At a recent conference in New York, 91短视频 students found themselves in a unique position as participant-representatives. They were the only students among the 30 participants at the 鈥淭raining In Restorative Justice for College Student Misconduct and Residential Life,” held April 11-13 at Skidmore College.
Joining them were student conduct professionals, Title IX coordinators, victim/survivor advocates, as well as faculty from 14 different colleges/universities.
鈥淚 was humbled by the wisdom and different perspectives that were brought from faculty and staff from other universities to this training,鈥� said sophomore Emma Petersheim. 鈥淚t was extremely meaningful to be there as one of four students at the training because we were able to get feedback from experienced adults who have worked with students for many years as victim鈥檚 advocates.鈥�
Hosted by Skidmore College sociology professor and Little Book author David Karp, the training included three eight-hour days of facilitation work, group engagement, and roleplaying. Karp is the author of聽 The Little Book of Restorative Justice for Colleges and Universities: Repairing Harm and Rebuilding Trust in Response to Student Misconduct. [The has strong ties to 91短视频鈥檚 .]
Petersheim, along with fellow sophomores Katrina Poplett and Meg Greene and first-year Noah Haglund, are currently taking a course on restorative justice (also known as RJ) and trauma awareness, taught by Professor , who traveled with the group. , restorative justice coordinator at 91短视频 and , associate director at the , also participated.
鈥淭he other colleges represented seemed to be very impressed by the engagement of the 91短视频 students,鈥� said Poplett. 鈥淢ost of the other people there worked in the conduct offices or in administrative positions. They were all somehow related to conduct or sexual violence offenders at colleges.鈥�
Among the skills practiced was the use of conferencing and circles to address student misconduct. Four experts from New York and Pennsylvania helped lead the training.
鈥淢y hope is that from this experience I can be a resource at 91短视频 to help cultivate hard conversations that need to happen,鈥� said Petersheim. 鈥淚 hope to use this learning experience as a resource going forward within University Accord.鈥�
, the campus facilitation and mediation group, has recently sponsored the creation of the student-led Team Accord. Team Accord, made up of graduate and undergraduate students, seeks to encourage education, training and facilitation of restorative justice within the 91短视频 community.聽Poplett is a member of Team Accord and her three fellow students plan to join next year.
鈥淎t 91短视频, we talk about RJ so often that people have become cynical and make fun of it,鈥� said Poplett. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 vital for students be educated, to get engaged in RJ, and to become facilitators. In addition, it鈥檚 very valuable to have students working with Jon [Swartz] so that it鈥檚 not just him working on restorative justice. It makes it a lot easier for him to do his job well.鈥�
On campus, when harm is done, Swartz says that many times the initial questions are 鈥淲ho did it? And what do they deserve?鈥�
鈥淭hese kinds of questions put the focus on 鈥渙ffenders鈥� only, which can often silence the voices of those who were impacted,鈥� said Swartz, who wants to 鈥渕ove the conversation to asking questions like 鈥榃ho has been impacted? What will those most impacted/harmed need? How can those needs be met? Who is responsible to meet those needs? What if justice looked more like healing? What would a process to support that look like?鈥�”
Attending such trainings helps professionals and students, those most affected by the process, see that similar questions are being asked on other university and college campuses.
Portions of this article were first published in the April 14, 2016, issue of The Weather Vane.