Good Morning!

*Happy Valentines Day! ….we will be handing out our Valentine’s Candygrams….(I’m not sure how long this will take!)

Conflict*

• Begin the session by asking students: What are factors that contribute to conflict between individuals or amongst group members?

• Lifestyle Differences
• Cultural Differences
• Violation of Privacy
• Violation of an agreement
• Disagreement of views
• Lack of communication
• Not completing responsibilities

• Next: Identify what conflict looks like in the moment.
  • Arguing/fighting
  • Lack of communication
  • Heightened emotion
  • Inability to complete responsibilities

• Acknowledge the overlap in some of the responses.
  • Some things that may cause conflict may also be how people respond to conflict. The result is that our responses to conflict may actually worsen the situation.
  • Ask students to reflect on their experiences responding to conflict and whether it was a positive response or a negative response
• • Identify the cause
    • What is the source of the conflict? (lack of communication, differences, disagreement).
  • Gain full understanding of the conflict
    • Meet with involved parties to hear all sides
      • May be individual or group meeting, depending on timing of incident, severity of incident, needs of involved parties, and comfort of facilitator
    • Revisit any rules/regulations/agreements/policy/contract that enhances your understanding
  • Consult any outside sources or witnesses

   

  • Explain to students: Some situations don’t allow time for preparing and that sometimes you may have to mediate conflict in the moment. In these cases, it’s important to focus on what’s urgent and important in that moment. A full solution is not necessary at that time. It is important to go back still do these steps even if you’ve already started to address the situation.

• Using the following case studies, have students come up with a plan for conflict mediation. Depending on your group size, you can split up participants into multiple small groups or have them work through the cases as a large group. You are welcome to alter these scenarios or add other scenarios to fit the needs of the your target audience

• Example Case Study 1:
  • You are sharing a suite with 3 other students. One day, you overhear two of your suitemates complaining about the other suitemate’s living style. They mention that this suitemate does not clean the common space as much as everyone else, has a sleep schedule that doesn’t align with anyone else’s, and has given their room key to a “creepy” friend multiple times. They discuss wanting this suitemate to move out and live somewhere else. Although you agree with some of their points, you have developed a good friendship with this other suitemate. They are new to town, after spending their first year at a different institution, and you’ve been one of the people that have helped them get used to campus life. You don’t want them to move out, but you do recognize that their lifestyle has caused some problems.

• Example Case Study 2:
  • You are a member of a student organization exec board. During a meeting, you realize that an upcoming event is missing some major details and logistics that were supposed to have already been taken care of. When you bring this up to the board, no one takes responsibility. Everyone who had a task found a way to blame someone else on the board. When you try to get members to recommit to taking on tasks for this event, no one volunteers right away. You suggest canceling the event, but the group is also opposed because presenters have been confirmed.

• Have students share out their solutions and work together to reflect on best practices.