Diversity project gains recognition

A project aimed at increasing knowledge about diversity issues and providing related academic initiatives in University residence halls was recently given the Outstanding Commitment to Diversity Award by the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO).

The award was presented to the “Quads Project” during the GLACUHO regional conference Nov. 7-9 in Cleveland.

The project was conducted last fall, bringing together collective residential environments within Harshman and Kreischer quadrangles. It successfully linked academics to residence life and reached the needs of more than 2,500 students and staff on campus.

Ryan Keytack, the project organizer and a resident adviser at the time, said project leaders wanted “to do something neat with the residents” involving more academic initiatives in the residence halls. He noted that the award “says a lot about BGSU” and its initiative to challenge students and expose them to diversity.

According to nominator Deborah Novak, assistant director of residence life, the idea that discrimination and the shadow of oppression are felt in both direct and indirect ways was addressed throughout the project.

“It’s a program that teaches people how to respond to the community,” added Keytack. “It challenged people who were uncomfortable with the topic (of diversity).”

The project focused on social issues raised by “The Laramie Project,” a play by Moises Kaufman about the aftermath of the ruthless killing of gay Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, which was BGSU's required Common Reading Experience for fall 2003.

First-year students, learning-community residents and all members of the residence life staff, among others, brought the reading to life through discussions related to diversity, social justice issues and the community. Students earned course credit while gaining a better understanding of the difficult reading of the play.

Residence life staff, including Director Linda Newman and Associate Director Nick Hennessy, also helped make the Quads Project a success.

“It helped the BGSU community by providing a program that was clearly linked to 'The Laramie Project,' and was able to join activities in the residence halls with things going on in the classroom,” said Hennessy. “It also provided good educational programming regarding an important topic of diversity.”

The project comprised a number of events and activities. One, the Matthew Shepard Vigil, was held on the anniversary of Shepard’s beating. Students and faculty gathered around a stage surrounded by life-size fences bearing the words “Don’t hate me because I’m different.” The fences remained standing as a reminder throughout the project.

" Queer Eye for the BG Guy" capped the Quads Project and was featured in local newpapers. Men from both residence halls had the opportunity to enter an essay contest explaining how the project helped their growth as an individual. Four heterosexual students were selected along with five members of BGSU’s gay community to engage in particular areas of the gay culture for a weekend. The event was filmed and the footage edited into a movie that was later shown on campus. Later, Ohio State University and Baldwin Wallace College requested assistance from BGSU to help them succeed in their own “Queer Eye” programs.

Other events during the project included an improvisation workshop, a diversity movie marathon and a diversity-themed ice cream social. Each program was designed to trigger awareness and perspective about the self and the community.

“It was unique because it offered so many different formats and degrees of programs that any student could enjoy, whether they chose to get more deeply involved, or simply wished to be more passively involved,” Hennessy said.

According to Novak, “The Quads Project made a huge impact on individuals within the residence halls, but the impact to the entire BGSU community and beyond was inspiring, moving and groundbreaking.”

“It was a powerful program, and it was amazing to see the staff and students come together in planning it,” said Hennessy.