“Not taking offense when none is intended and not offending when not intending to.”

This is the motto of a workshop entitled, “Enhancing Interracial Communication.” The workshop promotes interracial communication through the understanding of different cultures, and through the recognition of differences between cultures.

The workshop was started in 1992 by Suzanne Zilber, an Iowa State staff psychologist. Zilber said she formed the idea because she was interested in ways to improve relationships between black and white women so they could work together on women’s issues.

Due to public interest, the workshop was broadened to include other ethnicities and both sexes.

Open to classes, residence halls, sororities, fraternities, staff and various student organizations, the workshop offers an environment which is not shaming. For individuals who would like to attend, an open workshop will be held in the Memorial Union each semester.

The facilitators who lead the workshop said they prefer a two-hour workshop, but it can be modified to one hour if necessary.

The activities include paired activities, lectures, small and large group discussions and scenarios.

More than 1,000 students and staff participated last year, Zilber said. ” I would expect more this year.”

The workshop teaches that to attain these skills, we must first “acknowledge differences before we can transcend them.”