Four Front retreat addresses unity
The weekend trip eliminated technological distractions.
Published Sept. 29, 2009
MU's multicultural and minority group Four Front went on a retreat at Camp Sabra last weekend to work on the organization's unity and to utilize certain tools to run the organization in the future, said ChaToyya Sewell, Four Front co-chairwoman and Maneater columnist.
Four Front is comprised of representatives from all minority organizations. Its goal is to work with the administration on making the campus friendly for underrepresented students.
"Our main goal at all times is to treat (Four Front) like a safe space for anyone and everyone to be who they are," said Carolina Astrain, Hispanic American Leadership Organization president and a former Maneater staff member.
Asian American Association President Kha Ly said the retreat was a way for the minority organizations of Four Front to get together and focus on strategies for improving each of their groups and getting to know one another without the stress of every day life.
"One of the reasons of having the retreat was to build relationships with other organizations and that definitely happened," Ly said. "Because of this relationship we hope to have more collaboration events on campus and bring more diversity programming for the university in the future."
Pablo Mendoza, assistant director of Student Life and Multicultural Affairs, said 28 students and two advisers, all representing 13 organizations including the umbrella group Four Front, attended the retreat.
"As student leaders, it was nice to be able to relax and be friends with one another," Triangle Coalition Treasurer Emily Luft said.
Sewell said at the camp, members did not have cell phones, computers, TVs or any other technological distractions.
"We had to communicate on a human level, which is always awkward at the beginning," Sewell said.
Ly said the lack of technological influence added to the group's focus.
"The groups usually just connect on campus," Luft said. "We got to bond as an organization. The getting-to-know activities are great with people you know, you always learn something new."
The weekend workshops focused on a range of different topics, from leadership skills and time management to e-mail etiquette.
Sewell, who presented on e-mail etiquette, said it was hard to give a 30-minute presentation and keep it fun, but she worked to make it interactive.
"I gave examples of the worst e-mails I have received in my student career, with no names, of course," Sewell said.
The diversity peer activities built some tension between groups, Astrain said, but taught members how to deal with tension at the same time.
"Those different views this weekend were put on the table, but put on the table in a very constructive way," Astrain said. "There was tension, but we had grown so close to each other as human beings, we could respect each others' views."
Luft said the activities pushed members to the ends of their comfort zones.
"For those of us that are social justice-minded, we got to confront things we don't always like to discuss in groups," Luft said. "I've done those trainings before, but it's always a little different."