Common ground
found on retreat
■ Camp Lutherwood uses
group discussions in an
attempt to broaden
participants’ mindsets
By Beata Mostafavi
Oregon Daily Emerald
A blindfolded man is unmasked
to find himself in the midst of at
least 25 women lined up on either
side of him.
As he walks down the center,
they yell and call him “a piece of
meat” to show him what they expe
rience in their lives.
This was one of the scenes at last
weekend’s diversity development
retreat, organized in collaboration
with Oregon State University.
Participants traveled to Camp
Lutherwood in Cheshire for group
discussions and activities that fo
cused on topics surrounding class,
race and gender. These exercises
aimed to expand individuals’ view
points on the issues and give them
a better understanding of their own
cultural identities and how other
groups in society feel.
Dominique Beaumonte, Rashree
Parsad and Nicole Steiner, a few of
the retreat’s participants, agreed
that the trip served its purpose and
have come back with broadened
perspectives to offer the University.
Parsad, a junior public relations
and sociology major, said the re
treat taught students how to com
municate social issues such as gen
der and class to other students on
campus, and to encourage activism
around these subjects.
“We learned about how to ad
dress these issues in ways that are
constructive instead of deconstruc
tive,” she said.
Some activities concentrated on
the level of power and privilege
among African American, Cau
casian, Asian, Native American
and Hispanic groups.
Beaumontb, who is the director
of the Black Student Union and a
facilitator at the retreat, said these
activities gave him a better picture
of himself in relation to other
groups.
“So many times we focus on1
white people’s privileges,” he said.
“But from this, I saw how I person
ally am privileged.”
Parsad added that the exercises
initiated discussions where groups
could unite and share their ideas
about diversity issues with one an
other. She mentioned that issues
surrounding women of color are
different from women’s issues. She
said these discussions made people
aware that every person has a
unique perspective.
“The retreat was about finding
out where each individual stood on
these issues,” she said.
Steiner, an undeclared fresh
man, said she learned about differ
ent cultures and ethnic groups and
has become more aware about oth
er people’s beliefs. She added that
she’s now more motivated to stand
for other peoples issues.
“I’m more conscious about what
I’m wearing, doing and saying, and
I think about who it’s affecting
around me,” she said. “And I’ll be
more quick to ask questions about
things I don’t understand instead of
ignoring it.”
Parsad said that classrooms
should also engage in the kind of
discussions held at the retreat. She
added that although diversity is
sues are talked about in classes
such as sociology and ethnic stud
ies, they are issues that are impor
tant for every person to understand.
She wished the retreat was manda
tory or could have fulfilled a multi
cultural requirement because of the
awareness it raised.
“I go to school with everyone and
everyone goes to school with me,
but not everyone is on the same
page,” she said.
At the retreat, she said, “We
could express our differences and
views and find a common ground.”
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