To be an effective ally comes down to education, support, listening and awareness - and it needs to be active, explains Program Coordinator Simone Francis.
Students, faculty and staff at NYU Shanghai were challenged this week with examining their societal beliefs and learning how to practice ‘Allyship’ - the act of supporting a person or group that has been marginalised.
Ally Week is marked every year in April across the NYU global network and has been a fixture on the NYU Shanghai calendar since the campus opened, reflecting the university’s commitment to providing an inclusive environment.
What began as an event to foster acceptance and support of the LGBTQ community has now expanded to include more groups who may experience discrimination.
Among the issues chosen by NYUSH students and staff to discuss during Ally Week 2016 were HIV/AIDS, genocide, feminism and identity.
Events ranged from a community picnic to intimate group discussions, art and variety performances.
“We wanted it to be as inclusive as possible," says Simone Francis, Ally Week program coordinator at NYU Shanghai. “All events were open to the whole NYU Shanghai community. We also held a special open dialogue for faculty and staff because it is important for us to lead by example.”
Organisers were also keen to emphasise that Ally Week is not only for those seeking support.
“Sexism, racism, homophobia… some people think: ‘I am not personally affected by this, so ‘Allyship’ is not relevant to me’, but that’s missing the point,” says Luis Peña, Program Manager of the American Language Institute (ALI) at NYU Shanghai and Ally Week committee member. “Allyship is relevant to everyone because it’s about having empathy for others.”
While Ally Week takes place over six days in April, the values it espouses are at work all year round. More than 200 pledges were made to Allyship this week and two new identity-based student societies are being set up to raise awareness of Women in Science and Ethnicity and Race.
FIND OUT MORE:
Take part in Intersections, a weekly cross-cultural dialogue for students to learn and discuss issues related to cultural and social identities. Contact Simone Francis at the Student Life office in Rm 110 or email her at sf1525@nyu.edu
Join a Student Society.
Speak to your Resident Assistants, Orientation Ambassadors, professors and Student Life personnel, who are open and willing to have these conversations.
Watch Ways to be an Ally.