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Diversity at UCSB
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EPIRA |
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What is now EPCA (the Education Program for Culture Awareness) started out as the Educational Program to Increase Racial Awareness, or EPIRA. EPIRA was created in 1987 to educate the campus community regarding issues of racism, racial insensitivity, and cultural differences. Guided by a planning committee composed of faculty, staff, and students, EPIRA sought to promote a campus environment that values the enrichment a culturally and ethnically diverse population (students, faculty, and staff) brings to the University. Programming strategy for EPIRA involved a series of racial awareness workshops/discussion groups/seminars which were conducted in classes, departmental and student organization meetings, residence halls, and other settings. One of the primary accomplishments of the program was the on-campus production of the video "To be a Black Student at UCSB." This video spawned other ethnicities and cultures to produce other films very similar, thus establishing the "To Be" video series. Other videos in the series include: "To Be a Chicano Student at UCSB" (1988); "Red Thunder: To Be an American Indian at UCSB" (1990); "Making Waves: To Be an Asian American at UCSB" (1990); "What's the Difference? To Be Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual at UCSB" (1991); and, "One Person at a Time: To Be a Disabled Student at UCSB" (1995). |
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Equity And Advocacy |
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With the production of the video "What's the Difference? To Be Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual at UCSB" (1991), the direction of the Program broadened to address issues related to sexual orientation. The name "Equity And Advocacy" was chosen to reflect the program's goal of advocating the equitable treatment of students who have perspectives, cultures, and lifetimes life experiences that may differ from the "mainstream" campus culture.
Operating under the umbrella of Student Affairs, Equity and Advocacy was charged with facilitating programming, conducting training workshops, and disseminating information related to diversity issues on the UCSB campus. Experimental Experiential activities were included as an important part of the workshop workshop's curriculum. By using videotape inspired discussions and new activities, participants were encouraged to think and feel about what it is like to be discriminated against on this campus. In 1993, the program began developing alternative methods of providing opportunities for the campus community to explore issues and perspectives related to cultural diversity. In this endeavor, collaborative relationships are nurtured across divisions with through the academic personnel programs. This allows for the provision of additional resources to support programs such as Training and Development, which provides thus providing ongoing diversity training for staff at UCSB. |
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Education Program for Culture Awareness --- EPCA |
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In 1996 the Education Program for Culture Awareness name incorporated part of the well-known EPIRA appellation and embraces the continuing philosophy to follow these directives: 1) to educate the campus community and provide training on topics related to cultural diversity, 2) to advocate for fair and equitable treatment of culturally diverse campus community members, 3) to serve as a clearinghouse for educational information, resources, and personnel involved with cultural diversity issues and perspectives, and 4) to facilitate dialogue and focus discussion groups regarding areas of diversity.
EPCA History |
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