How does one define respect? To some it is about boundaries and acceptance, while to others it is the reminder that in the end, we all bleed the same. Through interactive game booths and exciting prizes to encourage participation, this year’s Respect@Monash event allowed for participants to think deeply about personal boundaries, discrimination, stereotypes, their roles in respect, and fostering a more respectful environment at Monash.

The first booth titled ‘Break the Norms’ featured a unique twist on Jenga, where blocks had a stereotype written on them, and instead of placing the block back on top, they were discarded in buckets based on whether they agree or not. As the game goes on the structure becomes unstable, symbolising the need for old norms to be thrown away in order to break the norms. This game not only highlights the need for breaking the norms but also makes those playing to think critically about their own biases and stereotypes they have, myself included. 

At the second booth ‘Spin the Boundary’, a scenario related to academics, friendships or partners is chosen by spinning the wheel. Ranging from situations regarding group projects to partners wanting to spend all free time together, the booth aimed to help those participating establish their own boundaries in these situations, by also providing model answers as well.

Then the third booth named “Red Flag Bingo” featured perhaps the most exciting game of all, a fun combination of UNO cards and bingo, where cards are pulled randomly from two piles while numbers from 0 to 9 are said out loud. When the card matches the number being said, the first person to touch the cards wins and will be given a scenario to sort into either physical, digital and verbal boundaries. Once they guessed the category correctly, they can cross it off on the bingo sheet. The first one to get four in a row wins! This booth was definitely an interesting way to learn about red flags and boundaries.

Last but certainly not least, “Step Forward for Respect” aimed to raise awareness about different types of discrimination and provided an opportunity for people to reflect on their own experiences of discrimination through a step forward game, where people had to step forward every time they related to a prompt. I found this activity particularly thought-provoking as it even urges players to think about changes that can be implemented at Monash itself.

Despite the ebbs and flows in participation throughout the event, this was an informative, and engaging way to remind everyone about the importance of maintaining boundaries, being mindful of our biases and overall remaining respectful to everyone. Amidst the chaos of assignments and post-break blues, Respect@Monash was definitely a welcome break from the norm, providing a way to have fun while also learning more about yourself and being mindful of the people around us.