Take a look at DCP's newest Campus-Focused Guidance:
- A checklist for campus leaders during the 2024 eleciton period, https://go.osu.edu/dcppe24.
- A third edition of Leading a Divided Campus, https://go.osu.edu/dcpcampus (July 2024).
- A new guide go-published with DOJ’s Office for Community Oriented Policing Service and Community Relations Service, Navigating Conflicts (co-published with DOJ-CRS and DOJ-COPS), https://go.osu.edu/crscampus (August 2024). This resource focuses on law enforcement.
- For materials connected to our #CampusBridge project, click https://go.osu.edu/campusbridge.
The resources on this page are designed for campus leaders seeking resources to identify and address divisive issues tearing at the social fabric of their respective campus communities. Please take a look at the guides below for collaborative planning resources, and for ideas to advance race equity. For a quick list of planning ideas on your campus, take a look at this short checklist. Or if you'd like to see one idea for what this might look like, please review this short case study of a project from Kenyon College.
At the bottom of this page, consider taking a look at DCP's campus-focused simulation, "Springton University" or DCP's video series which highlights key themes from DCP's work.
Collaborative Campus Planning Processes
The following guides are designed for community and campus leaders who might work proactively to identify and address issues which might tear at the community’s social fabric. In the classroom these tools might be used as dispute systems design resources, fodder for conversation about the role of a negotiator, facilitator, or third-party neutral, or as illustrations of how equity considerations might be embedded in dispute systems design.
Intensified conflict and increased divisive incidents on campuses parallel the rancorous national political debate. Some portions of society, and therefore of the campus community, may feel disrespected and under attack. These students may become further alienated if others, those who are neither targeted nor most directly affected, seem dismissive when these students speak out. The considerations in this guide come into play whenever an incident or conflict threatens to hurt or alienate a group of students or increase campus division.
Leading When Conflicts Arise on Campus
The following resources are “off-the-shelf guides” for campus leaders facing imminent or ongoing unrest.
Against a backdrop of national polarization and increasing divisive incidents and conflicts, college and university leaders can focus with more intention to build trust and resilience within the university community and prepare explicitly for conflicts and divisive incidents.
For community leaders, social media presents valuable opportunities to engage community members, understand issues that underrepresented groups are concerned about, and encourage cross-community dialogue. At the same time, some users of social media may spread harmful forms of misinformation, engage in hate speech or online bullying, or use social media in various ways to take advantage of community unrest.
This guide discusses social media strategies for community leaders dealing with community division.
Ideas for Collaborative Race Equity Initiatives
The following guides are designed to provide ideas and steps for community leaders as they design processes to enhance racial equity and address division connected to public spaces. In the classroom these tools might be used as dispute systems design resources, fodder for conversation about the role of a negotiator, facilitator, or third-party neutral, or as illustrations of how equity considerations might be embedded in dispute systems design
A confluence of events, including a pandemic, protests, and business and school closings disrupted our country in 2020 and, despite deep political differences, there is broadened support for structural changes to advance racial equity. A multi-pronged, sequenced approach has a mutually reinforcing effect. Whether it is called a truth commission or something else – that process facilitates collaborative problem-solving over a period of years to achieve an equitable society that will afford each person the opportunity to thrive.
- NEW Second Edition
- The First Edition is available here.
Creating accessible public spaces that feel welcoming to residents and visitors can bring people together to interact across societal fault lines. Improving the symbolic nature of that space can contribute to their sense of belonging, inspire them, advance their understanding, and more. By moving proactively, leaders might also avert divisive, and sometimes violent, conflicts over symbols and public spaces. Beyond these potential benefits of a proactive planning approach to enhancing the public environment, a collaborative process can contribute to mutual understanding and appreciation.
Simulations
The Springton University Simulation. Springton University was designed to simulate division on campus. Designed and tested in 2020 at the Moritz College of Law, DCP intends to use Springton University with campus and university leaders at upcoming events. The general facts are available here.
The following documents are available upon request (they contain confidential information) to DCP Deputy Director Bill Froehlich (froehlich.28@osu.edu)
- Facilitator Instructions for working with community leaders
- Facilitator Instructions for working with students
- Facilitator Instructions for working online
- The complete simulation, including all confidential roles, “injects” and a corresponding powerpoint
Case Studies
Take a look at this case study of Kenyon College's work, published in December 2021
This case study describes the work of Bloomington community leaders as they work with DCP through a community crisis and as they develop a task force on community policing.
Study 4 highlights the work of the volunteer Columbus Community Trust, convened with support from the Columbus Bar Association and the John Mercer Langston Bar Association, with support from the local U.S. Attorney’s office.
Video Series
The following video clips were developed to pair with concepts identified in DCP’s Key Considerations and Planning in Advance of Community Unrest. Thanks to Thomas Battles, Susan Carpenter, Michael Lewis, Becky Monroe, Linda Seely, and Andrew Thomas for their work on this project and research assistants Salvia Jannat, Jason Ketchum, Julia Sivertson, and Kassie Stewart.