Re: Info on Conflict Resolution?

[csjhs@eiu.edu (Jeanne H. Simpson)]

Christine

I served an internship with a conflict resolution firm for the month of
October.  I have not applied the principles I learned in a writing center,
for I haven't directed a center for some years now.  Instead, we have been
using the principles of interest-based negotiations here at Eastern in our
contract negotiations with the faculty union and in other situations. We
are working on establishing this style as part of our institutional
culture, because we have had very good results.  It *is* exactly what you
say: commonsensical and reasonable.

There is a lot of literature on it, and yes, it can be perceived as just
another gimmick, particularly because of the terminology sometimes used.
But in reality it is this:  observing the golden rule, listening to people, attending to relationship issues by recognizing when
addressing relationship issues when they exist and calling them by their right
names, solving problems instead of retreating into positions, being
respectful of diversity and being willing to look at different perspectives.
It requires a willingness to be inventive about options and to consider
even the improbable.  Above all, it requires a willingness to change what
are often very entrenched habits.

Is there a good match with writing center practice?  Yes.  I realized as I
began doing this work that I had learned a lot of the basic stuff
instinctively working in a writing center, where negotiation and conflict
resolution happen all day long.  We just don't call it that. But a
tutorial is most definitely a negotiation.  

Jeanne Simpson
csjhs@eiu.edu