While representatives from each of the five senates on campus are meeting to plan a framework for the Cultural Awareness Training for Students, or CATS, initiative proposed by Ohio University President Roderick McDavis, senators and students alike are speaking out about what they would like to see in the initiative.
Student Senate Minority Affairs Commissioner Sara Izquierdo said many frameworks have been proposed for CATS, but it is possible that the initiative will take the form of a program similar to AlcoholEdu or HAVEN.
“It’s really up in the air at this point,” Student Senate President Hannah Clouser said. “It could be a class, it could be training, or it could be similar to AlcoholEdu. We’re not totally sure what the final requirement from the task force will be.”
Some senators discussed using a program similar to Alcohol Edu for the training. Those who support the idea agree that, for the program to be effective, there should be minor differences from the AlcoholEdu program that already exists.
“I would personally like to see a class similar to the AlcoholEdu course, but with more engagement,” Minority Affairs Vice-Commissioner Nicholas Crawford said. “Down the road there could be a lot more ways to go about this training.”
Crawford added that the program should be mandatory, because an optional program would only draw the attention of people who see the problem and want to fix it, rather than those who could be part of the problem.
Bristol Stout, a freshman studying political science pre-law, said she would prefer a cultural sensitivity program that counted for class credit.
“I feel Alcohol Edu didn’t resonate with students because it was both mandatory and long,” Stout said. “I think sensitivity training would open up students to bias and social issues they weren't aware of, while also providing both tangible and intangible benefits if a credit system was implemented.”
Stout’s opinion about AlcoholEdu was echoed by a few other students.
University Life Commissioner Jacob Haskins said cultural sensitivity training could be added to classes that already exist, such as Writing and Rhetoric I, creating the opportunity for class credit by participating in such a program.
“I would like to see the classes that are already in place make those required as opposed to making an entirely new class,” Haskins said. “If it’s addressed in the curriculum, everyone will have it.”
SAC Vice Commissioner Haley Klier said she wanted the CATS initiative to be applied to SAC funding, so that student organizations would be required to undergo diversity training and show diversity reflected in their events to receive SAC funding.
Klier said regardless of the type of program selected, she hopes it would be inclusive for all students.
“I think (students) want a solution that will bring the whole campus together, whatever that may be,” she said.
Despite having varying viewpoints, most agreed that the CATS initiative is a worthy cause.
“We need to end or limit discrimination as much as possible, and create a better sense of harmony with all of the students,” Crawford said. “Hopefully the CATS program can be an effective way to end discrimination.”
