Multicultural Leadership Retreat a life-altering experience

After viewing the film "Last Chance for Eden,” students talk, one-on-one, about aspects of the film that had an impact on them.

2:12 p.m., April 23, 2004--UD’s Office of Residence Life’s annual multicultural leadership retreat won national recognition when it received the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) "Outstanding Residence Hall Program, Long Program" award April 4, at ACPA’s annual convention in Philadelphia.

Since the annual retreat began in 2000 with 25 people, more students have been asking to participate each year. Michele Kane, assistant director of residence life, said they have to limit the number of students they can accommodate so that the interactions will be meaningful.

The 2004 retreat took place in February, in Malvern, Pa., at the Homewood Suites Hotel. For two days and one night, students joined in activities designed to give them an understanding and feeling for what it must be like to be different or privileged.

“Some began re-evaluating what they had been taught their whole lives based on what they were hearing. The weekend was a success but not an ending,” Kane said. The group included men and women with different ethnic backgrounds and about a third were freshman, she said.

“It is not often that an undergraduate student gets the opportunity to participate in such a life-altering experience,” Kevin Tressler, Russell Complex resident assistant and senior communication major, said. “It was only three days, but they were important. I don't think I'll ever look at race issues the same way again.”

“The activities and the discussions were very open, honest and frank. There's no question that at times it was difficult, but fundamental change doesn't come easy. I think that this type of activity is precisely what the university community needs—open, honest dialogue,” Tressler said.

Two interactive exercises that brought students into each other’s worlds were called “Privilege Walk” and “Circle Step-in.”

During “Circle Step-in,” students stand in a circle and a facilitator names an “identity,” such as a person from the East Coast, gay, African American, a fraternity brother, oldest child. Then those who identify with each identity step into the circle and tell the group what they want everyone to know about that part of them.

During “Privilege Walk,” everyone stands in a line holding hands as everyday life’s privileges are mentioned. Those to whom these privileges apply step forward, leaving those to whom the privileges don’t apply outside the inner circle. The experiences, such as:

“I can get bandaids the color of my skin”;
“There is always food on the table”;
“I can walk hand in hand with my partner without fear of being hurt”;
“I can afford a college education”;
“Knowing the cost for dry cleaning”;
“Haircuts and clothing will not be priced differently for my gender”; and
“Seeing people of my race widely represented in the media.”

By the end of the activity, there is a clear visualization of those who are privileged and those who are not, Kane said.

It was the third retreat for senior Alexandra “Sasha” Gamburg, an English major. "It was a thought-provoking experience that I think is very important for everyone. It had me thinking about the privileges I have and take for granted every dayŠ. I am grateful for the conversations I was party to there. It was intense but well-worth the time commitment."

In addition to the interactive exercises, participants watched and discussed a film, “Last Chance for Eden,” by Lee Mun Wah, a documentary filmmaker and facilitator for the retreat, consisting of revealing conversations with nine women and men as they explore the pain that racism and sexism have caused in their lives.

Article by Barbara Garrison
Photo courtesy of the Office of Residence Life

E-mail this article

To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here.