PEER SUPPORT TEAM @ OSCR

The Peer Support Team at the Office of Student Conflict Resolution aims to promote a peace-building culture on campus through programming, workshops, events and trainings.

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From #YFile: Osgoode Anti-Discrimination Intensive Program honoured for excellence and innovation

PST is proud of York Osgoode's pioneering work against discrimination! Office of Student Conflict and Resolution (OSCR) can help you deal with discrimination issues among current students through many of its mediation and arbitration services.

Please see the Student Code of Rights and Responsibilities to see which of your rights are protected by York and what OSCR can do for you to have them honoured in your engagements with York community members: http://www.yorku.ca/oscr/studentconduct.html. 

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A groundbreaking experiential education program at York’s Osgoode Hall Law School that addresses racism in a variety of ways has been awarded an honourable mention in the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s (CRRF) Award of Excellence program for 2012 in the education category.

Juris Doctor (JD) student Njeri Damali Campbell from Osgoode’s Anti-Discrimination Intensive Program and Patrick Case, chair of the Board of Directors of the Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC), which offers placements for students participating in the intensive program, were in Halifax Thursday, Oct. 18 to accept the award on the law school’s behalf. The CRRF received 32 nominations from across Canada in the following categories: Aboriginal, Education, Community, Corporate, Government and Youth.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of this program,” Damali Campbell said. “Anti-Discrimination Intensive Program students hit the ground running, helping to solve complex legal problems with human rights experts at their side.” Case said, “Having six full-time students sharing our legal work means the centre can maximize its stretched resources while providing an intense human rights-focused experience to future lawyers.”

Bruce Ryder

The Anti-Discrimination Intensive Program was launched in 2011 under the academic direction of Osgoode Professor Bruce Ryder. The program, which provides up to 12 Osgoode second- and third-year students every year with intensive training in anti-discrimination law, as well as administrative law enforcement and resolution, consists of a placement for a full semester at the HRLSC, an academic seminar and a research paper. There are also three paid summer positions at the HRLSC for students in the program.

“The Anti-Discrimination Intensive Program and our partnership with the Human Rights Legal Support Centre offer an extraordinary experience that gives Osgoode students the opportunity not only to learn about discrimination and the law, but also to make a difference in our community by contributing to access to justice for those who have experienced discrimination,” said Osgoode Dean Lorne Sossin. “We are delighted that the Canadian Race Relations Foundation has recognized the program for its best practices in combating racism.”

Lorne Sossin

The HRLSC, which is located on Dundas Street West in downtown Toronto, has a team of 25 lawyers that provides free legal services throughout Ontario to people facing discrimination. Osgoode students assist the HRLSC’s lawyers by participating in the intake process and are responsible for conducting legal interviews on files that are referred from intake. In addition, students draft legal documents, partner with a centre lawyer to prepare and attend a mediation, and partner with a lawyer on a file that is scheduled for hearing by the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.

Four Osgoode students who are currently participating in the Osgoode-HRLSC program – Njeri Damali Campbell, Nicole Davidson, Nick DiCastri and Kisha Munroe – nominated the initiative for the CRRF 2012 Award of Excellence. “This invaluable and practical learning will, no doubt, assist us in addressing racism in our future law careers,” they wrote in the nomination form.

Ryder said all of the students in the program bring “extraordinary commitment and passion to the work.” He saluted the HRLSC for devoting time and resources to training and integrating Osgoode students into a high functioning, high demand law office. “We’ve been so fortunate to partner with the team at the centre. Osgoode students have done an amazing job helping many members of marginalized communities access remedies for violations of their basic human rights, while developing a host of practical skills and critical insights along the way.”

http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2012/10/24/osgoode-anti-discrimination-intensive-program-honoured-for-excellence-and-innovation/

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From #YFile: Rick Tobias asks grads to build a civil society.

Rick Tobias asks grads to build a civil society

Rick Tobias has spent most of his working life at the Yonge Street Mission trying to mitigate the impact of violence, poverty and exclusion on the lives of street youth, the homeless, the jobless, the lonely, people in need. 

“I do that because I dream of a city, a nation where the inclusion, safety, rights and well-being of the many supersedes the will and power of a few,” the urban pastor told graduates of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. The lifelong advocate for low-income and marginalized people received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from York Oct. 11. 

Rick Tobias

“I believe that each generation — my generation, your generation — has the responsibility to rediscover what it means to be a civil society, where the good of the people takes precedence over the acquisition of wealth.” 

Guided by his Christian faith, Tobias said he has also been influenced by urban economist James Rauch, who stated that the only legitimate purpose of a city is to care for the wellbeing of all of its inhabitants, and British business writer Charles Handy, who said the end goal of capitalism is not the acquisition of wealth but the creation of a civil society. Tobias also cited whoever said “we’re not fully adult until we invest our lives in the well-being of others.” 

To achieve a civil city requires committing to core values. He highlighted three — grace, gratitude and generosity. 

“By grace, I mean the liberty of spirit that enables us to see worth and beauty in all people,” said Tobias. 

At the beginning of the civil rights movement, said Tobias, Martin Luther King leaders together and asked why racism was so deeply entrenched in American society. They determined that at the core of American culture and society was a great lie — that some people are worth less than others. This kind of thinking, said Tobias, justifies all manner of mistreatment — slavery, segregation, racism, cultural prejudice. “It allows for the mistreatment of women, children, the disabled, the elderly the weak. It allows for inequality in education and employment opportunity, it allows for many children in our nation to be dependent on food banks, for neighbourhoods to be left without the resources required for its children to prosper. It means that youth in many Toronto communities can join a gang easier than they can join a youth program. In short it allows for the second-rate treatment of citizens. 

“That is not the city nor the nation we want to see,” said Tobias. “That others are worth less and deserve less is a lie. It is the great lie.” 

Grace is the antidote to that great lie, he said. “When we see beauty and grace in people, it is harder to treat them with anything other than the respect they deserve.” A grace relationship demands embrace and inclusion. “Grace extends a hand of welcome.” 

Gratitude is far more than the capacity to say thank you, said Tobias. “It is the capacity to look at a needy world and to understand the good fortune that has come our way. Yes, we’ve worked hard, we’ve studied hard, but in truth we have little control over the things that shape our life — our place of birth, our family, our economic context, our basic abilities and capacities. Were we nurtured as children?” Remove those gifts and how different our futures become, he said. 

Generosity is grace turned outward. “Individuals and communities living in poverty have been the very models of generosity in my life,” said Tobias. “If grace sees beauty, generosity defines, invests in that beauty. If grace sees worth, generosity names it, protects it and grows it.” 

Too many studies, said Tobias, point to a city and a nation that’s increasingly segregated along class and cultural lines. “That is not the mark of a great city. A civil society does not divide itself along economic and cultural lines. A great city is populated by people who are invested in the well-being of their neighbours and neighbourhoods.” 

“We cannot create Rauch’s city of inclusion nor can we build Handy’s civil society without the grace to see value and beauty in others, without the ability to recognize the good that has befriended us, without the generosity of spirit that enables us to invest our lives in the good of many.” 

A Canadian of Lebanese Irish descent, Tobias ended with a quote from Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran: “Come and tell me who you are. Are you one who asks what your country can do for you or are you one who asks what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite. If you are the second, then you are an oasis in the desert. York grads, may we be that oasis. May we be the grace ones who lead our city to be a more inclusive, more civil and more generous society.”

-YFile, 16. 10. 12

http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2012/10/16/rick-tobias-asks-grads-to-build-a-civil-society/

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 "It's incredibly significant to have a prime minister powerfully state that she has experienced sexism and even more powerfully state that she will refuse to ignore it any longer," Pini said. "That the sexism which is so deeply embedded in the Australian body politic was named may give some women licence to express and seek to counter the sexism they have experienced in their working lives."

- Fernando

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Why does conflict matter?

The way that you define conflict tells a lot about the approach you will have in dealing with conflict. What is conflict? Where does it come from? What does it all mean?

Conflict can be generally understood as a tension between opposing or different view points, beliefs, wants/needs, goals, social opinions, etc. In other words, it's a result of differences among each individual. It is a natural byproduct of all interpersonal relationships (as people share as much differences as similarities). Conflict is intensified in nature when individuals hold fast to certain characteristics of themselves which they view to be fundamental to their identity, such as principles, beliefs or ideas they uphold, or strong expectations of self and others. When these cherished ideas are challenged by others, the confrontation could bring about strong emotional reactions. 

If handled well, conflicts can give way to stronger communications, stronger bonds and relationships, sense of accomplishment, belonging, social acceptance, as well as motivation and excitement, as it means that individuals were able to overcome the differences and arrive at a mutually agreeable middle ground for all. However, if handled poorly, it leads to splintering of the group, consistent tensions, loss of interest, low level of commitment, disbanding of group, and lack of trust. 

So how do we handle conflict better for better relationships? Here are some strategies that work very well:

- Active Listening: is a communication technique that requires the listener to feed back what they hear to the speaker, by way of re-stating or paraphrasing what they have heard in their own words, to confirm what they have heard and to confirm the understanding of both parties. The ability to listen actively demonstrates sincerity, and that nothing is being assumed or taken for granted. It is a way of focusing on what the speaker says, so that misunderstandings and communicative delays can be minimized.

- Empathy: is the capacity to recognize feelings that are being experienced by another person. A gateway to compassion, empathy is developed by mental exercises such as imagining yourself in the other person's situation, practicing caring and loving gestures toward others, setting aside your beliefs, concerns and personal agenda in conversation, etc. 

- Non-verbal Communication Skills: is a natural, unconscious language that broadcasts our true feelings and intentions and clues us in to the feelings and intentions of those around us. They include the gestures we make, the way we sit, how fast or loud we talk, how close we stand, how much eye contact we make, etc. It signals to others whether or not you care, if you're being truthful, and how well you're listening. When your signals match up with the words you're saying, they increase trust, clarity, and rapport. 

Happy conflict resolving! If you have suggestions, ideas or questions around the topic PST is always available with an actively listening ear ;)

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How do you resolve conflict?

Take this fun, quick quiz and find out how you deal with conflict!

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The quiz

Listed below are 15 statements. Each statement provides a possible strategy for dealing with conflict. Give each a numerical value (1: always, 2: very often, 3: sometimes, 4: not very often, 5: rarely, if ever). Answer as you actually behave.

a. I argue my case with peers, colleagues and coworkers to demonstrate the merits of the position I take. 

b. I try to reach compromise through negotiation.

c. I attempt to meet the expectations of others. 

d. I seek to investigate the issues with others in order to find solutions that are mutually acceptable.

e. I'm firm in resolve when it comes to defending my side of the issue.

f. I try to avoid being singled out, keeping conflict with others to myself.

g. I uphold my solutions to problems.

h. I compromise in order to reach solutions.

i. I trade important information with others so that problems can be resolved together.

j. I avoid discussing my differences with others.

k. I try to accommodate the wishes of my peers and colleagues.

l. I seek to bring everyone's concerns out into the open in order to resolve disputes in the best possible way.

m. I put forward middle positions in efforts to break deadlocks. 

n. I accept the recommendations of colleagues, peers, and coworkers.

o. I avoid hard feelings by keeping my disagreements with others to myself.

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Scoring: Record the number you placed for each statement under the below animals

Shark: add numbers for a, e, g

Owl: add numbers for d, i, l

Turtle: add numbers for f, j, o

Teddy bear: add numbers for c, k, n

Fox: add numbers for b, h, m

Your dominant style is the animal with the lowest score.

Your back-up style is the animal with the second-lowest score.

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Explanation of your conflict resolution style

There is no right or wrong style; each style has its benefits and disadvantages. The key to effective conflict resolution is acknowledging your dominant style, while being willing to experiment with other models of resolution

The Shark (competitive):

Sharks tend to have a forceful or competitive conflict management style, while being highly goal oriented. For sharks, relationships take on a lower priority, as Sharks usually do not hesitate to use aggressive behaviour to resolve conflicts. Sharks can be autocratic, authoritative, uncooperative, threatening and intimidating because they tend to feel a need to win. 

Try this style when dealing with urgent situations or when the decision is unpopular.

The Owl (Collaborative):

Owls tend to use a collaborating or problem confronting conflict management style valuing their goals and relationships. Owls view conflicts as problems to be solved by finding solutions agreeable to all sides to make every situation a win-win!

Try this style when all conflict participants are equal in power, yet have strong interests in different resolutions.

The Turtle (Avoiding): 

The Turtle likes to avoid conflict and tends to withdraw from the chance to seek a resolution. for the Turtle, it is easier to ignore conflict rather than resolve it, give up personal goals, and display passive behaviour.

Try this style when you don't have all the facts from all the parties involved in the conflict. If the stakes aren't high, and the situation isn't urgent, using the Turtle tactic could help you gather information before making an informed decision for resolution. 

The Teddy Bear (Accommodating):

The Teddy Bear has a soothing and accommodating resolution style because they highly value human relationships. Sometimes, a Teddy Bear is so accommodating that they ignore their own goals creating a win-lose situation with the Teddy Bear on the losing end of the resolution.

Try this style when the stakes aren't high and the issue is trivial. If there is little chance of satisfying your wants, or when confrontation may harm a working relationship. 

The Fox (Compromising): 

The Fox values relationships as well as goals, but are willing to sacrifice some of their goals to reach a suitable compromise. The Fox is assertive and cooperative in their approach, whether the resolution is win-lose, lose-lose, or win-win! 

Try this style when important issues have no clear solution, participants are equal in power, and there are no time restraints (compromise can be a lengthy process, but it's worth it!).

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We are all stronger, smarter, talented, beautiful, and more resilient than we were told.

CeCe McDonald (via sister-bell)

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Empathic Civilisation

RSA Animate

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Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela

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(/*ˆ⌣ˆ)/* my sleep schedule is so messed up *\(ˆ⌣ˆ*\)

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to October.

co-curricular week is... sooooo close!

Hoping everyone had a great long weekend, it's time to get back to action!

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“All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal.”

John Steinbeck

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Apply to the "Emerging Global Leaders Program" a 2-day workshop @ York U

Apply to the “Emerging Global Leaders Program” a 2-day workshop

Posted by yorkisu 0 Comment

The Emerging Global Leaders Program (EGLP) is a two-day workshop for fifty of York’s most dynamic, energetic and visionary undergraduate students. EGLP is open to full-time Canadian, exchange and international students. Held annually since the 1999/2000 school year, it has won a national award for outstanding program in International Education from the Canadian Bureau of International Education.

EGLP is an opportunity to explore key concepts and challenges of leadership in Canadian and international contexts, with a special focus on cross-cultural communication and team building. Students gain an understanding of the most important concepts in goal setting and success and reflect on their strengths and areas for growth. Self-reflection, empowerment and action are all expected outcomes of participation.Facilitation is provided by professionals and experts in the fields of business, academia, private sector and government. It takes place on January 19-20 2013 and the last day to apply for it is Friday November 9, 2012!Learn more here!

http://international.yorku.ca/global/eglp.htm

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The Peer Support Team is offering workshops year-round for you and your student club! We offer trainings in Conflict Resolution and Peace-Building - be sure to contact us to find out how you can work best with your team and have a successful year!

All trainings are free!

Contact [email protected]

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Check out more details here:

http://yorkisu.ca/york-is-u/meet-and-greet-scld-edition/

Meet and Greet

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Start your Tuesday off right!

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Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought. »

Napolean Hill

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Tips from a York Veteran on Managing your time.

Check this out! Tips from a York Veteran on how to manage a busy schedule!

I've been at York now for going on 6 years...yep I know that's A LONNGG time, but in that time I've learned so much about how the importance of time management and the difference it makes in your career as a student and your sanity as a person! So here are my top 5 tips for managing your time! 1. Use a planner, agenda or calendar. ---Having some type of visual reminder of your assignments and activities can help you to see when you're going to be very busy, so you can plan extra time to study, or book time off of work. Things won't sneak up on you if you know they're coming! Plus the YFS has been giving away FREE agenda's so really you don't even have to spend money to get organized. 2. Make a list of EVERYTHING you have going on. ---Sometimes people only make a list of their assignments, but you do more than just school work, so make sure to include all of your assignments, extra curricular events, family and friend commitments, work hours and anything else that you have going on.

3. Rank the items on your list in order of importance. ---Setting priorities among your list of things to do will indicate how much of your time you'll need to spend on something. This helps if you're especially busy with school, work and family commitments; being able to say "doing research for this paper is more important than going to my club social this weekend" helps you to manage your time more effectively. **Personal Story: I always find it difficult to rank my more "fun" activities because I really want to do the fun stuff. Don't be discouraged if you find that your list looks "assignment heavy" that's what BREAKS are for :)** 4. Set deadlines for yourself so you can track your progress. 

---You don't have forever to complete the things on your list, therefore you have to set a deadline in order to complete things. Having a person deadline will help you to see how much you've completed. It also feels really good to cross things off your list!

5. Reward yourself when you complete a task on your list! ---It's important to keep your motivation up, so reward yourself when you finish something on your list. It's important to remember to be honest with yourself on how much of a reward you deserve. Spending 10 minutes working does not deserve a 2 hour movie break...or maybe it does? Honestly I'm still working on this one :P These are the time management tools that I use to try to keep myself organized and on track. They work pretty well for me, but if you know of something else that works really well or you want some more info about other tips feel free to post in the comment section I'd love to hear from you! Good Luck :D (by Nicole Uriasz, RedZone)

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This student told us our table was the Hunger Games of York Fest! Haha, what do you think?!

Come check us out at the Lassonde building for your chance to aim, shoot and win!