What can you do to protect the rights of each member of the community?
Examine your own background and identity to help you determine how you can contribute to and benefit from the community. According to Martha Nussbaum, Professor of law and ethics at the University of Chicago Law School, a good understanding of diversity begins with the "capacity for critical examination of oneself and one's traditions." It is normal to find comfort and acceptance with people who have a similar set of interests and ideas. A fundamental and essential aspect that a university provides is the gathering of persons of diverse experiences and a multitude of perspectives. We assume that students will explore the different viewpoints and ideas represented at this university and will develop their own as well. Here are some general guidelines:
- Think before you speak: Could the way in which you express your ideas and opinions hurt someone else?
- Broaden your experience. Attend campus lectures and workshops, visit museums, and participate in cultural events.
- It is to be expected that there will be disagreements with others that should be articulated. In the spirit of open debate, it is also expected that you will remain respectful of others' points of view.
- Remember to listen. In some cases, that is all someone wants you to do.
- Learning also occurs outside the classroom. Be open to and respectful of what you can learn from others. Don't prejudge or dismiss other points of view.
- Challenge your own assumptions about people, and feel free to question others' assumptions. Test your ideas and engage others' ideas.
- Take the lead in trying to make others feel included and valued in the community.
- Speak up when people say offensive or hurtful things. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once noted, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends". Your silence might be interpreted as an agreement with the offending remarks.
- Communicate. If you have offended someone, talk to him/her. Try to understand that person's perspective and why the comment was perceived to be offensive.
- Urge anyone who feels personally attacked to report the incident to a member of the Bias Response Team.
What can I do to broaden my experience?
Some simple steps to accessing various perspectives include:
- Reading articles that discuss pertinent issues in different cultures;
- Volunteering at an on-campus, local or national event;
- Attending a lecture series or symposium or;
- Taking a University course on a specific cultural concern.
Additional Educational Resources
Below you will find a directory of educational resources aimed at assisting you in your pursuit. Though not an exhaustive list, the following directory of educational resources will provide you with a sound foundation from which to enrich your cultural experiences here at the University of Chicago.
