The Advisor as Allymay advising conference

may 9, 2007

Gabriel C Javier, MA

Assistant DirectorOffice of LGBT AffairsDivision of Student Affairsjaviergc@umich.edu

where I’m coming from

• who am i?

• what is the Division of Student Affairs?

• what is the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Affairs

session goals• familiarity with the Poynter Model of

Ally Development

• discuss student to student ally behavior

• explore strategies for advisor and student ally behavior

• identify areas where we might serve as more effective allies

• celebrate our successes as social justice allies

the framework for today

• social identities

• privilege

• target/agent group

• ally

Poynter Model of Ally Development

• pre-contact (non-identification)

• contact and retreat

• internal identification

• external identification

adapted from Poynter, 1997

when have we...

• been a strong ally

• been inactive as an ally

• needed an ally

Why Allyhood is significant

• there are learning outcomes connected with student allyhood

• basic (active listening/communication)

• advanced (power, privilege, social movements)

• we normalize the movement towards social justice

• U-M has a commitment to a safe environment

Why Allyhood is Significant

student

friend group

extended friends/org

campus community•spheres of influence and influence of spheres

•every moment is teachable and reachable

•part of creating our environment is interrupting harmful behavior

Advisor

Advisor

what’s the big deal?

• i already feel like i am approachable and understanding - what’s the difference between what i already do and an ally?

• being an understanding advisor puts you more than halfway there - you are already an ally to college students!

• we don’t know what isn’t there

what does an ally look like?

• challenge by choice

• we will sometimes fail

• it is a series of open doors

• inclusive language

• education and knowing your self

• risk and resilience

we can pass it on...

• where will students make their strongest connection?

• where do we make our strongest contribution?

questions, coments, reflections, thoughts?

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