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Show THE FORUM - JANUARY CAMPUS 18,2012 3 Patrol Campus Continued from page 1 for a change of pace. As a former police ser- geant and security manager, Gardner will put the skills of his three-decacareer to work at Westminster. Gardner has adopted a multifaceted philosophy when it comes to policing. The Campus Patrol here is very professional, but I want to add to that, he said. People skills are a must for de any police officer, and I want to add to what the patrol has in that area any way I can. We need to keep in mind how to interact with everyone from students to college presidents. Gardner also said that he wants to train officers to respond as quickly to emergencies as possible, since many situations can begin and end within a minute or less. He also wants to enhance what he called the patrols gambit of skills with technical training, transportation logistics, and the use of Segways and Tasers. Bob Robert is an excellent candidate for this job, said Drew Long, the outgoing director of Campus Patrol. Hes been doing this work for 30 years and has a lot of good experience and skills. Im looking forward to retirement, but I think Im leaving this campus in really good hands. When asked about his opinion of Campus Patrol, Gardner said, Its a really good operation, and theyve been helpful in assisting me to getting to know them and the campus. Drew did a good job taking care of the campuss problems. Gardner is facing a tre- mendous shift in his work environment. The University of Utah has roughly 30,000 students, a massive campus and a large police force to help patrol and maintain the school. Westminsters campus is much smaller, and has a tenth as many students. Gardner acknowledged that the differences were part of the reason he decided to switch jobs and part of the challenge in adjusting personally to being the new director. On many levels, West minsters problems are similar to those at the U, Gard- and bureaucracy. Theres not nearly as much here. ner said. There are still the same problems associated Gardner, an Idaho native, moved to Salt Lake City in the 70s and studied at the University of Utah. After working security for several companies, he joined the Draper police force in the with a large group of students living together. Parking was a big issue at the U, and it certainly is here as well. The nice thing about Westminster is that theres not nearly the same political atmosphere as there is at the U, Gardner added. At the U there was a lot of red tape "The nice thing about Westminster is that there's not nearly the same political atmosphere as there is at the U. At the U there was a lot of red tape and bureaucracy. There's not nearly as much here." 80s. Gardner became a member of the Us police department in the early 90s and continued working at the university for well over a decade. He became a police sergeant in 2004, followed by another new position, that of detective sergeant, in 2009. He looks forward to his new job, and the opportunities it offers. The Campus Patrol is really capable, and were going to take that further, Gardner said. Robert Gardner Campus Patrol Director -- Diversity lecture encourages learning through 'discomfort' Laine Krassner Staff Reporter On Thursday, Jan. 19 the Diversity Lecture Series is tackling racial embodiment, racial identity and how discomfort can be a valuable learning experience. Dr. George Yancy, Ph.D., is the associate professor of philosophy at Duquesne University. He has written several books on diversity in higher education. Bridget Newell, associate provost for diversity and global learning, organized the event and is excited to have Yancy here, particularly because of the work he does with teaching methods. He is interested in creating unsafe spaces in the classroom, Newell said. The theory is that when students are uncomfortable, it forces them to grow in ways they may not have thought to push themselves. If we already feel comfortable and safe, we arent learning anything, Newell said. His work on whiteness in higher education is really important. It sounds unusual to strive for discomfort, but Yancy believes safety might be the problem. Safety can signify a lack of courage on the part of the teachers and students to question the presuppositions of their area of inquiry, to challenge the maleness, or whiteness or western-centr- ic dimensions of such areas, Yancy said. Yancy is primarily focused on the black experience regarding higher education. In his article, Philosophy and White Spaces, he discusses his experiences as a black philosopher in a field dominated by whites. He describes feeling the strange sensation of being out of place while attending the American Philosophical Associations conference. There is a complex and multifaceted sensation of being drowned in a sea of whiteness, Yancy said. In every direction there are white bodies moving and discoursing with ease, with no particular sense of being out of place, or not at home. Yancy knows it can be difficult for people to break out of the thinking patterns that they have probably had since birth. He suggests something See LECTURE on Page 14 of 4 Dr. George Yancy will speak at this Thursday's Diversity Lecture Series. |