Security, black male students engage in formal dialogue

Anita Varma News Editor

Five security officers and five black male students congregated in Main Building for anstructured dialogue. On the evening of Thursday, March 31, the group engaged in a discussion for two hours facilitated by Metcalf Psychological Counselor Larry Cerecedes.

Specifics of the dialogue could not be disclosed, according to organizer Associate Dean of the College and Head of Campus Life Ed Pittman.

“Because the dialogues are structured to be honest and open conversations, there is a degree of confidentiality where names and certain information are concerned,” said Pittman. “Participants usually agree not to share personal information outside of the room. However, general themes and topics might be shared.”

Organizers received positive feedback from participants about the dialogue.

“Kim [Squillace, Associate Director of Security] spoke to about half of the people there. I spoke to the other half,” said Director of Security Don Marsala. “Everyone thought it was beneficial and opened up communication.”

Since Squillace and Marsala were not present while the dialogue took place, they based their comments on what students told them about the meeting.

"Larry posed thought-provoking questions, and there was food there. It was a nice atmosphere to have the dialogue," said Squillace.

The decision to arrange a dialogue between black male students and security stemmed from a student who went to security to discuss how he felt security treated him. After speaking with security, the student went to the office of Campus Life.

“Yolanda Ramos, Director of the ALANA Center and a Campus Life staff member, has been involved in on-going discussions with security and was also a resource in organizing the dialogue,” said Pittman.

“Security was very responsive to addressing the concerns and the Campus Life Office suggested a dialogue involving a small group of students and security staff as a first step,” said Pittman. “The dialogue was then organized, beginning with a lletter to 15 black male students from the Director and Associate Director of Security.”

Five students responded to the letter, and there was an equal number of security officers present.

Squillace and Marsala noted that the security officers ranged in age, race, and gender.

In terms of the actual dialogue, Cerecedes said that people seemed to communicate productively.

“My recollection is that both students and security went from being somewhat respectfully polite and hesitant, to eventually being open and authentically engaging over the course of the meeting,” said Cerecedes.

“I thought everyone in the room...responded from an authentic and honest place, and I also commend everyone for their ability to listen and reflect upon the challenging perceptions each group had of the other,” continued Cerecedes. “They were all very courageous.”

In terms of the structure of the dialogue, Cerecedes said it was not strictly an intergroup dialogue.

“Intergroup dialogues are what I'm personally partial too, which is when two or more groups gather to address differences and similarities,” he said. “While I think this particular organized discussion had some of aspects of that, it also involved some mediation, and lots of personal testimony. The latter was very powerful, as that what helped each group understand the experience of the other.”

Pittman added that this dialogue is not the only opportunity for students to discuss their concerns with security.

“If students are interesting in joining this dialogue or proposing another one they can contact the Campus Life Office or any administrator for that matter,” said Pittman. “The Campus Life Office coordinates a five-week extended dialogue program each semester, but there are also possibilities for single day dialogues that can work on campus.”

Security does not view the conversations with black males on campus as complete yet.

“This is just the first step,” said Squillace.

“A huge one, though,” added Cerecedes.