“Many students joke about stereotypes on the UIS campus; some people may take it personally, but others go along with the jokes,” said Jasmine Torres Gonzales, junior.

Stereotypes are often taken as jokes, and things that people say are not taken seriously. On the other hand, stereotypes hurt, and can cause some serious damage to a person emotionally. People need to start realizing the severity stereotypes on others, and stand up and make a change. Making a change is simple; all a person needs to do is stand up and speak, and create awareness of the issue.

The UIS Diversity Center created the OUCH program to promote awareness of stereotyping for the UIS community. OUCH provides the tools to communicate respectfully in a diverse world. It is a diversity awareness program dedicated to educating the UIS community on how to speak up against stereotypes. Ouch provides knowledge and skill-building tools needed to stop stereotyping on-campus.

Clarice Ford, the Executive Director for the Diversity Center and Jeannie Capranica, Program Manager, felt that OUCH would bring awareness to the stereotyping that happens on this campus.

“We all stereotype. This program enables us to think and watch out for what we say. This program allows us to look at another point of view, which is important when speaking up against stereotyping,” said Capranica.

The OUCH program was inspired by author Leslie C. Aguilar. It walks through six responses to speaking out against stereotypes. One of the methods is assume good intent and explain impact. This method approaches the person as a good human being, but lets them know that their words are hurtful. Another approach is asking a question. It is a simple non-blaming approach; it keeps the conversation open ended, and allows the person to further explain themselves.

A person can also interrupt and redirect the conversation. This simply stops the conversation before it escalates. A person can also broaden to universal human behavior. This opens up the stereotype to not just one group of people but to the whole human race. In addition, an individual can pin point the stereotype to an individual. Asking questions towards a specific person is a lot better than labeling a group of people.  More importantly, a person can simply say ouch. It an easy word that lets people know that their words were inappropriate

The Diversity Center will host workshops that further explain OUCH. The workshops start with writing different stereotypes that people have heard indirectly or directly. Next, a video is shown describing what OUCH is concisely, and tells people’s stories involving stereotyping. Once the video finishes, the audience participates in roll play using the different OUCH methods.

The workshops show how stereotypes can be hurtful, as well as common in everyday life. The Diversity Center will be hosting various workshops throughout the semester. Students can choose from one of the several dates: Oct. 12, Nov. 9 or Dec. 7 from 12 – 12:50pm in UHB 1031.

Stereotyping is a serious subject. Everybody has been stereotyped or stereotyped someone else, whether it is a joke or deliberate. Ouch informs the UIS community about importance of speaking against stereotypes and stopping them. The program encourages people to have the courage to speak up. Just one person speaking up can inspire others to do the same.