NSU Horizons Winter 2008 - 2009

American, Caribbean American, Latino groups, Colombians, Puerto Ricans, white Americans, and Asians. And, we have gay community representatives. One of our students is a priest, I’m an ordained minis- ter, and members from the Jewish com- munity have joined us.” The outcome frequently depends on the success of getting people to talk to one another and capitalize on their diverse tal- ents instead of using their differences to diminish each other. “We call it a redemp- tive exchange of ideas,” Nixon said. Nixon revealed that her methods are working better than an institutionalized attempt to force people to accept each other. “We know from Affirmative Action that you just can’t make people do things; it doesn’t work. What you get is resentment and backlash,” she pointed out. In an effort to take the diversity dia- logues to another level, she proposed an initiative she calls “Do Something Different.” This challenges participants to act outside of their normal behavior—whether that means interacting with someone who is ob- viously from a different culture or being nice to someone in a situation in which nor- mally they would be less than charitable. Forcing herself to behave outside of her normal actions is something doctoral candidate Michelle Manley, 45, said pro- foundly changed the way she approached life. Manley, who is working on her doctor- ate in marriage and family therapy, also manages WNSU Radio X 88.5 FM. She watched student employees struggle with the radio station’s diversity, so she brought Nixon’s concepts to work with her. Manley said of the 15 students who work for her, several have alternative sex- ual orientations, while others have never been near a gay person. That made for un- comfortable situations. “These are difficult conversations, but they need to occur,” she said. “That is why you are here at a university, to get exposed to new ideas and form new relationships.” Manley, who says she has grown as a person through the Diversity Dialogues and the challenges posed by Nixon, sees those techniques as the binding force that will not only unite NSU students but can be applied to society at large. n Talking Across Cultural Lines Continued from page 30 44 horizons Nova Southeastern University; Ray Ferrero, Jr., president; Board of Trustees; Alumni Association; Gold Circle; and President’s Associates congratulate those honored at Nova Southeastern University’s 11th Annual Celebration of Excellence January 22, 2009 President’s Community Award Recipient: Lorraine Thomas 10-051-08-AD-MCS Jeffrey Albert, D.M.D., 2004 College of Dental Medicine Somy Ali, B.S., 2002 Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences Matt Dane Baker, D.H.Sc., 2007 College of Allied Health and Nursing Nikolas Camejo, M.S., 1984 Oceanographic Center Mary Charbonneau, O.D., 1999 College of Optometry Joan M. Cook, Ph.D., 1999 Center for Psychological Studies Tyler Cymet, D.O., 1988 College of Osteopathic Medicine Gaby Esteves Museum of Art—Fort Lauderdale Maria Jose Fletcher, J.D., 1998 Shepard Broad Law Center Seth Gabel University School Josh Gad University School Tyon Hall, M.S., 2004 Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences Bonnie Hathcock, M.B.A., 1989 H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship Johnathan Kabot Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood Studies Michael Kaplan, Pharm.D., 1999 College of Pharmacy Frederick Moxley, Ph.D., 1997 Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences Tony Zeiss, Ed.D., 1979 Fischler School of Education and Human Services