Monday, September 19, 2016 | Volume 212 | Number 20 | 40 cents | iowastatedaily.com | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890.
Lecture identifies issues of diversity Professor stresses importance of diverse teaching By Jake.Dalbey @iowastatedaily.com
G N I GETT R O F P HEL L A T N E M H T L A HE By Lindsey.Davis @iowastatedaily.com What is wrong with you? You’re such a weak person for needing help. It’s all in your head. Think of any mental health issue. Now think of a stigma that is associated with the illness. Did it take very long to think of one? Chances are slim. Mental health problems have long carried stigmas that are stubborn to dismantle, but they, like any other illness or condition, are valid and undeserving of yielding negative connotations. The mission of Iowa State’s Student Counseling Services (SCS), located on the third floor of the Student Services Building, is to “promote the positive development and mental health of ISU students and to effectively deal with student crises.” SCS provides counseling
COUNSELING p4
Speaking on issues related to diversity in the college curriculum, Geneva Gay, professor of education at the University of Washington-Seattle, presented solutions to the problems on Friday. As part of a twoday development workshop titled “Expanding Diversity Perspectives: A Curriculum Workshop,” the lecture was designed speGENEVA cifically for Iowa GAY State staff and faculty members to learn more about the importance of diverse teaching methods. Gay stressed throughout the meeting that the importance of action as change often can be halted by a lack of dedication, especially the use of “awareness” when discussing diversity. “Awareness is not an active mindset, as even a racist is aware that he is racist,” Gay said. To illustrate this point, Gay mentioned the use of enrollment numbers as a way universities measure diversity, a method she believes is ineffective. “We count bodies as number crunchers, but we don’t always know what we’re talking about when using these numbers,” Gay said. “Numbers can be ambiguous, as the exact terms behind statistics can be unknown.” Gay presented cultural responsiveness as a hot topic across the world and in schools everywhere. Because of the broad use of the term, Gay sees the idea of cultural representation possibly being skewed by positions of power. “Higher powers may ask faculty to come up with their own plans for diversity representation but do not come prepared with plans of their own,” Gay said.”There’s a misuse of culture, a rape of its power and integrity.” Gay believes that due to the structure of a university being centered around learning, saying if someone wishes to help but doesn’t know how is not an acceptable excuse, as many possible routes to gain knowledge exist. On top of creating more initiatives toward an active culturally diverse curriculum, Gay sees the term of diversity swaying from specific to broad needs. “Diversity is becoming “phantomsized” like a ghost,” Gay said. “It’s there at some points but absent in others, meaning we need to give more substance to this notion.
DIVERSITY p3
State treasurer: Clinton is ‘for all of us’ By Alex.Connor @iowastatedaily.com Story County Democrats met Saturday for a weekend of canvassing in support of their presidential candidate of choice Hillary Clinton. The intent of the weekend was to rally supporters and act as a gentle reminder that early voting in Iowa will begin Saturday, Sept. 29, and run through Election Day. Kate Waters, Iowa press secretary for Clinton, said the focus of the event, which occurred all across the state of Iowa, was to inform the voters they contact about how, when and where they can vote early. Iowa Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald also was in attendance to get those canvassing fired up and excited about voting for Clinton this election season. Fitzgerald has been a long-time supporter of Clinton, endorsing her in July 2015 over then-opponents Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Maryland Gov. Martin
O’Malley. Fitzgerald is one of Iowa’s top Democrats, and said in 2015, “Hillary Clinton’s commitment to growing our economy so that everyday Iowans can get ahead and stay ahead is what Iowa Democrats believe to our core.” Fitzgerald echoed this statement to Clinton supporters on Saturday and discussed Clinton’s plans for debt-free college, construction and infrastructure and the economy, both in the hands of Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump. “She’s for all of us,” Fitzgerald said, referencing Clinton. “She wants everybody to succeed, and what does that mean? Well, it means an economy that benefits everyone. To get a job and have a living wage. Equal pay for equal work. Raising the minimum wage.” According to Clinton’s website, she hopes to “launch our country’s boldest investments in infrastructure since the construction of our interstate highway system in the
HILLARY p4
Kennedy DeRaedt/Iowa State Daily
Iowa Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald, who has been a long-time supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, rallies Story County Democrats during a canvassing event Saturday. Attendees were informed about how and where to vote early.