By Jess Benninger ’26, staff writer
First-year students interviewed various people across LVC’s campus to explore the implications of discrimination.
Students enrolled in Dr. Matthew Sayers’ First-Year Experience course, Social Justice: Doing Right, have been learning about stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination and oppression. Upon wondering how these issues have affected those at LVC, students were tasked with interviewing two people on campus to learn more about their personal experiences. The students then engaged in a class discussion that facilitated a conversation regarding the responsibility of LVC’s campus to combat social justice issues.
Meghan Bussey, a first-year early childhood education and special education major, said that “this assignment opened [her] eyes to the events that were publicized on campus and how these issues were dealt with.”
The social justice students came to understand that many of the interviewees were unaware of the procedures that follow acts of discrimination.
“My favorite part of this assignment was hearing all the different perspectives,” Bussey said.
The wide range of interviewees allowed students to learn about how discrimination affects everyone on campus—not just students.
Following the class discussion, the social justice students were left wondering what they can do to help make a change on campus. One way for all students to get involved is by utilizing LVC’s Bias Response and Education Team (BRET) to report incidents of bias.
BRET seeks to provide resources to those who make reports. BRET does not carry out disciplinary actions, but bias incidents are subject to accountability through LVC’s disciplinary processes. Students can submit reports by calling the campus hotline at 866-943-5787, submitting a bias incident report form (https://www.lvc.edu/about/inclusive-excellence/bias-response-education-team/bias-incident-reporting-form/), or by calling public safety at 717-867-6111.
To learn more about BRET, visit https://www.lvc.edu/about/inclusive-excellence/bias-response-education-team/.