Many people have been in situations where they’ve seen discrimination and wanted to do something about it but weren’t sure how.

Phase III of the diversity initiative “Ouch that stereotype hurts” took place Tuesday morning at Rowe Hall in hopes of training people how to react to these situations in hopes of bringing positive change.

In order to do this, the initiative focused on two topics: Recognizing our own prejudices and practicing ways of interpreting inappropriate behavior.

“This is absolutely important for people to attend,” said Jen Miracle, assistant director of customer relations in University Recreation. “This gives people the chance to react to the significant concern on our campus concerning diversity.”

The participants of the training were taught six ways to combat discrimination as it is occurring. Some of these methods included interrupting and redirecting the conversation, asking a question as it occurs and if nothing else, you can always just say “ouch,” as if someone was stepping on your toes.

The methods shared included recognizing prejudice as well as interpreting it as well as learning how to understand the impact of stereotypes and biases, speaking up and being respectful and training to recognize bias and functions of stereotypes.

To do this, participants watched videos and did group interactions.

One exercise involved giving people a blank piece of paper and telling them to right down the first thing that came to mind after they showed words like “Jew” and “Native American” on a screen.

Amy Jo Jenkins, assistant director of aquatics and safety for University Recreation, said she felt that exercise helped.

“The first thought exercise really helped, and I’m glad that we didn’t have to show the paper to other people,” she said.

Participants also saw a video of news involving discrimination that has effected CMU, including the finding of nooses and racial slurs that have been spray painted around campus.

“The quotes and news that they showed really hits home,” Jenkins said. “It helps you realize that it happens right here at CMU.”

Human Resources Assistant Nate Holmes said he knows the training is beneficial because he’s had people tell him that it works.

“This phase in the training involves taking action and practicing ways of interrupting discrimination,” Holmes said. “Methods and examples are from cases that have actually happened at CMU.”

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