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news:
Campus group bridges
racial gap
By Alexandria Sullivan
Online Forty-Niner
Cal State Long
Beach is a culturally diverse campus, but it is easy to take
advantage of that type of environment, said Alan Nishio, associate
vice president student services. However, a group of students
are working toward understanding racial groups with Voices
of Discovery sponsored by counseling and physiological services.
Voices of Discovery
is a six-week program where students are grouped with people
of different ethnicities and genders.
Voices of Discovery
has been a part of CSULB for three semesters. Rosa Moreno-Alcaraz
coordinator of Voices of Discovery explains the purpose of
this program.
"For people
to understand themselves better and understand others better,"
said Moreno-Alcaraz. "To have a more aware world view."
Student participants
each week discuss race by identifying stereotypes they have
and how they have become a part of their state of mind.
"I learned
to embrace my own group," said Cynthia Khatib, senior
international studies major. "It is a great way to break
down the barriers."
The program started
in University of Michigan in 1989. Racial incidences and student
protests increased on campus said Anna Yeakley, facilitator
for Voices of Discovery. Yeakley attended the university during
the birth of the first dialogue groups. Students requested
administration to provide a class to educate students about
ethnicity cultural diversity.
"This is a
group of students that appreciate and understand this is important
for their development and society we live in," Nishio
said.
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