New students participated in a revamped orientation program Monday aimed at fostering dialogue about diversity. With a change in structure and funding, Pluralism in Action has received mostly positive reviews throughout the Georgetown University community.
Since its inception in 2001, PIA has been funded by grant money from the Hewlett Foundation. This year, however, the program was funded by the University. Along with this change in funding came a change in format. A student-led performance replaced a lecture by a guest speaker.
The performance was modeled after programs held at Barnard College and the University of Virginia. Student performers read excerpts from the biographic application essays of the class of 2008. After the performance, new students broke up into small groups for a student and faculty-led discussion.
“It wasn’t something made up, it wasn’t just abstract speeches,” Kendra Jackson (SFS ‘06), New Student Orientation coordinator for Pluralism in Action, said. “People actually wrote these stories, and [students] were sitting next to them, they were in the room, and they’re having classes with these people, and they’re probably going to live on the floor with them.”
According to Erika Cohen-Derr, director of Orientation and Leadership for the Office of Student Programs, the original program was conceived in the late ‘90s and was precipitated in part by incidents of bias-related hate speech and vandalism that occurred on campus.
Between 1998 and 2000 a menorah in Red Square was desecrated each year. The Muslim prayer room and the Black Student Alliance have also been the subject of highly publicized acts of discrimination.
Judging by the applause, reaction to the performance from new students was positive.
“I was really surprised by some of the stories, because these people definitely didn’t fit the profile of the typical Georgetown undergrad that I had,” Pat Curran (CAS ‘08) said. “At first I was really skeptical as to whether the event was a good idea.”
Prior to the performance, Georgetown University Student Association Vice President Luis Torres (CAS ‘05) gave a speech in which he described his struggle to come to terms with his sexuality and an eating disorder.
“I thought the speech by the first openly gay student council vice president of a major Catholic university was particularly powerful,” Josh Cook (SFS ‘08) said. “It goes to show how Georgetown can be dually Catholic and a school of the 21st century.”
Reaction to the discussion was, however, mixed.
“The discussion group seemed to be lacking,” Julia Damelio (MSB ‘08) said. “All we did was talk about the basics of diversity and respecting one another once we arrive in class.”
PIA coordinators believe the program’s success with new students will make it a permanent part of NSO. For some students this event was an introduction to a diversity-related program.
“My school, in Texas, we really didn’t have as much cultural background as this,” Pierce Bush (CAS ‘08) said.
“But that’s, I think, the greatest part of what Georgetown has to offer: all these different people, from different backgrounds.”
