Students and staff participated in an open forum Sept. 20, in which they discussed how to vocalize their opinion while dealing with discriminatory harassment.
Director of Student Counseling Joel Hutchinson said, "We were trying to help people understand what it is that keeps them from speaking when they see something that is in any way diminishing to other people."
He added, "A lot of people just don't speak."
Held at the Polytechnic Student Union, the Campus Environment Team hosted the forum on discovering and accepting personal prejudices, addressing discriminatory remarks and trying to overcome possibly uncomfortable situations.
Hanaga Fisher, an elementary education major, happened to walk by the Cooley Ballroom and decided to see what the lecture was about.
"Some of the things I say now, I didn't think were offensive," Fisher said. "It opened my eyes to the little things."
The forum was a part of the Provost Lecture Series, and it focused on "low-level exchanges." They're the things that often go unnoticed, said Hutchinson, head of CET.
Staff Psychologist Louise A. Welter said the purpose of the lecture was to help people overcome their "freeze response" and "enhance their skills in addressing discrimination."
CET is a program that, according to its mission statement, tries to monitor the campus environment.
During the lecture, Hutchinson and Welter asked the audience to consider some hypothetical situations.
One of the situations had two people in a classroom with someone saying, "That is so gay."
Many members of the audience expressed the desire to do something, and a few admitted that they wouldn't say something in that situation because they didn't consider it a negative connotation.
In the discussion, Hutchinson and Welter explored "blocks" that prevent people from taking a stance against discriminatory language.
They presented to the audience the "Ally Action Continuum," which is a measure for people to see how others respond to stereotyping, whether it's the propagation of stereotyping or prevention.
Points within the ACC are various. One example included making slurs or "oppressive jokes." It also addresses confronting oppression and actively working to take action in changing policies and thought that encourage discrimination.
Residence hall coordinator Jonathan Feit said he attended the lecture to explore new ways of implementing cultural programs and tolerance in residence halls for the students.
"Right now, I think there's an overwhelming problem with students not being able to confront other students," Feit said.
When confronting intolerance, it's important not to use shame, Hutchinson said. Instead, make people think.
One of the ways to do that is to pretend to be confused by inappropriate slurs or remarks. This forces them to think about it and puts them on the spot, Hutchinson added.
Welter said it's important to calm down, try to understand the situation and talk assertively.
Hutchinson asked the audience to think about how they would like to be approached if they were to make an inappropriate remark. He said to use that as a model for approaching others.
Lee Stokes, aeronautical management technology major, said the lecture didn't really change his point of view, but it gave him some ideas on how to respond to discrimination.
He said he never thought about going up to people and addressing discrimination.
Reach the reporter at Marc.Young@asu.edu.
