By Laurel Bennett, Staff Writer
Recently, students conducted a survey on campus to learn more about students’ perceptions of cultural visibility and appreciation. Juliette Rhinow ’25 and Kaiyah Taylor ’23 ran the survey as part of their course WGS 290: Practicum.
All students were placed with a local organization as a requirement of the course. Rhinow and Taylor were assigned to the Gettysburg YWCA.
“We have spent the semester working with Nancy Lilley, the current interim CEO and Advocacy Director, who presented us with a project to highlight cultural appreciation on campus,” Rhinow said.
Rhinow and Taylor sought to provide students a direct opportunity to give feedback on cultural visibility and appreciation on campus. After receiving feedback from students on the initial drafted questions, Rhinow and Taylor worked to promote their final survey.
“We began posting our survey around campus digitally and through physical flyers as well as emailing cultural and religious clubs on campus,” Rhinow said. “On March 16, cosponsored by the GSRC and YWCA, we hosted an incentivized event that doubled our survey responses.”
The survey consisted of five required questions and eight optional questions. Participants were required to identify their specific identity groups and the hours spent daily practicing their cultures prior to coming to Gettysburg and while at Gettysburg. Additionally, students noted their thoughts about practicing cultural traditions on campus and the impact or change their cultures have had on campus.
If desired, participants were able to request to participate in an interview. Other optional questions included whether students practice their cultures on campus and what barriers there are to practice their cultures. Participants also had the opportunity to reflect on how the college could better support students who practice their traditions on campus, as well as if they have used any resources on campus such as the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Director of International Student Services Brad Lancaster or Director of Religious and Spiritual Life and College Chaplain Bright.
Rhinow and Taylor sorted the responses into categories of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the campus. They hope to spread this information on cultural visibility and appreciation on campus and locally.
“[We will] hopefully share our findings through local news outlets, highlight what is working for students, and call to action future steps to make the campus increasingly welcoming,” said Rhinow.
Rhinow and Taylor hope that the results of their survey bring more awareness to the different cultures on campus and assess possible areas for improvements.
