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Learning a Respect for Diversity Ifeolu Claytor, SHHS ’12, is a junior at Miami University of Ohio, where he is pursuing a double major in political science and social justice studies. He intends to go to law school. His grandfather, J. Howard Battle, is a realtor who helped to integrate the Ludlow community of Shaker Heights and was the first minority member of the Cleveland Board of Realtors. His aunt, Ellen Battle, is a teacher at At Shaker, I had a lot of Fernway Elementary. communities that supported me as a student. I was a group leader in SGORR (Student Group on Race Relations), I was a student government class representative, I did the morning announcements, I was a MAC (Minority Achievement) Scholar, and I was a member of GSA (Gay Straight Alliance). I was also a field commander with the marching band and played lacrosse. I think GSA is really integral to Shaker. It’s extremely important to have a gay straight alliance because it allows people the open space to be who they are, especially if they don’t feel comfortable being “out” with the entire school population. It serves as a support group, but also an education group, so that people can feel comfortable stepping 48 SHAKERONLINE.COM | SPRING 2016 “SGORR was extremely valuable because it taught me to sit back and listen and really take in other people’s opinions before forming my own.” out and speaking up when they hear something that is incorrect, whether or not they identify as a member of the LGBT community. SGORR was extremely valuable because it taught me to sit back and listen and really take in other people’s opinions before forming my own. That was something I brought with me to Miami, just waiting and listening sometimes before I jump into things. With MAC Scholars, it was a different form of diversity. A lot of


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