SELT Presentation Mary Geller and Gar Kellom Student Development November 19, 2003

Leadership in Student Work Positions History of SELT from the Kellogg Leadership Initiative: to educate women and men in student work positions in non- positional or transformative leadership History of SELT from the Kellogg Leadership Initiative: to educate women and men in student work positions in non- positional or transformative leadership SELT is the most outstanding aspect of that grant and the program has exceeded the expectations of Kellogg and CSB/SJU and this is why we are here today. SELT is the most outstanding aspect of that grant and the program has exceeded the expectations of Kellogg and CSB/SJU and this is why we are here today.

Focus on Men I’d like to update you on some of the latest from the Men’s Center research that might inform your work and help explain what we are thinking about I’d like to update you on some of the latest from the Men’s Center research that might inform your work and help explain what we are thinking about Let’s put our heads together to talk about how to collectively educate students in these positions in leadership skills Let’s put our heads together to talk about how to collectively educate students in these positions in leadership skills

Last two weeks in the center Morehouse delegation visited Morehouse delegation visited Michael Kimmel spoke in the Men’s Lives Series Michael Kimmel spoke in the Men’s Lives Series Alan Berkowitz consulted in our four research projects Alan Berkowitz consulted in our four research projects New data from SJU Experience III New data from SJU Experience III My synthesis of what might be happening My synthesis of what might be happening

Astin Survey of First Year Students Male students at SJU have high levels of intellectual self- confidence. Male students at SJU have high levels of intellectual self- confidence. Males at SJU have high levels of social self-confidence Males at SJU have high levels of social self-confidence Women have higher high school grades Women have higher high school grades Women are performing better in high school Women are performing better in high school

New SJU Experience III data I do not like to show my emotions to other people (1-60 scale) I do not like to show my emotions to other people (1-60 scale) SJU men agreement score 30.9 SJU men agreement score 30.9 Perception of friends agreement 36.8 Perception of friends agreement 36.8 Hugging other men is difficult for me Hugging other men is difficult for me SJU men agreement score 21.8 SJU men agreement score 21.8 Perception of friends agreement 35.5 Perception of friends agreement 35.5

Hugging other men is difficult

Winning is a measure of my worth

SJU Experience III cont. “Valuing others by the level of their achievement and success” “Valuing others by the level of their achievement and success” SJU men agreement score low SJU men agreement score low Perception of friends agreement much higher Perception of friends agreement much higher “I define my personal value by my career success” “I define my personal value by my career success” SJU men agreement score low SJU men agreement score low Perception of friends agreement score much higher Perception of friends agreement score much higher

What do we think it tells us Previous research shows that men value being open with other men but don’t think other men are willing Previous research shows that men value being open with other men but don’t think other men are willing Late night talks Late night talks Misperceived norms reinforce this Misperceived norms reinforce this We are running small groups to engineer ways for men to talk openly about who they are We are running small groups to engineer ways for men to talk openly about who they are

Other findings Men’s Spirituality groups create safe places for men to talk about their inner life without having to wear the mask of masculinity or play the role Men’s Spirituality groups create safe places for men to talk about their inner life without having to wear the mask of masculinity or play the role The Men’s Center is a safe place for men to first explore who they really are as men The Men’s Center is a safe place for men to first explore who they really are as men It becomes also a place for men to realize their privilege and power It becomes also a place for men to realize their privilege and power A place for men to commit themselves to service and justice A place for men to commit themselves to service and justice

Michael Kimmel’s Study of School Shootings Men standing up for those who are marginalized or disenfranchised

Alan Berkowitz Men need to recognize male privilege and power Men need to recognize male privilege and power Understand racism and sexism Understand racism and sexism Men can become allies Men can become allies To become allies is to ask what is needed and how to be an ally To become allies is to ask what is needed and how to be an ally That is leadership development That is leadership development

So what does it have to do with SELT? Men need to discover who they are under the socially constructed gender role Men need to discover who they are under the socially constructed gender role It is the liberal arts process to help students figure out who they really are and what they are good at - passion and purpose It is the liberal arts process to help students figure out who they really are and what they are good at - passion and purpose The student job can be a key place that happens with the mentoring The student job can be a key place that happens with the mentoring

Supervisors can be key to this process We are caring adults in the lives of young people We are caring adults in the lives of young people We can model how to work across the campuses We can model how to work across the campuses We can refrain from shaming and blaming men and support them in their self- discovery of who they really are We can refrain from shaming and blaming men and support them in their self- discovery of who they really are They can use their power and privilege for the good of all They can use their power and privilege for the good of all

Morehouse example Morehouse takes the lead in men’s issues Morehouse takes the lead in men’s issues Recruitment and retention Recruitment and retention Men’s development Men’s development Men’s spirituality Men’s spirituality Working with Spelman Working with Spelman SJU invited to participate with them SJU invited to participate with them SJU shares what is does SJU shares what is does Partnership emerges Partnership emerges They ask for help They ask for help A common agenda A common agenda

Applications in student jobs Men’s research jobs in the men’s center Men’s research jobs in the men’s center Grant writing Grant writing Book research – disengagement of men Book research – disengagement of men Are men engaged in your work positions Are men engaged in your work positions Is it a safe place – no shaming/blaming? Is it a safe place – no shaming/blaming? Are they able to be who they really are? Are they able to be who they really are? Do they see the inequities? Do they see the inequities? Are they empowered to work for change? Are they empowered to work for change?

What is the supervisor role with college men as employees? With women? This model may not be applicable but the question may still be relevant.