Multiculturalism at Alliant: Speaking Up

By Paul Thomas, Summer 2011

With the conclusion of Multicultural and International Week, I wanted to take the opportunity to continue the discussion about multiculturalism (MC) on campus. Over the past two years, I have spoken with many students in the clinical psychology programs and heard comments that reflect an underlying level of frustration with how MC is integrated into the curriculum and lectures at CSPP. Many of these comments challenged my own perceptions of MC and I feel that sharing some thoughts with the Alliant community can be beneficial in promoting further conversations about MC.

As a starting point, students at CSPP value MC and appreciate the university's commitment to educating culturally competent therapists, which for many is the reason they chose to attend the institution. That being said, differences in opinions exist over how central a role MC should play in the curriculum and the style in which MCA common experience that I have encountered is that some students begin their first year eager to learn about diversity, but become frustrated with the disproportionate amount of attention placed on some cultural identities, while other identities are overlooked. I think the university excels in educating students and promoting awareness about ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender, but topics related to class, age, and subcultures (e.g. armed services) are overlooked. Furthermore, focussing on specific populations can minimize both the differences that exist within these groups and the similarities that these groups share with others.

Students have commented that social and cultural issues dominate some lectures and discussions overshadowing clinical issues. Students have also voiced a desire to learn about clinical issues in the context of culture. For instance, instead of a lecture on depression in the LGBT community, a lecture could provide information on the range of cultural variables that influence the presentation of depression. This format would place clinical issues at the forefront of the lecture while also providing valuable cultural information.

While members of the community may agree or disagree with the points raised in this article, it is important to acknowledge that some students at CSPP hold these beliefs. My experience has been that students are reluctant to share any concerns about the integration of MC on the campus which is unfortunate. In order to utilize the resources provided by CSPP to acquire the necessary skills to be culturally competent professionals, students must speak with faculty, staff, and each other to advocate for changes that will enhance their training.