The DAR Initiative

Our Community Now,

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

How did the initiative come about? A brief history…

My experience at CST has been mixed. I have had a wonderful education here, but I have also experienced some disproportionate treatment in various offices. Our survey was an attempt to capture the tenure of the campus and gather other kinds of similar experiences students had voiced. In lieu of the results of the survey, we (the student council) proposed a number of ways to move forward. There were clear things that students wanted done, like improving internet access and increasing financial aid officers. But we also noticed that there was a general inconsistency of treatment from the various offices, which spoke to a greater need to shift the culture.

We then proceeded to discuss how to move forward with the survey in two meetings, between student council and Committee on Community life. But what seemed to keep getting missed in these meetings was that we were really hoping to change not only specific policies, but how students were generally being treated at CST. I then met with Ruth Marston and Loraine Ceniceros to discuss moving forward with the survey. We came to the conclusion that specific persons, or specific situations did not necessarily leave us feeling disillusioned with CST, but it was a whole institutional culture which encouraged students, faculty and staff to treat each other without respect, dignity and accountability.

We thus cited these three areas where the whole community could be improved. These areas were with regards to the Dignity, in affirming the rights and inherent worth of each person in every interaction. The second was Accountability, to assure that certain practices were documented, and that students could know how the staff/faculty was reporting back to the students. And the third was Respect which calls for a consistency of treatment, and builds on affirming the inherent dignity of each person as a human being. Because we believe these three areas are problems for the whole institution, we decided to collaborate with faculty member Karen Dalton to help us shape the statements and the vision.

On May 15 at 10:30 in the morning student council met with the President to purpose our “DAR Initiative” to change the culture of CST. It was enthusiastically accepted by the Dean, and endorsed by the President to become (after vetting, and involvement of other staff members) a statement of institutional values in the formation of the New University. The process for review will include the three spheres of the community (students, staff and faculty) coming together to work by these 3 principles of DAR, and figuring out specifics by which we can measure tangible progress in each area.

What kind of feedback do you need from students?

I ask all students to do these three things:

· * Stay involved (respond to emails, reply to the fbook page, meet us at Dean’s Tea)

· * Stay informed (read emails, read CSTVoice and the fbook page)

· * Speak out (vote in elections, spread the word about DAR but suggesting the page or asking a question, email us)

This initiative is intended to be a collaborative process, and we need students to be involved in the formation of the specifics of this plan. To be a part of this process join the facebook page, and submit your opinions and comments on DAR: http://www.facebook.com/pages/DAR-Initiative-at-Claremont-School-of-Theology/100225946731399

When will it go into effect?

During the summer, Members of staff, faculty and students will come together to decide on specifics of the DAR initiative. Then in the fall, it will be incorporated into the new vision of the school and shared by staff, faculty, and students during orientation. (The challenge will be to not lose the student voice in deciding the specifics for how DAR is enforced)

Anything else you want the campus to know about it?

This is not meant to be a replacement of the petition which students were asked to sign a week ago. That was a separate entity we presented to the president, and to which he responded. Those specifics are getting worked on, and timelines are already in place (and should come via email). This initiative is actually an expansion and a hope to transform the culture of CST. It is more than specific actions; it is a vision for the future, and for the creation of a collaborative environment of co-learning.

As I leave CST, I want to thank everyone who helped this past year. The DAR Initiative is the culmination of more than a year of hard work trying to fight for students’ rights and tackle the problems of this institution. Our work is by no means done, but this gives us a base from which to build, and it ensures students voices are part of this conversation.