As much as the topic of social justice is discussed on college campuses, myths and misperceptions about it abound, says Vernon Wall, founding faculty of the Social Justice Training Institute. Below, he answers a few questions that he fields frequently about social justice.
How is social justice different from “diversity” or “multiculturalism”?
According to how he views the terms, “diversity” focuses on underrepresented racial and ethnic populations, while “multiculturalism” expands the focus to other populations who have been marginalized historically. “Social justice,” in contrast, focuses on full participation of all groups in creating a community that is “mutually shaped to meet their needs” and in which “all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure.” (Wall takes much of this definition from the 1997 Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice: A Sourcebook.) In social justice, all individuals operate from the standpoint that they belong to several groups, some of which may be dominant in society and some of which may be subordinated.
If our offices or job positions use the terms “diversity” or “multiculturalism,” should we rename them?
Wall advises not to get stuck on the words. “If your campus is a campus that cannot embrace the term ‘social justice,’ then don’t use it,” he says. “But you can still be doing things that are from a social justice model, and call it whatever you want to call it.”
What about students who don’t think social justice work is important or applies to them? How do we let them know that they’re welcome and needed?
“The key is making sure that we listen to them,” Wall says. “Let them tell their stories. I think a lot of times we feel that we want to talk first.”
An approach might be to ask students what has made them feel connected to a campus and what would help them make their campus experience the best it could be, based on their identities, Wall said. Then ask those students to help you make sure that other students on campus have the same opportunity for a supportive environment and a good college experience.
How do you get university administration on board with social justice efforts?
“What I’ve encouraged folks to do is first of all to look at your institution’s mission statement,” Wall says. “I guarantee you there’s something in there [about] social justice and inclusion.” He also recommends using the terminology used by the institution’s mission statement and the president.
How do we prepare students for a professional world that is generally less focused on and welcoming of social justice than the campus setting?
Students might indeed “feel a little defeated when they are in communities where they don’t find the support that they had on their college campus,” Wall says. However, because of what they’ve learned about social justice, they’ll be in a good position to begin to change those less-equitable communities.
“These students will hopefully be in leadership positions—be our CEOs, be our deans, be our politicians, be the people who are doing great community service and service learning, [be] the folks who are in other countries around the world. That’s what we need.”
