By Sasha Moedt (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: March 7, 2012
The second annual Advocates for Equality Leadership Conference took place at U-House this past Friday evening and Saturday. Hosted by Student Life, the conference focused on cultural diversity, racism and self-awareness.
“We have received positive feedback from students who attended,” noted Sidrah Ahmad, Jenia Pyzhyanova, and Susan Francis of UFV’s Student Life. “Friday evening was a great start to the conference – students didn’t want the dialogue to finish at 7:30 p.m. which was a good sign. Overall on Saturday, everything went very well.”
This year, the conference offered sessions in small group workshops, discussions, and short films. Various topics—including defining race and racism, addressing white privilege, and responding to racism—were looked at and discussed in the sessions led by UFV students and alumni.
“The conference was amazing,” said UFV student Katherine Palmateer, who attended for the first time this year. “It was fun, engaging and informative. I will definitely be attending next year.”
“I think it is valuable to make connections and learn about different ways to combat discrimination and learn about issues of supremacy on both a macro and micro level.”
The conference also hosted a keynote speaker River Chandler of Theatre Works Consulting – a company that offers workshops looking at issues such as racism in schools, and uses theatre and creativity to create change. Chandler facilitated a workshop called “Rainbow of Desire.” Student Life said that the keynote was a “very powerful and emotional theatre production, [that was] based on one UFV student’s story related to racism which the audience acted out and contributed to.”
Katherine Palmateer stated that the keynote was one of the best parts of the conference. “It was an engaging theatre workshop where students and faculty got to actively take part in creating a dialogue to gain insight, share fears, and express desire in regards to views on racism.”
Students attending enjoyed the comfortable and safe atmosphere, working in small groups on topics that could be quite sensitive, and commented on the turnout as compared to the previous year.
Student Life leaders Ahmad, Francis, and Pyzhyanova said that there was a total of 53 attendees – double the attendance of last year.
The conference seemed worth the money; besides the keynotes and discussion sessions, students were served dinner on Friday night, as well as breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
Student Life would like to see this conference grow in the coming years, and are hoping for new offerings of workshops and sessions. The Advocates for Equality Leadership Conference offered many things a student might be looking for. It works to “increase [student] knowledge base” on sensitive issues.
The conference “has [attendees] go out and educate others; helps them develop a toolbox of strategies, helps them get involved on campus and make a difference [and] allows them to meet other students who are perhaps experiencing similar issues. [It] builds friendships and allies, network and discover useful resources, volunteer and leadership opportunities [and] develops senior student’s leadership and facilitation skills.”
“I think it is imperative for students to attend these conferences. In an environment of higher learning I believe students should challenge themselves to grow as much as possible and to take education into their own hands and actively seek out things that stretch and build them for a better world,” said Palmateer. “Conferences like this teach students to ask questions, engage in critical thought, and be accountable for their actions. This is what university should always be about, but sometimes it takes a conference to recognize it.”
