DISC helps to de-stereotype students

Sometimes, all it takes is a little understanding.

That’s the goal of “De-Stereotype Me” Day, which aims to highlight and then break prejudices through discussion. The event is hosted by the Diversity and Student Inclusion Commons (DISC) over a two-day period. This year, it was held in the SUB Market on Oct. 23 and 24.At the event, students grabbed a sheet of paper printed with the words “De-Stereotype Me” and anonymously wrote down a stereotype that has been attributed to them or their culture. The next step was to address how they, as individuals, break that stereotype. These sheets were pinned to a display wall where passing students could observe and interact with them. DISC employees stood close at hand to take questions or comments about the board, as well as to provide information about the program.Typically, around 150-200 students participate in the event each year, while many others stop by the display board to learn more about the experiences of others. The public nature of these events allows all of MSU to discover the harmful prevalence of different stereotypes and how they affect people.  

“De-Stereotype Me” Day is a part of the Sustained Dialogue program at MSU, which intends to “promote holistic understanding by bridging gaps between traditionally opposing groups.” The group works to advance diversity on the MSU campus by promoting sustained dialogue events and meetings that draw students together to erode systems of prejudice. One focus of the group is confronting prejudices and power structures centered topics such as race, class, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion and nationality.

Typically, the Sustained Dialogue program gathers together small groups of students for intensive discussions on power. “De-Stereotype Me” Day, however, represents a silent aspect of the Sustained Dialogue Program. Rather than encouraging verbal conversation, this event allows students to simply contemplate society’s labels on them and the labels that they put onto others.

The message of the event is to break out of societal boxes and show that people are fluid and transformative rather than defined by one aspect of their personhood. This meaning is intended to last beyond a few minutes at the display board. Instead, students should carry it with them throughout their lives by understanding that each person is a multifaceted individual.

Sustained Dialogue co-coordinator Micah McFeely said, “The beauty of identity is that it is individualized. We belong to many groups, but we don’t always check all the boxes of those groups. ‘De-Stereotype Me’ Day is about recognizing that.”