Diversity Peer Educators lead campus community in encouraging discussion
Diversity Peer Educators (also known as DPEs) teaches students about topics on campus that are otherwise difficult to discuss. (Photo courtesy of Sitting Inside My Head.)
By Chelsea Donohue, Staff Writer
A new group, the Diversity Peer Educators (also known as DPEs), has emerged on campus with the responsibility of understanding and teaching others about diversity here at the College. The DPEs are a group of student leaders who, after considerable training, help to promote and encourage conversations that can sometimes be difficult on campus. Discussing issues such as sexism, classism, racism, and homophobia, the DPEs seek to promote a better understanding of diversity on campus.
The program organizes various workshops and activities to achieve its goals. The two advisors for the program are Juan Burns and Jennifer McCary. According to Burns, the DPEs are able to promote understanding and respect on campus by discussion. He explained, “The Diversity Peer Educators will facilitate discussions with their peers about cultural awareness, diversity, and inclusion in an effort to create [a] more inclusive campus community.”
Being a DPE requires an individual to be dedicated to helping his or her fellow classmates and friends understand the differences around them.
According to Mr. Burns, finding the first DPEs was a process in which he and McCreary sought out “students who were committed to making a difference on campus.” These students went through an interview process and were chosen to fit the dynamic of the group. Burns also describes the DPEs’ involvement in other groups on campus.
Burns revealed the extensive involvement of DPEs in a variety of campus activities, “Many of our DPE members are part of many organizations on campus: NAACP, Black Student Union, Alpha Phi Omega, Students Against Sexual Assault, Alpha Kappa Delta, Sociological Honors Society, just to name a few.”
These students’ objectives are clear: Promoting understanding and encouraging education through conversation are two of their main goals. According to their mission statement, the DPEs are seeking to positively change the campus “by helping to create a learning environment that celebrates diversity.” Their vision is to “encourage civic and social responsibility” through various activities that are connected to other groups and organizations.
The current DPEs are students of all class-years, with majors varying from Political Science to Chemistry. And they have a lot to prepare for and look forward to.
According to Burns, February will be an important month for the Diversity Peer Educators. Feb. 4-8 will be Diversity Peer Educators Week, as established by the Office of College Life. There will also be an event that month that the DPEs will take part in. On February 9, the DPEs will help with the Social Justice Institute that is taking place on campus that day. It will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in CUB 260. According to its webpage, this event “will bring together passionate students who desire to gain a better understanding of social justice and to be a change agent on campus.”
