2. What is Diversity?
Diversity includes all the ways in which
people differ, and it encompasses all the
different characteristics that make one
individual or group different from another.
3. What are some examples of
DIVERSITY at McMaster?
• Age
• Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• Program of Study
• Religion
• Country of Origin
• Learning styles
• Family status
• Income
• Language
• Race and Ethnicity
• Ability
Diversity is both visible and invisible.
4. What is Inclusivity?
The act of creating environments
in which any individual or group
can be and feel welcomed,
respected, supported, and valued
to fully participate. An inclusive
and welcoming climate embraces
differences and offers respect in
words and actions for all people.
6. The Office of Human Rights and
Equity Services (HRES)
• Purpose: Work with
campus and community
members to ensure that
McMaster University is a
place where all
students, staff and
faculty can learn, work
and live in an inclusive
and barrier-free
environment that
fosters equality, respect
and accessibility.
Members of the HRES Team
7. The Office of Human Rights and
Equity Services (HRES)
What Do They Do for Students?
– Offer education opportunities, address
harassment and discrimination complaints
and work to make Mac a more accessible
place.
– If you have a Human Rights Complaint, you
can speak to a Human Rights Officer (HRO).
Conversations with an HRO are
CONFIDENTIAL
• They are located in: MUSC 212
8. The Office of Student Conduct and
Community Standards
• Promotes student rights and responsibilities by administering
the Student, Residence and Athletic Codes of Conduct
• Students can commit a MINOR offence and a MAJOR offence
– Minor: actions that go against our community standards (e.g.
Excessive noise, disruptive behaviour)
– Major: actions that endanger the safety/security of others (theft,
threatening verbal non-verbal communication)
• As members of the Mac community, we each have rights and
responsibilities:
– A RIGHT: a freedom that is protected
– A RESPONSIBILITY: a duty or something you should do
9. Security Services
• Work to protect the persons
and property within the
McMaster community
• Operates 24 hours a day, 7
days a week
• Red Assistance Poles
– Located in various places on
campus
– One activated, it connects
directly to Security Services
and the blue light flashes
Example of a Red
Assistance Pole
10. PACBIC
• President’s Advisory Committee on
Building an Inclusive Community
– Work to identify and anticipate issues
affecting equity-seeking communities
– Discuss, reflect and learn about issues of
inclusion, equity and community-building
– Create space for respectful debate on
important social issues
Want to learn more? Click here for their 2012 – 2013 Annual Report
12. Welcome Week Guiding
Principles
• There are 5 guiding principles which define our
values in the creation of the Welcome Week
experience and successful transition of first
year students.
• They are:
– Equality
– Freedom of Choice
– Celebration of Diversity
– Respect for Individuality
– Privacy
13. What does that mean?
• As Reps, you will need to make many
decisions throughout Welcome Week
– Do I wear flip flops or sneakers today?
– What t-shirt do I wear?
And more seriously...
– Do I help the student on crutches find the
accessible access point to our next event or do
I stay with my group?
– Do I speak to my fellow rep who is walking
around with an offensive sign or just let it slide?
14. We want everyone to have the best Welcome Week
experience possible!
We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone
feels safe and secure during Welcome Week
So, we need to recognize the impact of our actions
and words at all times and work to act and speak
in an inclusive way.
15. The Impact of Our Actions
• As Welcome Week Reps, we are leaders. The choices we
make will impact on the beliefs, feelings and participation
of the first year students.
Consider the Three C’s
1. Be Considerate: Everyone is different. The needs and
wants of First Years throughout Welcome Week are diverse.
Work to make sure everyone can participate to their comfort
level. Work to remove barriers as you see them.
2. Be Compassionate: Don`t make assumptions. Ask
questions and value their response.
3. Be Creative: Work to remove barriers so that all students
can participate and enjoy their Welcome Week experience.
16. The Impact of Our Words
Respectful Communication
=
Inclusive Communication
Ways you can use inclusive language:
• use “person first” language (e.g. Person with a disability)
• Let all people speak for themselves rather than assuming what they
want or think
• Use the phrase “partner” or “spouse”
• Mention age only when it’s relevant
• Avoid using adjectives as nouns (e.g. “the deaf”; use instead
“student who is deaf”)
