Our Offerings!
Walk-in Consultation
Our student leaders at the RJ Center (Hearst Field Annex) are available from 1 PM to 5 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to help you with your situation. If you wish to schedule a time to meet, please sign up here.
We will work confidentially with you on your case to help address your needs or concerns.
Establishing Community Values
When it comes to arguments and disagreements, the best thing to have is a preset list of community values that everyone created beforehand. We can help you lead a circle that will gather the needs and values of your group.
Circle Trainings
The Restorative Justice Center also provides circle training to RSOs and Co-ops as a way for student leaders in an RSO or Co-op managers to handle conflicts on their own. Our framework specifically focuses on responses to punitive measures already put in place by established clauses in RSO constitutions or Co-op rules and how to seek a more restorative response.
Workshops and Training
We hold trainings that evaluate our human nature in any manner of conflict or discussion. We provide micro-aggression workshops that focus on destigmatizing the systemic issues in our society; now, we can retroactively work to fix them and how we can become equal people in our lives. We also hold healing workshops where groups can solve past and current issues.
Leadership Issues within your RSO?
We understand that many issues are faced by a group, such as miscommunication or people not doing their duties, so we can provide the support your group needs.
If your Registered Student Organization has internal conflicts, we can help! We will set up times to meet with your RSO and prepare a circle where you can voice your concerns with each other, moderated by our student leaders. During this time, we will also establish community agreements to ensure we are all on the same page and working together toward one common goal.
Timeline (4 weeks): On average, we will have one meeting to discuss the problems with both sides of the RSO, then another to discuss issues within the RSO, then the circle, and finally, a check-up session to see how your RSO is doing. Additional circles can be planned if needed.
Co-op troubles?
We understand that in most CO-OPs, you live with many people, which can lead to miscommunications or conflicts over who does what for chores. With our training at previous CO-OPs, we have found ways to navigate relationships within your CO-OP and build community agreements that will give your space peace of mind.
Timeline (4+ Weeks): In our first meeting, we will meet with you and the CO-OP Manager who has called on us for help and discuss the concerns that you may have. Then, in our second meeting, we will provide a plan and approach to your situation. We will meet with your CO-OP community in our third meeting and hold our circle. In our fourth meeting, we will check-ins and see how the new practices are doing. If a conflict occurs or there are still more miscommunications, we would gladly schedule more sessions with you.
Why your group may prefer a restorative approach compared to a punitive system.
In most cases, a punitive approach forces a community member to feel like they are against the board. This disincentives collaboration and can foster harmful emotions leading to further conflict. The restorative approach seeks to restore humanity within the conversation by leveling out the playing field. We ensure that discussions between the person who harmed and the person harmed seek to find the truth in each other's narrative and come to a conclusion that will benefit both sides.
We recognize that a restorative justice response isn't the solution to everything, but for most, it aligns with values of growth and community.
Punitive vs. Restorative
