The Minority Student Union, or Diversity club, is there for students to understand and learn different issues to solve and be aware. 

Diversity club’s objective: We aim to embrace diversity to create a positive school culture and climate by increasing discussion opportunities about issues minorities have as they relate to John Glenn High School, Westland, and beyond. We aim to create a safe place for students and design actions to increase awareness and learn about our peers. 

The Purpose Statement (as submitted to JGHS administration)  “To provide discussion opportunities about minority issues as they relate to JGHS, Westland, and beyond. To create safe places for students and design actions to increase awareness, embracing diversity to create a positive school culture and climate.”

Of course they have rules to keep everything in control. To keep the environment positive. These are some rules that are set for daily discussion meetings.

In one meeting, there will be one discussion. The discussion may or may not have multiple prompts. One member from the council manages or “judges” the discussion to make sure rules are followed each meeting, called the Chair Moderator, which rotates every discussion. Discussion Moderators from the Discussion Council will each have their own questions for the group. Students, during discussion, will speak individually with no interruptions. Students who want to speak will raise their hand and the manager will call on them when it is their turn.

• Be a respectful and active listener
• No interruptions
• No attacking the speaker personally
• No profanity or hate speech
• Avoid stereotypes about other members when discussing topics
• Minorities and relationship with Patriotism Tabled

Besides the rules, Diversity has already covered many topics to educate group members about the current events and different minority issues. 

So far, this year we have talked about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in blackface prior to taking office, Black social injustice, Indigenous People’s Day, Latino History, Cultural Appropriation, non-Christian holiday exclusion and Prom and Ramadan.

One of the topics in process not resolved yet is: Are suspensions a valid punishment? Some students believe that suspension doesn’t help in any way. One solution, which fits with restorative practice, is having a student attend a Minority Student Union for an opportunity to discuss and learn.

• Racially Charged outbursts – One solution was putting them into 21st Century Issues. Mrs Butler was against the class turning into a punishment. ISS is also proposed to be used to educate students on proper language usage. Once the session is over, a quiz must be passed by offenders to be released. A retraining of teachers to better understand the current world from other’s perspectives is in the process of being made. Beta testing of punishment are also proposed by Daly. Buchi mentions how insincere the ISS punishment may be, and proposes a “confronting your beliefs” curriculum. The curriculum is up to be changed by the students. 
• Days off for other religious holidays 

Native American Heritage Month: A time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native people and acknowledge their contributions to today’s society.

Activities:

Plan parade march

The hair-care products drive will be aimed at homeless and abuse shelters.

Minority Groups Represented? -There are tables where the minority caucuses are represented by representatives. 

Caucus Formation – One rep for every 5 members. It is possible to have only 1 person in a caucus or to participate in multiple. Caucus formation passed unanimously. 

Establish Representative Meetings – 1 voting meeting (of representatives) every month? There would be a chairman and vice chairman. The representative spots can be alternated if someone cannot make it.

A-jar

Also there is an A-jar in John glenn library from the diversity club for any suggestions if anyone has, whether they are in the club or not. you can give advice, question, thoughts or anything else you want the club to be aware of  (even an experience you might have had that you didn’t feel good about) on a note in the jar. 

Native American Heritage Month: A time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native people and acknowledge their contributions to today’s society.

The Diversity club has  some active student administrators to keep the club in control and perform main things to help the other members.

MODERATORS

Sa-Vjon Tamlin, Hailey-Faye Howard, Bassit Fijabi, Susan Lenard, Caitlin Gines.

Lastly, Union meeting days for the club are on Friday of every week. It can change based on school events.

Next Meeting – Friday, February 7th