2008 Woodie Awards
Cultural awareness starts in classroom
GU speaker shares thoughts on diversity
De Andra Kenoly, Staff Writer
Issue date: 11/21/06
Last Updated: 12/26/07
In order to spread awareness about cultural diversity, students must take the discussion about race and discrimination into the classrooms, said Raymond Reyes, associate vice president for diversity at Gonzaga University, in his lecture on cultural diversity last Thursday.
Reyes believes that events like Cultural Awareness Week are important, but the most important factor in raising cultural awareness is discussions amongst students and faculty about the problem of discrimination at Whitworth and in society.
"Ultimately we have to infiltrate the institution. And we got to do it from the inside out," Reyes said. "It isn't an outside action; it's the classroom. That's where it really can happen in terms of the serious conversations around either the historical or contemporary issues associated with oppression and racism."
Reyes says the problem of getting over the challenge of gaining more acceptance of cultural diversity in society is asking the wrong questions.
"It is not so much as having the right answers," Reyes said. "'Why is diversity such a challenge at Whitworth?' Maybe that's the wrong question to ask. Maybe it's not important to have an answer [to it]. Maybe what's more important is to come up with better questions."
Reyes said in order to be an advocate of cultural diversity, a person must know what they value.
"It is a simple act of knowing everyday what we stand for and how to illuminate to eliminate," Reyes said.
Reyes believes that events like Cultural Awareness Week are important, but the most important factor in raising cultural awareness is discussions amongst students and faculty about the problem of discrimination at Whitworth and in society.
"Ultimately we have to infiltrate the institution. And we got to do it from the inside out," Reyes said. "It isn't an outside action; it's the classroom. That's where it really can happen in terms of the serious conversations around either the historical or contemporary issues associated with oppression and racism."
Reyes says the problem of getting over the challenge of gaining more acceptance of cultural diversity in society is asking the wrong questions.
"It is not so much as having the right answers," Reyes said. "'Why is diversity such a challenge at Whitworth?' Maybe that's the wrong question to ask. Maybe it's not important to have an answer [to it]. Maybe what's more important is to come up with better questions."
Reyes said in order to be an advocate of cultural diversity, a person must know what they value.
"It is a simple act of knowing everyday what we stand for and how to illuminate to eliminate," Reyes said.
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