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OEOD Provides Training for American Indian Students
On Cultural Understanding and Sensitivity
On July 9, 2008, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD) gave a presentation on “Cultural Understanding and Sensitivity” to a group of twenty American Indian students from throughout the state of California, in addition to several from out of state.
OEOD’s presentation included topics such as the ethnic backgrounds of UCI students, language use in U.S. homes, barriers to intercultural communication, cultural thought patterns, cultural norms and values and guidelines for multicultural cooperation.
During the presentation “Some of the American Indian students come from reservations and this presentation helps them learn about other cultures and allows them to ask respectful questions, so they can comfortably function when they are at a diverse university setting,” said Nikishna Polequaptewa, Director of the American Indian Resource Program at UCI.
According to Monica Stretten, a student at Woodbridge High School in Irvine, the presentation helped her in “seeing things from different perspective and having better understanding and tolerance of other cultures.”
A group photo of the students
The students were part of the American Indian Summer Academy, a free one-week program hosted at UCI and facilitated by the American Indian Resource Program for high school students entering 9th - 12th grades in the 2008-2009 school year. The students will be mentored by UCI staff and students throughout their remaining years of high school.
One of the Eagle Spirit Dancers that performed for the students
OEOD is responsible for the University's compliance with federal and state laws and University policies and procedures regarding discrimination, retaliation and sexual harassment, and works to promote and integrate the principles of equal opportunity, affirmative action, nondiscrimination, and excellence through diversity at UCI. To learn more bout OEOD visit: www.eod.uci.edu.
To schedule a workshop for your group or department, please call OEOD at 949-824-5594 or email eod@uci.edu.
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