Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a medium sized school located in a large town, in a rural area. As of the Fall 2013 semester minorities made up 16% of the student population. While this number seems insignificant, it is evident through the increased number of programs geared towards minority students that the university is making strides towards diversifying campus. Pamela Guzman is a student helping to make this change possible.
The Hispanic Heritage Council, African America Cultural Center, Office of International Education, Latino Student Organization, CALSA (Caring About Latino Student Achievement), JAPASO: Japanese Student Association, Black Emphasis Committee, as well as the number of culturally diverse Greek Letter organizations being explored, are just a few examples of the tremendous amount of growing programs and organizations for minority students. There are also a few new faculty member positions that hint progress towards a more racially and culturally diverse campus. The reasonably new Admissions Assistant Director in charge of Latino Recruitment Mr. Irvin Rivera and the even more recent Office of Social Equity with Dr. Pablo Bueno Mendoza as Assistant to the President for Social Equity, just to name a few.
Pamela Guzman is a sophomore Psychology major who I chose to highlight as this week’s Campus Celebrity because of her role in many of the above-mentioned programs. She holds board member positions in a range of clubs from Ritmo Dance, to more academically driven organizations. The newest and perhaps most important role she has added to her series of responsibilities is a Diversity Peer Educator in the Office of Social Equity. I asked Pam a few questions about the Office of Social Equity and her job as a Diversity Peer Educator. She answers them very intelligently below:
1) What is the Office of Social Equity?
The office of social equity is a comfortable space for students and faculty to find help and possibly the solution to their problems if they have faced racism, sexual harassment, sexism, or any kind of oppression on campus. To me personally, it’s a place where knowledge of diversity is cultivated and appreciated.
2) Why is it important to have an office of social equity on our campus?
It’s crucial to have an Office of Social Equity on campus because students, faculty, and staff should always be able to raise their concerns and have people to advocate, not for the most convenient side, but for the just and correct side. The Office of Social Equity has brought a lot of diversity awareness to campus, which I think is great, because as we prepare for the future, we must learn to accept different cultures and learn to collaborate with them, as the melting pot continues to “melt”.
3) What does a Peer Diversity Educator do?
To become a Diversity Peer Educator with the Office of Social Equity it is a semester-long training, which includes a lot of readings, critical thinking, and long discussions. I volunteer my time to educate myself on diversity history and issues, and ways to advocate for those who have faced any type of oppression at IUP, in order to be able to educate others and pass on the knowledge I am acquiring now.
Students should join the program and become Diversity Peer Educators because in order for us to see any difference, we have to make the difference. It’s by educating others, promoting, and delivering social equality that we will make the real difference and get to where we want to.
4) What kind of activities, events, workshops, etc. can we expect from the Office of Social Equity?
We will start facilitations in the Fall of 2014. Dr. Mendoza and Thomas [Graduate Assistant to the Office of Social Equity] did deliver a few facilitations this semester, as some CA’s requested them for their residence’s programs. The Office of Social Equity is now looking for students to apply for the Diversity Peer Educator Program. As far as student activities, expect the office to continue pushing for diversity awareness. I recommend everyone to be on the lookout next semester for the facilitations. They’re an entertaining way of learning and are very beneficial. I know the Diversity Student Council is working on an innovative and engaging activity for the fall; we’ll know more information once it is concrete. The point is, you will see more of us diversity advocators next semester!
5) What do you want students who read this to know about what the term “Social Equity” means?
For anyone who reads this, I would like you to know that ‘Social Equity’ is no longer a dream, it is a fight. We’re advocating overcoming the erroneous beliefs of our society and although we’re closer than yesterday, we still have a long journey ahead of us. It’s for that reason that as a student that cares for my community, I volunteer my time to programs such as the Diversity Peer Educators, which encourages students to continue to advocate for human equality without underestimating the beauty of our differences.