RAP coffee breaks seek to improve race relations

A grassroots effort that explores ways to improve campus climate for minority students is inviting participation from the campus community this spring.

Richard Davis, professor of music, says the Retention Action Project has several events planned in the coming months that will examine how the attitudes and behavior of faculty, administration staff and students impact campus climate for both people of color and whites.

“It’s difficult to get some white students to admit the problem,” Davis says. “Too many students of color are stereotyped negatively. Racial conditioning affects us all.”

With the support of Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Paul Barrows and assistance from Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Ruby Paredes, Davis created RAP in 1998 to address retention rates for students of color.

The six-year graduation rates for targeted minority students have remained near 52 percent for the past four years, compared to the overall rate of nearly 77 percent.

Through RAP, Davis and Seema Kapani, diversity education coordinator for the Equity and Diversity Resource Center, have arranged guest speakers, videos and a series of “coffee breaks” that deal with retention and diversity topics.

The coffee breaks provide an opportunity for faculty, staff, community and students to share their experiences with how students of color are treated and suggest ways to retain those students by improving how they feel living, working and learning at UW–Madison. RAP organizes video screenings related to race relations followed by discussion and open dialog.

“We must put all students, as well as the rest of the campus community, in an environment of comfort, where they can tell you what’s on their minds. That’s one of the ingredients of the coffee break,” Davis says. “We want to help them stay at the university.”

Davis feels RAP has resulted in a broad sharing of ideas and experiences, and sent a signal to people of color that they are valued on campus.

“Richard lives and breathes diversity. It is at the core of his life,” Barrows says. “And he has created a wonderful project that puts faculty, staff, community and students into a comfortable, safe environment where they can have these sometimes painful discussions.”

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Davis’ work on campus and throughout the Madison community recently earned Davis the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, an honor bestowed annually by the City of Madison.

Davis calls himself a person of action. And he calls RAP a chance for others — from both majority and minority groups — to also become people of action. He says admitting that there are problems and talking about them are vital steps toward improving campus climate for students of color.

“To remain silent is to be part of the problem,” Davis says.

The first of three coffee breaks during the spring semester is Friday, Feb. 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m., in the Chadbourne Residential Hall Lounge, 420 N. Park St. The topic will be “The Stressed-Out Student: Failure, Violence and Mental Health,” led by J. Trey Duffy, director of the McBurney Disability Resource Center.

The first of three video screenings is Feb. 10, 6-9 p.m., in the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St. Check TITU for the room number.

For more information or to join Richard Davis’ mailing list, contact Davis at 255-6666 or e-mail him at rdavis1@facstaff.wisc.edu.