An exciting diversity project operating out of the School of Arts and Social Sciences and aligned with the Centre for Peace and Social Justice finished up recently with the last of this year’s events, the Living Library @ SCU (see below). The project, funded under a Higher Education Equity Support Program (HEESP) Grant secured by Assoc Prof Baden Offord, Dr Rob Garbutt and Dr Shelagh Morgan, operated under the theme “Beyond Tolerance – Thinking Diversity” and sought to explore the concept of diversity as a source of mutual enrichment, rather than an issue to be “managed”. By facilitating encounters with “difference”, it questioned the utility and relevance of tolerance as the underlying metaphor for a society made up of diverse and unique individuals. Events that were organised as part of the project came in trusted styles such as conferences, festivals and art exhibitions, as well as more innovative approaches such as talking circles or living library sessions.
The first event was held in late May to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum on the place of Indigenous Australians in the constitution. Formed two months earlier as part of the “Beyond Tolerance” project’s long-term vision, the Southern Cross University Indigenous Events Coordinating Committee (SCUIECC) published a Critical Reader: a collection of essays, art and short stories from students and staff focussing on the anniversary and its meaning, which is available for loan from the University Library. Furthermore, collective artworks on huge banners were created across all three SCU campuses and on Lismore campus, an Elders’ Lunch and a Talking Circle were held, which included students, staff and members of the wider community. It allowed for deep listening, meaningful exchanges and the creation of a space in which to move forward towards reconciliation.
The second event for the year was SCU NAIDOC Week, traditionally held as a one-day celebration in the second week of semester two, after the official celebrations (which usually fall in semester break), and it was again organised by SCUIECC. For the first time ever, SCU experienced a whole week of events, jam-packed with cultural ceremonies, dance, musical and artistic performances and free workshops for all students by Indigenous artists, educators and professionals. In collaboration with University departments such as Gnibi College, the Media Unit in the School of Arts and Social Sciences and the Department of Natural and Complementary Medicine, these ranged from bush medicine to film-making and men’s and women’s workshops. A NAIDOC Week address by Prof Judy Atkinson, an Indigenous film night and a fundraising concert for the Jimmy Little Foundation provided further exciting options and a Kids’ Day on Friday rounded off the week, with close to 100 children attending from pre-schools, primary schools and high schools from the local area, and as far away as Cabbage Tree Island, Bonalbo and Tabulam. The children were welcomed, hosted and invited to perform songs and dances on a stage, all the while able to engage in numerous creative activities provided for them by students from the Master of Indigenous Trauma and Healing, for whom this work provided opportunities for practical engagement as part of their unit “Working with Children”.
Another milestone of the Beyond Tolerance project was the Diversity in Education Conference, held at Invercauld House in Lismore on 24 August 2007. The event drew more than 100 participants from the University, local high schools and the wider community, and was well-received by all who attended. Financial assistance offers were made available for students from designated equity groups. After a Welcome to Country and a stirring keynote address by Dr Janet McDonald from the University of Southern Queensland, the event saw two panels of University staff, including the Vice-Chancellor, the Head of the School of Law and Justice, and the Head of Gnibi College, and high school staff discuss the promotion and sustaining of diversity in education in an effort to move beyond tolerance. After morning tea, the conference broke into concurrent sessions, where participants could choose between a multitude of presentations and workshops on diverse topics such as “Inclusive education for people with multiple disabilities – a family perspective”, “Campus Spirituality from Atheism to Zen (and the Quest for Common Ground)” or “Indigenous Pedagogy: Beyond Access and Participation”. All presenters had responded to a call for abstracts which substantially involved not only University researchers and postgraduate students, but particularly encouraged undergraduates and community members to contribute. Finally, a student panel reflected on the issues raised and points discussed throughout the day, and gave everyone an opportunity to again contribute to wide-ranging discussions. All up, it was a fantastic effort and the overwhelming sentiment expressed by those who participated was to hold it again in 2008. A conference link has been created to archive the program & presentations: http://www.scu.edu.au/research/cpsj/events.html
A further facet of the project were two art exhibitions in August and October, organised and coordinated by Dr Shelagh Morgan from the Visual Arts Program in the School of Arts and Social Sciences: the Student Art Prize and the Diversity Dialogues exhibition. While the student Art Prize focused on the topic of “Beyond Tolerance” and was open to all students enrolled at SCU, the Diversity Dialogues exhibition featured works by Visual Arts students as well as a photographic exhibition by SCU Media Officer Zoe Satherley. Southern Cross University’s Next Art Gallery and Alleyway Gallery in Magellan St, Lismore, were the venues for the exhibitions, whose openings in particular drew many visitors and which are testament to the artistic ability and intellect of our students and staff.
The SCU Fusion Festival was another major event in September 2007. Held across three campuses to coincide with International Student Day, the festival was the culmination of the hard work put in by the Fusion Committee. Like SCUIECC (see above), it was part of the longer-term vision of the Beyond Tolerance project to embed appreciation and celebration of diversity in the institutional culture of the University. The Committee was made up of students and staff from across the University, including all campuses and many departments, offices and faculties, who all had a strong interest in making international and multicultural events happen at SCU. While Tweed and Coffs campuses organised their own one-day events, in Lismore the Fusion Festival lasted four days. Keen to engage students, staff and the community in multiple ways beyond the traditional “food and dance” routine (which nonetheless were included), the Festival involved dance and percussion workshops, peace ceremonies, musical performances, sporting and entertainment events, a film night, public lectures and discussion panels on human rights and reconciliation as well as a tree planting ceremony with students from all over the world. A truly multicultural and multifaceted event, the Festival was a major success and planning is now underway for an exciting program for 2008.
The final event of the Beyond Tolerance project, as mentioned above, involved hosting the Living Library @ SCU. Based on an innovative concept in personalised diversity education, pioneered in Australia by the Lismore City Library and Lismore City Council, Beyond Tolerance teamed up with the University Library and the Lismore Living Library Committee to recruit human “books” from amongst our students and staff. After a series of information and orientation sessions, the “books” made themselves available to be “borrowed” by “readers” for half-hour conversations about their unique backgrounds, from having cult experiences to being a Muslim student or being a 21st century grandmother. The opportunity and expectedness to ask deeply personal questions in order to learn about diversity beyond stereotypical generalisations in the media proved a valuable alternative learning experience. While attendance was lower than expected, all who did participate expressed strong support and delight at having been part of an amazing process. It is hoped that SCU will maintain its cooperation with the Lismore Living Library Committee and perhaps introduce the event as a novel introductory experience during Orientation Week.
As the project has now drawn to a close, it is now time to reflect on this year’s activities and plan ahead for 2008. While starting out as a small venture, Beyond Tolerance has quickly developed into a behemoth and instigated many exciting processes at various levels within the University. Especially the cross-campus and cross-departmental nature of collaboration on diversity events is a heartening development, particularly in terms of what might be in store for 2008. With committed individual students and staff, supported by their departments and the University at large, a lot of positive things can happen in diversity education here at SCU.