Rebuilding trust and restoring community

Healing and moving forward: This has been an important topic at the University of Rochester over the past several months. One part of the University’s response has been to engage experts trained in a method of conflict resolution known as “restorative practices” who are now working on campus with the Department of the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) and others to resolve conflicts and rebuild trust.

“Restorative practices help identify the harms that have had an impact on a community,” says Beth Olivares, dean for diversity in Arts, Sciences & Engineering, who has taken a leadership role in this initiative, working with other administrators and faculty.  Olivares and a steering committee including faculty from AS&E, the Warner School, and the Gandhi Institute, all with expertise in conflict management and restorative practices, have engaged Toni McMurphy and Duke Fisher, restorative practices experts known for their work with the Skidmore College Project on Restorative Justice and other higher education institutions.

McMurphy says that restorative practices is a good model for the University of Rochester. “It’s clear after hearing stories and looking through the eyes of many of the stakeholders that the harm at Rochester is broad and deep,” she notes. “But at the same time, the university is exploring ways to become a more restorative institution. People are genuinely interested and willing to participate.”

Kristin Doughty, an assistant professor of anthropology and restorative justice scholar at Rochester notes that the restorative practices model has proved effective in a variety of settings, from small organizations to countries that have experienced political upheaval. “Restorative practices focus on interpersonal dynamics in terms of process, but they can—and in this case, must—impact structures by being part of a cultural and even policy-based shift in how communication occurs, how conflicts are addressed, and how accountability is established,” she says. “The fact that members of the administration are choosing to advocate for restorative justice to me reflects the beginnings of a structural change.”

Restorative practices coach Duke Fisher observes, “We’re working and listening to folks who are exceedingly passionate about their fields of study and who want to continue their work,” he says. “They want to continue to collaborate with each other, they want to keep supporting each other, and they want to continue their research and answer the questions they came [to the University] to answer.”

Olivares points out that restorative practices are not just about feelings, although “Everybody does have to talk about their feelings and their perspective.” She notes, “People not familiar with the process might believe that all they need to do is say ‘I’m sorry’ and then everybody is forgiven. That’s a complete misperception of the actual process, especially around accountability. There’s accountability but it’s not in the punitive or legal sense. It’s based on your understanding of the ways in which your actions and behavior have impacted or even harmed somebody else.”

One of the most important features of the restorative practices initiative at Rochester is a high degree of confidentiality for the participants. The specifics of what is discussed and who is participating is not shared beyond the participants.

However, members of the University community who are interested in learning more generally about restorative practices are encouraged to attend the “Healing Harm and Rebuilding Community Through Restorative Practices” workshop being offered by Toni McMurphy and Duke Fisher. It will be held on March 26 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. in the auditorium in Wegmans Hall. For more information, please email Beth Olivares at beth.olivares@rochester.edu.