Iowa State students will discuss the ups and down of communication situations at the Enhancing Interracial Communication workshop Wednesday.

Students, staff and faculty will be taught during the workshop how to empower themselves with knowledge about communication.

A participant from last year’s workshop said it is a “safe chance to talk about issues with people of different backgrounds.”

Ron Jackson, staff psychologist at Student Counseling Services, said people share successful and unsuccessful experiences of communication they have had with people from other cultures.

“[It’s finding] what role racism plays in cultural differences, [learning about] ethnic diversity and the different dimensions and prejudices [of different people],” he said.

Jackson said the workshop is also “about changing and growing.”

The workshop has evolved as campus issues have changed.

“We keep changing the workshop to meet the needs of the community,” said Suzanne Zilber, program director for the workshop.

She said students change the workshops each year.

The workshops, which began in 1992, have had student involvement since January of 1996.

This workshop’s discussion will be led by students Maya Goines, a sophomore in political science, Randy Morfitt, a sophomore in philosophy and Tom Quick, a freshman in pre-business.

The workshop was recently presented to ISU President Martin Jischke as a student-affairs exhibit.

The workshop will be held Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Regency Room of the Memorial Union.

Refreshments will also be served during the workshop.

To sign up, call 294-5056.