Inclusion means welcoming everyone in ways that respect and celebrate diversity, and ensuring that differences don’t become barriers to full engagement and participation. Since RSO’s play a vital role in providing ways for students to engage and participate, it is important for them to think about the inclusivity of their programs and events so that all students have the opportunity to make meaningful connections.
The following is meant to provide student clubs and organizations with a resource from which to develop programs and events that are inclusive of, and welcoming to, the many individuals that make up UNL’s diverse campus community. It is meant to encourage and challenge student leaders to reflect upon their organization’s mission and how their programs and events could impact the larger community.
Initially, your organization should consider the intent and the impact of your organization’s event. It is always helpful to consider your organization’s larger mission and to reflect on how a program or event promotes this mission. Other questions could include:
-What is the overall purpose and goal of your event? (Intent)
-Is there any opportunity that the event or other associated behaviors tied to the event may be interpreted differently? Does this event have the potential to polarize another group on or off campus? (Impact)
Other general planning questions could include:
-Is the event time your organization selected feasible for everyone you hope to attend?
-Is your venue accessible to guests in wheelchairs? Is it comfortable for others with special mobility, sight, or hearing concerns?
-If food is involved, has your student organization considered possible dietary needs of guests?
-Have you included any accommodations needs in the event budget?
Marketing & Publicity
Upon the completion of planning for your event, you should thoughtfully consider how to convey the messages to your audience. In determining promotion, your organization must think about the impression your advertising will have on the community. Some things to think about:
-Who are you appealing to and what expectations are you creating?
-Have you been clear in your advertising about what your event’s goals are and why people should want to attend?
-Test your publicity materials with other audiences before it goes public.
Themed Events
Themed events can often be fun, creative, and trendy. However, it is important to be mindful of themes that could be all in good fun, and themes that may have a negative impact on your organization. In some cases, themed events can unintentionally transfer from a popular trend to the representation of a culture, which can be perceived as insensitive, stereotypical, and dehumanizing. Below are some guiding questions to ask your organization as you are planning:
-Does the theme align with the mission of your club or organization?
- In what ways could the theme be interpreted and misinterpreted?
-Does your theme represent a culture or ethnicity? If so, is that culture or ethnicity directly related to the mission of your organization?
-Does this theme have the potential to tokenize or perpetuate stereotypes against a group of people?
-Is your organization’s theme supposed to be funny? Is the humor based on making fun of real people, a social identity, or culture?
-Does the theme include slang or other terms that the general public would find offensive?
This is by no means an all-inclusive list of instructions for creating the ‘most inclusive events.’, however we hope these talking points and reflection questions can at least be a starting point for clubs and organizations as they strive to make their events and programs more inclusive.
More details at: https://involved.unl.edu/rso-advisor-resources