and class backgrounds. She is also the author of The Sperm Donor’s Daughter and Other Tales of Modern Family. She attended the Radcliffe Publishing course and is available to speak about current trends in American book publishing. She also directs the Writers in the Community program in which graduate students teach creative writing workshops in schools and social service programs.
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