This week, a collection of University organizations are coming together to celebrate differences among students and cultures with Diversity Education Week.
With University-wide support, the Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity is pairing with the Department of Multicultural Affairs and the GLBT center, among others, to raise awareness about prominent issues related to diversity and oppression.
Beginning last Friday and continuing to this Friday, the University and participating organizations are hosting a slew of events including the Tunnel of Oppression and several presentations on diversity.
Over the weekend, the University’s GLBT center held a GLBT & ALLY student summit that provided information about GLBT issues, education and awareness on college campuses.
Additionally, Arts N.C . State sponsored a four-day showing of Rent, a musical that highlights the lives of eight artists who struggle with diversity and oppression issues.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week, the Department of Multicultural Student Affairs is sponsoring the Tunnel of Oppression in Carmichael Recreation Center.
Yulisa Lin, assistant director for University Housing, said the Tunnel of Oppression is a good diversity education medium because it allows students to see the different forms of oppression and discrimination that plague the world.
“It provides students in our community a chance to observe what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes. Many people experience different forms of oppression everyday,” Lin said.
Last night, director and documentary filmmaker Lee Mun Wah used the Campus Cinema to show his film, ‘If These Halls Could Talk,’ a debut look at long-time oppression and diversity issues that have been present on college campuses.
According to Mun Wah , “We cannot wait until tomorrow for some charismatic leader to appear who will bring us all together. We each must take a stand and personally participate in this important journey of confronting our fears and begin a conversation not only with those we love but also with those we have been taught to fear.”
Also, on Tuesday Mun Wah will host ‘Unlearning Racism in Schools,’ a faculty and staff training session, ‘Only a World Away,’ a discussion on diversity, and ‘How to have a Dialogue Across Cultures,’ a student dialogue group, at 8:30 a.m ., 1:30 p.m ., and 3 p.m ., respectively.
The Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity is sponsoring the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action program on Wednesday. The program is designed to address the realities of disparate treatment and discrimination, and improve management styles when dealing with equal employment opportunity issues.
Later this week diversity education continues with programs like ‘Title IX: Gender Equity in Higher Education, Gay Marriage: Is this the Civil Rights Issue for Today’s College Students,’ and ‘Beyond the Veil.’
These programs highlight issues like gender, race and orientation equality. Additionally, they foster diversity awareness and discussion among students, faculty, and speakers.
Diversity Education Week will conclude Friday with a film screening of Matewan , sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society, and Drag Bingo sponsored by N.C . State’s GLBT center and the GLBT-Community Alliance.
According to the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity’s webpage, drag bingo started in the Triangle in 2002 and is being held at N.C . State this week for the first time.
Diversity Education Week is focused on recognizing common issues and searching for practical solutions.
As the Department of Multicultural Student Affairs said, “it is extremely important to support and protect diversity by valuing individuals and groups free from prejudice, and by fostering a climate where equity and mutual respect are intrinsic.”