University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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It n Expect Respect I I by zach gasior Students discuss multicultural issues in an intimate classroom setting. Diversity was one of the many strong suits of the University. L. Deaton photo features 71

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An Expect Respect button adorns a student ' s backpack. It was common to see students walking around in Expect Respect t-shirts as well as decorating their bags with buttons and stickers to promote the campaign. L. Worcester photo In 2006, the University began a new i to increase student, staff, and faculty awareness of hate crimes and bias-related incidents. The program was called Expect Respect. The program ' s extremely catchy slogan stated, Give it, Get it. Expect Respect. Most meetings took place in the University ' s residence halls. The Expect Respect program was instituted to teach people associated with the University about the terrible acts of hate and bias that, unfortunately, happened around campu s. By making these sorts of incidents and what they involved common knowledge among students, staff, and faculty, the University hoped to significantly decrease the occurrences of such acts and therefore make itself an example to other institutions. A major part of this program was providing multiple ways to report incidents when they occurred. In a letter to the students, staff, and faculty of the University, Vice President Royster Harper said, We must encourage those who witness or experience something that discriminates, stereotypes, excludes or harasses anyone based on some part of their identity to report it. The program offered three different ways to report incidents: in person, by telephone, or, if this was still too uncomfortable, by rilling out online forms that could be sent in to report the incident. All of these options created a secure system for students, staff, and faculty to step up, do the right thing, and make a . on campus. In order to ensure that members of the University actually reported incidents when they occurred, the program made sure that everyone understood why it was necessary to report such things. From the Expect Respect website, the program stated, If one member of our community engages in harassment or discrimination, the person subject to that behavior will not feel respected or genuinely valued, or that s he is an equal member of the University community. In understanding this, the University hoped that people around campus would understand that everyone had every right to be here and should be treated as if this campus were their home. In a letter to the University community, President Mary Sue Coleman stated, Our diversity is our strength. In knowing this, the Expect Respect program set out with a noble goal of educating everyone on campus about the fact that discrimnatory acts still took place. They knew that the only way to make a difference was for everyone to do their part to stop the hate crimes and bias incidents. expect respect

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nvestina in Ability ' lauren deaton X by Paws for a Cause brings their dogs to the Diag as part of Investing in Ability Week, which ran from October 24 through November 1 , 2006. The trainers and their dogs did demonstrations of tricks and other activities that the dogs did on a regular basis to assist their owners. L. Deaton photo investing in