The document proposes a diversity education course for freshmen at SEMO to help students from different backgrounds learn to respect others in a diverse community. It suggests including the histories and lifestyles of different races, having faculty teach from various perspectives to avoid stereotyping, encouraging study abroad to experience living as a minority, and assignments that encourage perspective-taking across racial groups. It also recommends asking staff to share their experiences promoting diversity in the workplace. Finally, it argues that students penalized for racist behavior should receive diversity education rather than expulsion, and that Greek organizations need oversight on student activities.

1. SaleehaSyed
The immediate actiontobe takeninFall 2015 at SEMO isofferingacourse on DiversityEducationfrom
the departmentof UniversityStudiesforFreshmanstudents,sothatstudents fromdifferent
backgroundsknow howto addressandcope in a diverse community,orhow to be respectful of others.
Some ideasonthe Curriculum:
 Include lifestylesof differentracesinthe UnitedStatesandabroad. Historyand backgroundare
alsotwo essentialpartsotherthancurrent issues,whichwill helpstudentslearn how things
have beenevolvedorchangedsofar. Bothfacultiesandstudentsshouldshare their
explanationsandfeedbacks.
 Train the facultiestoletthe studentssee variousincident(s) fromdifferentperspectives, sothat
studentsdonot stereotype.
 The Study Abroadprogramshouldbe highlyencouragedsothatlocal studentsexperience howit
feelstolive inacommunitydifferentfromtheybelongedto.Asa result,theywill be more
encouragedininclusionof minoritiesinthe communityanddifferentgroups.
 Assignments:Eachstudentschoose toplace herself orhimself in arace whichshe or he does
not belongto(e.g.ablack studentwill choose the white race,awhite race will choose tobe
Asian);studyonthat race; make some effortsonhow to create the communityandthe campus
a betterplace forthe people of othergroups(consideringfromthe perspective thatnow they
belongtoa differentrace).
 Askstaffsto be guestsand speakonwhat theydoto work ina multi-cultural environmentwith
co-workersfromdiverse races.Thiswillencourage the staffsthemselvestolearnhow toadopt
and workcomfortablywithco-workersfromdifferentraces.Hence,promotingdiversityatwork
isimportant.
Whenit comesto grading,some studentsthinktheyare notreceivingadesiredgrade due the partiality
of faculties.Thisproblemcanbe solvedby showingasample work before the studentssubmittheir
works,lettingthe studentsbe aware of the gradingrubrics,andprovidingnecessaryfeedbacks.
Recently,twostudentshave beenpenalizedforleadingaracistchant in the Universityof Oklahoma.I
believebeforeanexpulsion,aninstitutionneedstomake sure if the studentsare educatedabout
respectingotherraces.Also,the advisorsof differentfraternitiesandsororitiesshouldguide and
supervise the activitiesof the students.Whenauniversityconsidersabouthavingknowledge of every
incidentsorwhatgoeson ina campus, the Greeklife shouldfallunderthatwatchtoo.