Racial stereotypes, conflict examined

By Chris Ledermuller
Daily Forty-Niner

A series of dialogues between different race groups on campus called "Voices of Discovery" is set to begin Monday.

Counseling and Psychological Services is sponsoring the series which consists of four dialogue groups that will meet two hours a week for six weeks, according to the program's press release. The groups will also participate in activities dealing with personal experiences and conflicts between races.

"The purpose is to foster meaningful interaction between students of different ethnic backgrounds," said Rosa Moreno-Alcaraz, a psychologist in Counseling and Psychological Services who introduced the program to Cal State Long Beach

"Voices of Discovery" was originally created at Arizona State University, and CSULB began the program last spring, incorporating the dialogues to reflect the diversity on campus.

Increasingly, college campuses have students of different ethnic backgrounds, religions and sexual orientations, but the diversity has fostered misunderstanding and conflict between different groups, according to the press release.

Jerry Kernes, an intern from Arizona State University who is scheduled to be a group facilitator, said students tend to stay among others with similar characteristics, one of the problems commonly found on diverse campuses.

"I think the old adage is ëbirds of a feather flock together,' " he said. "You don't see groups interacting with each other very much."

The program is designed to break down these barriers.

Each group has two facilitators, one student and one doctoral intern, who oversee activities and progress of eight to 10 student participants, according to the press release.

Two dialogue groups are for Asian-American women and Latinas. The third dialogue group is between Latinos and whites of both sexes and the last group is for African-American and white women.

Once groups are formed, all meetings are confidential, Kernes said. Privacy measures are necessary for the program to work successfully.

"The reason we do that is because it's easier to process your stereotypes in a safe, secure environment," he said. "The groups can get a little bit heated, but things are worked out safely."

Participants will perform several exercises that recognize personal values, stereotypes and discrimination throughout six weeks. Participants will fill out a program survey to gauge personal attitudes before and after their six-week sessions, according to the press release.

So far, 25 students are already signed up for the program, said Moreno-Alcaraz. She is aiming for 40 to 50 participants this semester.