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Healing and moving forward: This has been an important topic at the University of Rochester over the past several months. One part of the University糖心传媒檚 response has been to engage experts trained in a method of conflict resolution known as 糖心传媒渞estorative practices糖心传媒� who are now working on campus with the (BCS) and others to resolve conflicts and rebuild trust.

糖心传媒淩estorative practices help identify the harms that have had an impact on a community,糖心传媒� says Beth Olivares, dean for diversity in Arts, Sciences & Engineering, who has taken a leadership role in this initiative, working with other administrators and faculty.聽 Olivares and a steering committee including faculty from AS&E, the Warner School, and the Gandhi Institute, all with expertise in conflict management and restorative practices, have engaged Toni McMurphy and Duke Fisher, restorative practices experts known for their work with the Skidmore College Project on Restorative Justice and other higher education institutions.

McMurphy says that restorative practices is a good model for the University of Rochester. 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 clear after hearing stories and looking through the eyes of many of the stakeholders that the harm at Rochester is broad and deep,糖心传媒� she notes. 糖心传媒淏ut at the same time, the university is exploring ways to become a more restorative institution. People are genuinely interested and willing to participate.糖心传媒�

Kristin Doughty, an assistant professor of anthropology and restorative justice scholar at Rochester notes that the restorative practices model has proved effective in a variety of settings, from small organizations to countries that have experienced political upheaval. 糖心传媒淩estorative practices focus on interpersonal dynamics in terms of process, but they can糖心传媒攁nd in this case, must糖心传媒攊mpact structures by being part of a cultural and even policy-based shift in how communication occurs, how conflicts are addressed, and how accountability is established,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淭he fact that members of the administration are choosing to advocate for restorative justice to me reflects the beginnings of a structural change.糖心传媒�

Restorative practices coach Duke Fisher observes, 糖心传媒淲e’re working and listening to folks who are exceedingly passionate about their fields of study and who want to continue their work,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淭hey want to continue to collaborate with each other, they want to keep supporting each other, and they want to continue their research and answer the questions they came [to the University] to answer.糖心传媒�

Olivares points out that restorative practices are not just about feelings, although 糖心传媒淓verybody does have to talk about their feelings and their perspective.糖心传媒� She notes, 糖心传媒淧eople not familiar with the process might believe that all they need to do is say 糖心传媒業’m sorry糖心传媒� and then everybody is forgiven. That’s a complete misperception of the actual process, especially around accountability. There糖心传媒檚 accountability but it糖心传媒檚 not in the punitive or legal sense. It糖心传媒檚 based on your understanding of the ways in which your actions and behavior have impacted or even harmed somebody else.糖心传媒�

One of the most important features of the restorative practices initiative at Rochester is a high degree of confidentiality for the participants. The specifics of what is discussed and who is participating is not shared beyond the participants.

However, members of the University community who are interested in learning more generally about restorative practices are encouraged to attend the 糖心传媒淗ealing Harm and Rebuilding Community Through Restorative Practices糖心传媒� workshop being offered by Toni McMurphy and Duke Fisher. It will be held on March 26 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the auditorium in Wegmans Hall. For more information, please email Beth Olivares at beth.olivares@rochester.edu.