Various incidents have undermined race relations this semester at WSU. Among the many groups working to improve the foundation for building better relations are Graduate Educators Mentoring Students (GEMS). Most notably, the registered graduate student organization can claim two recent endeavors to bring students and administrators together.
First, GEMS sponsored an internationally known consultant who counseled those in attendance about resolving conflict and building community. Dr. Deryl G. Hunt, from Inclusive Community Building in Miami, Fla., spoke to about 150 people — many of them administrators — said DaVina Hoyt, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Association and founding member of GEMS.
“This shows that administrators do care about diversity on campus and are honestly making an effort to reach out to students,” Hoyt said. “Events like this are what the university needs to begin the healing process.”
Hunt’s presentation was part of Uncelebration Week in April, which was organized by the Coalition for Multicultural Student Presidents, ASWSU and Residence Life to foster awareness of diversity issues.
The second GEMS accomplishment was three members’ presentation of their survey findings at an international conference in late April in Italy. The fall 2004 survey of international students at WSU was remarkable, Hoyt said, because of the support received from WSU administration to both administer the survey and to agree to make changes to improve the educational experience of international students.
The international audience at the conference found the student-administration cooperation remarkable, as well.
“People were truly surprised when we told them the support we received from administration and their willingness to listen to students and support our academic endeavors,” Hoyt said.
“We were elated when the chair of our panel at the conference, an international scholar, told the audience that this was the best panel he has ever chaired.”
The GEMS members were the first students to ever participate in the conference — sponsored by the International Association for Intercultural Education and the National Association for Multicultural Education — but they were told their successful contribution would prompt future invitations to more students.
“Our model for success is simple,” Hoyt said of the GEMS survey findings and recommendations. “Students and administration must work collectively to improve the educational experiences of all students, especially international students who sometimes feel like they are not part of the university community.”
She said proof of that model for success can be found in the fact that WSU administration — in the form of International Programs and the Office of Equity and Diversity — helped fund the GEMS members’ trip to Italy.
“Both Dr. Hunt’s workshop and our presence and presentation at the conference show what students and administration can achieve when we work collectively,” Hoyt said.
GEMS members attending the conference were Hoyt, a doctoral student in cultural studies in the College of Education; Purba Das, an international doctoral student in communication; and Tara Jones, who is pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice.
GEMS encourages hierarchical mentoring — from administration, faculty and professionals, to graduate and professional students, undergrads, high schoolers and on down. A website for the conference in Italy can be found at https://www.iaie.org/website/1_verona.htm. For more on Hunt’s presentation at WSU, see https://www.dailyevergreen.com/disp_story.php?storyId=13108.
