Do not treat someone differently simply because of a group they belong to. Judge the individual.

This principle was one stressed at Saturday’s workshop on campus racial discrimination. In one of the more enlightening sessions, participants were asked to stand and state something about themselves they are proud of.

One man stood up and spoke of his experiences of shame and prejudice he has faced because of his weight. Another person stood up proudly to defend her sexual orientation.

Saturday’s conference was a good step in encouraging members of college campuses to think about different kinds of discrimination—not just racial—in their daily lives.

Although the lectures were appropriate and the suggested one-on-one exercises were interesting, many participants used one of the several open microphones to attack another’s convictions without offering any solutions. This set up gave little opportunity for individuals to hear extended feedback on their opinions.

The workshop did have good intentions, and hopefully the participants walked away a little closer to a solution than when they arrived. However, learning to judge people on their own qualities might be better achieved if one can share ideas in small group discussions.