PersonaDesign Topic: University Diversity Project
Eric Jones is a Graduate Student at University of Utah, with one year to go until his graduation. He is 24 years old, single and heterosexual, raised in a predominantly Caucasian, upper-middle class family in a Midwest farming community of 200,000 people. Eric remembers stories his grandparents told about prejudice they experienced in the U.S. when they emigrated from Poland after WWII. He was raised to be polite, though he sometimes jokes with the guys in a way that is competitive or sarcastic. His family life instilled an ethic of hard work, and in spite of other difficulties he believes that people make their own way in the world through hard work and persistence. He works as a junior programmer at a local software company, so he is comfortable using technology and always has been. He has traveled on vacation to Australia and is looking forward to more traveling for work. Eric considers himself to be a “good person” and would not go out of his way to hurt another person’s feelings. At the same time, he finds himself impatient with excess complaining about unfair treatment and the difficulties with life which seem to dominate Campus conversations and speaking events. He believes that women and minorities do experience prejudice, yet he himself also experiences rude remarks ad apparently unfair treatment. He has one friend named Charles in his group of lunchtime companions at school who is Black (African American.) Upon reflection, Eric is not sure if he has ever offended Charles personally, yet he is hesitant to ask. Eric's Father used to say, “Sometimes a man needs thick skin to make it in the world. I can’t change that single-handedly, even if I wish I could. I’m just going to mind my own business and get through school.” Eric has been asked to participate in a, EDPS Department-related Graduate Research Project involving microaggressions. He knows vaguely that the Project topic will be related to race and gender. His advisor has requested that Eric allow ½ hour to complete an online module on microaggressions. Eric will access the training module through an email link. He will complete training embedded with a pre and post-test to measure his empathy levels, in order to see if exposure to training materials will affect his empathy reactions and his willingness to approach communication and racial conflict with compassion for the perspective or the receivers (from a marginalized group.) Because Eric is somewhat willing, but does not see change as a necessity, his inclusion in the training is vital. He is representative of the ideal target users. A measurable change in this group will statistically validate the success of the training project in reducing microaggression incidents and improving the social climate of compassion for marginalized groups on the University Campus. Eric’s reaction is that he would rather focus on his own studies. “Do I have to?” Eric asks. |