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WVU’s 2015 Diversity Week features emphasizing messages of acceptance, tolerance 

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—West Virginia University’s 2015 Diversity Week will be held Sept. 27 through Oct. 3 with events and conversations highlighting important messages of acceptance and tolerance across race, sexual orientation and gender.  This year’s theme is “A place for you at WVU”.

According to David M. Fryson, vice president for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Diversity Week events are a sampling of the important messages promoted year-round on the WVU campus.

“We consider Diversity Week a launchpad to illustrate the diverse events we showcase throughout the year,” said Fryson.  “We hope that students, faculty, staff and the community will join us to celebrate the rich diversity of the WVU community by attending the events and participating in these important conversations.”

Diversity Week will kick off on Sunday (Sept. 27) with Tarang, a celebration of the popular Indian Festival of Lights known as Dewali.  The night of culture, music and food will be held at Hatfield’s starting with the dinner at 4:30 p.m. and will move upstairs for the celebration in the Mountainlair Ballrooms at 6:30 p.m.

Monday (Sept. 28), students will have the opportunity to serve their community as part of a Good Neighbor Day, which is being held in collaboration with WVU’s Student Government Association. Students will gather in the Mountainlair at 3:30 p.m. and tackle community projects as determined by the Center for Service and Learning.

Monday evening, students are encouraged to attend a presentation on the daily challenges that arise between people of diverse backgrounds and world views.  “Diversity is a way of life” is being held in conjunction with the David. C. Hardesty Festival of Ideas in the Mountainlair Ballrooms at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday (Sept. 29), the 28th annual Women of Color luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms.  The keynote speaker is Attorney Katherine ‘Kitty’ Dooley, U.S. Army veteran and WVU alumnae.  There will also be a performance by Miss West Virginia Chelsea Malone.  Tickets are $17 and can be purchased in advance online at http://cwc.wvu.edu/special-events.

Students interested in how to become a student leader in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion are encouraged to attend a discussion Tuesday evening in the Blue Room of the Evansdale Residential Complex at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday  (Sept. 30), College of Media professor Joel Beeson will lead a discussion of the challenges of reporting on race and exploring the 50th anniversary of the 165 Voting Rights March from 6 to 8 p.m. in a session titled “Reporting on Race and Justice: A Virtual Reality Tour of Selma, AL” in the Rhododendron Room of the Mountainlair.

The week will conclude with a variety of events including a coffee house poetry night, a traditional Native American ceremony and performances of Cynthia Wilson’s ‘Battered But Not Broken’ inspirational stage play.

For a complete schedule of Diversity Week events, please visit http://diversity.wvu.edu/di/diversity-week.

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