By Corey Fawcett
Thanks to the University of Portland Diversity Committee, engrossing discussions, thought- provoking films and entertaining cultural performances will soon be abundant on campus.
UP is having its first Diversity Dialogues Week from March 22 to 26. Scheduled activities will address topics such as the status of women in the Middle East, immigrant rights, fair trade, foreign policy and racial and religious stereotypes.
"Most people think that diversity just entails nationality, but there's so much more to it," said freshman diversity coordinator Rebecca Chavez.
"It encompasses race, ethnicity, gender and geography, creating all these different facets of identity," said Bethany Sills, assistant director of Student Activities and the Multicultural Programs coordinator.
Diversity Dialogues Week activities will cover many of these different facets of identity.
Panel discussions, documentaries and performances will be put on by Latino Club, Feminist Discussion Group, College Ecology Club, Black Student Union, International Club, Diversity Committee, Latin Dance Club, International Student Services, MEChA, Border Plunge and Nicaragua Immersion.
"Virtually every club on campus represents some aspect of diversity," Chavez said.
The popularity of the panel discussions put on by the Diversity Committee last year was the main inspiration for organizing a Diversity Dialogues Week this spring.
"We wanted to do something more this year," Sills said.
Sills, Chavez and sophomore diversity coordinator Yaneira Romero have been planning Diversity Dialogues Week since the end of last semester. They were excited when they were able to get Christine Chavez to be the week's kick-off speaker.
Christine, who is the granddaughter of Mexican- American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, is speaking about continuing her grandfather's legacy on Monday in Shiley 301 at 7:30 p.m.
She will also touch upon other issues, such as financial aid for college-bound immigrants.
For moviegoers, a screening of "The Fish Fall in Love" will take place on Monday as well, at 6 p.m. in the New Commons. The movie is about a contemporary Iranian family, broken apart for many years by social customs. It will be hosted by the Feminist Discussion Group.
On Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the St. Mary's Lounge the Latino Club is showing "Crude," a documentary about Chevron's detrimental oil encroachment on the indigenous culture and land of Ecuador.
"Being students at UP, we are called to action," said Latino Club leader Brigid Seely. "We are going to be the corporate leaders of the world and it is necessary to be aware of events going on in developing countries and the effects that the corporate sector has on the world."
For live entertainment, swing by the Korean Tea Ceremony in Christie Hall 022 at 1 p.m. on Monday or the Latin dance show in St. Mary's at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday consist mainly of club-hosted discussions open to everyone.
At 9 p.m. in St. Mary's on Thursday, the Black Student Union is hosting an "Ask Us Any Question" session meant to get any prejudices or stereotypes out in the open and break them down in an understanding environment.
"We're more than willing to clarify anything that needs clarification," said freshman discussion coordinator Andriana Alexis. "It is important for people to feel that all of their questions are welcome. If not here, then where else?"
"I think BSU is really brave to do that," Sills said.
There will also be discussions focusing on a range of subjects from environmental sustainability across borders to the lives of exchange students to religious harmony amongst Christians, Muslims and Buddhists.
At 10 p.m. on Wednesday in St. Mary's, students from the Border Plunge group, which went to the border of Arizona and Mexico over spring break, will talk about what they learned from the migrant shelter, hospitality house, border patrol workers and soup kitchen for migrants that they visited.
"Everyone was inspired by that trip," said Chavez, who went over spring break. "We're all ready to share our stories."
On Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in BC 103 there will be a Nicaragua Immersion discussion focusing on the negative effects United States foreign policy has had on Nicaragua.
"Many students do not know the extent of how U.S. foreign policy has affected smaller countries such as Nicaragua," said Coordinator and senior Mallory Phelan. "It may spark an interest in students to apply to participate in future trips to Nicaragua or Central America."
One goal of the week is to encourage students to be engaged in topics they don't get many opportunities to expand upon in the classroom.
"You're not as engaged in the classroom because you're always listening," Romero said. "I'm excited for students to actually be active and participate in discussion panels. To have your voice heard is powerful."
Also, the week brings awareness to a somewhat homogeneous campus.
"I think the people here feel like diversity doesn't affect them because they're mostly affluent and white, but we're all going to be faced with diversity in any career we go into. It really affects anyone in any major," Romero said.
Organizers say diversity awareness is important for all UP students.
"I think Diversity Dialogues Week is really cool because we don't always get to talk about diversity. People are afraid to talk about it," Sills said. "This week is about overcoming that fear which will create an even more welcoming community at small little UP."
For a full schedule of Diversity Dialogues Week activities, click on the Diversity Committee link in Student Activities on the UP Web site.
