“Teach In” planner Todd Kenreich, Ph.D., (right) addresses those in small discussion groups during Thursday’s event.
Towson University students, along with several staff and faculty, met on Thursday afternoon for a “Teach In” at the Potomac Lounge in the University Union.
Approximately 200 members of the university community shared a room where they could “foster dialogue that moves complex and painful issues into the light to effect positive change,” according to one of the key event organizers.
The “Teach In” idea was conceived and planned by Todd Kenreich, Ph.D., and associate professor Janese Daniels, both from the College of Education. It featured small-group discussions, which led to a larger group discussion that included raw, honest comments from several students speaking out about their ideas and experiences.
“We thought it was amazing,” Daniels said. “We saw diversity in terms of the students who were represented here, we saw faculty here, we saw staff here, we saw administrators here. They were sitting here discussing these issues together. There was no separation, no hierarchy between them. It was truly amazing.”
The event came together this past Monday afternoon following a routine faculty meeting. Keinreich and Daniels met afterwards and both felt a strong need to bring the Towson community together regarding the events in Baltimore this week.
With the hectic schedule the end of the semester brings, the professors thought about waiting to start the planning after the semester ended. But with the escalation of violence Monday evening, Kenreich felt they had to start the dialogue as soon as possible.
“We met and very quickly decided that the timeline had to be moved up,” he admitted. “This conversation can’t wait until next fall. There are some really deep issues that we hardly unpacked today, but we did come together to say this matters and we’re going to give all the tools to our students to continue this conversation.”
Towson’s Division of Student Affairs, especially the Office of Campus Life and the Center for Student Diversity, helped to promote the event across campus. Many members of both departments were also on hand Thursday afternoon to assist Daniels and Kenreich with event logistics.
“It leaves me speechless,” Daniels said. “I am so amazed, encouraged and just happy this all came together. People were involved in bringing folks in and being a part of the conversation today.”
Kenreich said that for him, Thursday’s event was all about turning words into action.
“I think this goes back to the core values that Towson is all about, Kenreich added. “Towson has a mission and values written down on paper, but today you really saw it in action.”
There will be another “Teach In” this Monday, May 4th in the Chesapeake Rooms in the University Union. It will start at 11 a.m. and everyone is invited.
