The Pathways program promotes awareness around cultural difference and provides affinity opportunities for students whose social or identity needs are not reflected in the dominant culture at St. Mark’s. This program is the umbrella under which all student affinity groups are housed.
Orientation
The Pathways orientation program introduces all new students to the Global Citizenship arm of the SM strategic plan. Students are given the opportunity to think about the many different cultural identifiers and focus in on the one(s) that are most salient for them. They are encouraged to take a deeper dive into the understanding of self, while getting to know St. Mark’s and each other. Included in this orientation are pointed conversations in affinity groupings about building community, academic success strategies, self advocacy/resources available, money management, being away from home, and entering a culture different from ones own for the first time. Each of these conversations are tailored for the appropriate cultural group who need unique support, and ensure that all students have the opportunity to connect with those who identify in the same way they do. After finding connections with those who have similar cultural ties, students then reach across cultural lines to learn about the different cultures represented in the new student body. In this way orientation allows students to look first at self, and then outside of self, all while getting to know St. Mark’s culture and traditions.
Affinity Groups
The affinity groups create meeting opportunity for students who are outside of the dominant culture. They provide support for group members and those group members in turn, collectively and individually become active participants in building awareness throughout the community as a whole.
Research shows that students’ success is only as strong as their degree of social and identity comfort. To that end, SM provides affinity groups for those students whose cultures are underrepresented here. To be clear there is always a concern that affinity groups segregate communities as opposed to bringing them together.
And yet, affinity groups still exist in the most prominent and lucrative organizations, including The United States Congress, Fortune 500 companies, and the Ivy Leagues. How can these groups be so exclusive and yet so highly popular and even endorsed at senior levels of leadership? The answer is that acknowledging difference and communicating across cultural lines actually brings communities closer together rather than further apart. Having the time and freedom to meet in an affinity group empowers members to articulate unique concerns that can be addressed by the entire community.
Viewing affinity groups as exclusive, often stems from the lack of acknowledgement that there is indeed a dominant culture, and that others are expected to fit into it. The acknowledgement of a dominant culture and one’s relationship to it is really the only way to begin addressing issues of power and privilege. Here at SM we provide affinity opportunity for all groups who present with this need. ALL affinity groups provide some meeting times open to ANY St. Mark’s community member who wants to participate. Below is the current list of active affinity groups.
Asian Student Alliance—Rubo Fu
[Chinese Student Association and Korean Student Association]
The Asian Student Alliance is open to all students. The ASA hopes to create a stronger sense of community and promote cultural understanding though various activities and events. The ASA seeks to address different issues regarding Asian culture, or challenges that many Asians face studying abroad. Furthermore, the ASA hopes to create a network of support for students of the Asian race, and promote a sense of community.
Men Are Not Born; They Are Made—David Vachris
The excellent collection “Men’s Lives,” compiled by editors Kimmel and Messner, begins with this simple, but important premise: “Men are not born; they are made.” Let’s talk about what it means to be male at St. Mark’s, in your families, in your culture(s), and in society. Being male today is not about stereotypes or archaic expectations; it’s about the type of boy or man into which we make ourselves, and sometimes that’s very complex and difficult work.
Gender and Sexuality Alliance—James Wallace & Karen Bryant
The Gender and Sexuality Alliance serves to promote awareness, tolerance, and acceptance throughout the school community by engaging in activities and events that recognize and celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. We believe in the creation of an all-inclusive environment inspired by enthusiasm, open-mindedness, and mutual respect.
Southborough Society— Weezie Gilpin & Heather Harwood
This affinity group is for girls and women to discuss topics related to being a woman in today’s world and is a space in which open and honest conversation will explore topics both inside and outside of the St. Mark’s community, including Feminism, gender equality, media, women in the work place, family, education, politics, and everything in-between.
God Squad (Christian Students) Bob and Denise Meyer
Students seeking a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and its application to their personal lives gather weekly in a comfortable home setting to enjoy fellowship, food, singing, good conversation and bible exploration with use of multimedia and directed study. Those who may already be committed in their spiritual walk or those just seeking to explore….. all are welcome!!!
J-Team (Jewish Students) Stephanie Katz
This affinity group celebrates Jewish religion and culture and provides educational and social activities for the school community.
SHADES (Students Heightening Awareness of Diversity Equality and Service)—Stacey Lee
Students of diverse identities can coexist, learn, and educate the school and themselves about culture and service in addition to creating a safe environment where students are comfortable giving and getting support and guidance.
AWAKE (Anti-Racist Whites Acknowledging [issues of] equity)—Elizabeth Ramirez
This white affinity group will meet once a month starting in the fall to explore their racial identity and to discuss the various challenges and opportunities facing white faculty and students who recognize problems of equity at SM and seek to do something about it.
#OpenlySecular Jacob Backon & John Camp
The #OpenlySecular affinity group offers a safe space for discussion, sharing of ideas, and support for those persons in the St. Mark’s community who identify, or may identify, as secular or non-religious. Secular is an umbrella word below which many common terms exist as identifiers, including atheist, agnostic, humanist, and freethinker. Our goal is to provide a welcoming environment for our members to share their lives, thoughts, experiences, and feelings, while we will also organize and educate about secular issues, topics, and advocacy; we focus on the affirmation of being openly secular. Student leadership within this affinity group is sought, particularly for working to affiliate with programs that further enhance the safe space, such as Secular Student Alliance and the Center For Inquiry On Campus.
Pathways Pizzas
Monthly Pathways Pizza evenings can be sponsored by any affinity group who would like to have an open discussion with the entire SM community. This allows groups to bring an issue to the forefront concerning their specific affinity.
Mosaic
Mosaic is a committee comprised of one representative from each active affinity group that meets regularly with The Director of Community and Equity Affairs and occasionally holds combined meetings with the Community and Equity Affairs Committee to plan all school programming.
Pathways Leaders
Pathways leaders oversee new student orientation and run Pathways Pizzas all year long. They serve as an active support structure for students who do not fit into the dominant culture at St. Mark’s.