Voices of Diversity

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Voices of Diversity

• An Online LGBT Story Archive at the University of
  Tennessee, Knoxville Campus

Sponsored by the University of Tennessee
Commission for LGBT People
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The Mission of the Commission
The UT Commission for LGBT People is a body
appointed by the Chancellor to advise on
planning, implementation, and evaluation of
University programs, policies, and services
designed to improve the status of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender people on the Knoxville
Campus. The Commission, in its role as an
advocacy group, is committed to the protection
and advancement of LGBT students, faculty and
staff at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
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Origins of Voices of Diversity

• Need to Improve the Campus Environment for LGBT
  People
• Need to Understand the LGBT Experience on Campus
• Data Collection and Education to Meet the Goals
  of the Commissions
• Recommend and encourage research to assess the
  status of LGBT people at The University of
  Tennessee (UT) and compare their status with that
  of LGBT people at other institutions and agencies
• Advise and consult with all University officials
  on the needs and status of LGBT people

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Goals of Voices of Diversity

• Provide a way for LGBT students, faculty, staff,
  alumni and allies to share their experiences with
  others
• identity
• community
• acceptance
• discrimination
• Help LGBT individuals on campus realize that
  they are not alone
• Brings much needed visibility to LGBT issues and
  raises awareness

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Goals of Voices of Diversity

• Developing a supportive learning environment for
  LGBT students by giving 'out' faculty, students,
  and staff an opportunity to serve as positive
  role models
• Create a historical archive of LGBT experiences
  on the Knoxville campus
• Resource for future students and researchers
• Insure visibility

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How to Meet the Goals?

• Storytelling
• The personal story is a powerful tool
• Storytelling draws on individual experiences
• Links people and experiences together
• Stories relate the listener's experiences to the
  storyteller
• Engages the listener
• Humanizes the storyteller
• Creates shared experiences through empathy with
  the storyteller
• Stories Teach
• Illustrate Points
• Stimulate Discussions
• Envision the Future

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The Charge

• Create a collection of digital stories of
  students, faculty, staff, alumni and allies at
  the University of Tennessee as they relate to the
  lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
  experience on the Knoxville campus.

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The Challenges

• Institutional Research Board Approval
• Use of Human Subjects
• Resources
• Server Space
• Software
• Finding the Stories
• Promoting the Program
• Overcoming Fear

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The Result

• http//lgbt.utk.edu/vod/