On April 27, members from every Affinity Group gathered in the Harkness Lounge at the Medical School to explore conversations around Diversity.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion, along with volunteers from many Affinity Groups, set up three activities for guests to participate in to think more deeply about Diversity and its effects on social perception.
L-I-N-G-O, a game modeled after BINGO, had participants mingling together to ask if others felt comfortable adding their initials to a box that they identified with. Some might initial “I am an introvert,” “my disability is hidden,” “English is my second language,” or “I grew up middle class,” to name a few. Participants were unexpectedly candid about identifying themselves as a square, especially if they could get a square initialed in return.
Elsewhere, participants could have a picture of someone or something related to Diversity taped to their back and ask others “yes” or “no” questions about it to figure out what it was. Some were prominent figures in Diversity movements, like George Takei and Ellen Degeneres, or objects people might use to support a disability, like eyeglasses or a wheelchair. While the game could get a little frustrating with the specificity of the objects, it was also broadening how Diversity is defined and all it can encompass.
Finally, in the last corner, participants took a moment to gaze on a Hermann Grid. Then they could respond to a series of questions on the wall with individual post-it notes. Whether or not they saw gray squares in the grid, and whether or not they’ve made or been the recipient of a wrong first impression, and their feelings about that. The post-its were anonymous, and it was striking to see the similarities in responses across the board.
Conversations remained ongoing long after the breakfast food was cleared away.