Diversity class sparks new way of thinking for students

You sit in a lecture next to your peers, in the dark, watching a movie that hits you so deeply it
brings you to tears. The movie ends and the light from the projector fades; you sit for a moment
in silence that is interrupted by quiet sobs. The lights turn back on and reveal the impact the
movie had on everyone. You are then encouraged to discuss your emotions and why the film had
such an impact on you; that is what happens in Dr. J.W. Wileys Examining Diversity Through
Film course.

The main goal I have, as the professor of EDTF, is to raise peoples consciousness about their
hypocrisy and help people become allies and leaders, Wiley said.

With the help of his interns, teaching assistants and film clips, Wiley can help students
understand diversity on a deeper level, in addition to becoming successful graduates.

Dr. J.W. Wiley is the director of the Center for Diversity, Pluralism and Inclusion at the State
University of New York at Plattsburgh and has been lecturing EDTF, among other courses, since
2001. EDTF covers six themes including ability, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and
social class.

Wiley runs EDTF the way he does because the raw emotion felt by students fuels the concepts
presented in the class, sparking that deeper understanding.

EDTF is centered on conversation and getting students to discuss and confront their hypocrisy.
Those discussions, according to Wiley, allow the students to end up in a lot of different places.

Confronting students language is one of the places. Words like you guys, girl, or retarded
are deeply imbedded in our culture; Wiley cautions that these seemingly innocent words can
have a lasting effect.

I call Barack Obama the social justice president. He gets it on so many levels, but he would still
walk into a room full of people, and at least half of the room are women, and say you guys,
Wiley said.

Many students are not aware of how closed-minded they are until they take Wileys class,.
Stephen Larson, a senior majoring in marketing and business administration, came to many
realizations while taking EDTF.
I went into class thinking I was a very diverse and accepting person who understood where a lot
of people have been. The class really opened my eyes to how much that was not the case,
Larson said.

EDTF helped Larson correct his use of language and better how he challenges people on
diversity issues.

I am able to step up now and become an ally; Larson said, I use what I learned in EDTF in
my RA role ever single day.

Mandi Spofford, a senior majoring in psychology, also came to many realizations and, because of
her new awareness, made changes.
My language has definitely changed because of EDTF. To be better encompassing, I use First
Language, which implies that we are all people over anything else and that our race, our class,
our gender doesnt define who we are, Spofford said.

One of the reasons the lessons Larson and Spofford learned stuck with them so well was because
of the movie clips.
Emotion opens peoples minds up because theyre trying to figure out why they are so
emotional when they havent been emotional about something like this before, Wiley said.
The movie clips show you opportunities in which you can step up in real life. You see these
visual examples of instances where people dont step up, and, if and when you confront
something like that in the future, you are then prepared because youve had that visual example,
Larson said.

Watching a scenario play out right in front of you and seeing exactly where the problem lies
enhances the ideas we talk about; Spofford said, having a visual is a stronger argument then
just talking.

Wiley has a story he likes to tell about a graduate who was strongly affected by EDTF. The
graduate was only taking the course to fulfill a general education requirement, but little did she
know she was in for a life-changing experience.
She hated me. She hated me because without calling out her name, without even knowing
her, I was calling her out on everything she was doing that was dysfunctional, Wiley said.

The student had already formed her own opinions before taking the class and was not used to
talking about the concepts Wiley was presenting.
On Wileys website students are encouraged to give feedback about his course. This particular
graduates testimonial said, I discovered the process of self-enlightenment. I realized it was
impossible to live in a diverse world with such narrow-minded opinions. I now consider how my
words and actions could potentially harm an individual, the friend or relative of an individual, or
an entire portion of society.
Wiley said, She went through the whole class really hating the messenger, but she slowly started
to understand the message.
The student ended up taking two more classes taught by Wiley and, after graduating, was hired in
a field where diversity is the main focus.

Students confront these taboo subjects, discuss them, and learn that they can make a
difference. Wiley has one goal, I want the students to be more considerate.

He believes that once the students learn how to be considerate, stepping into leadership moments
and becoming an ally will follow.
Wiley said, You can step into leadership moments or try and be an ally, but still not be as
considerate as you need to be.
Spofford and Larson have both understood what it means to be considerate after taking EDTF.
I have learned to be more open, accepting and less judgmental. I have learned to understand
people more completely and not just take people at face value, Spofford said.

Ive changed so much, in just everyday language, and in how I step up and become an ally. The
class really taught me how to step back and listen and observe in every moment, Larson said.
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