The Kent State University College of Communication and Information (CCI) will host its first-ever Diversity Week from April 24 – 28. The week-long event is the culminating activity to come out of CCI’s new Office of Academic Diversity Outreach headed by coordinator Amanda Leu.
The office, which works closely with student, faculty and staff representatives from across the college has a mission to advocate for and provide diversity education, support, and resources to the students, faculty and staff in the College of Communication and Information.
Join student organizations from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 27 in the first floor of the University Library in what organizers are calling “Diversi-Palooza,” which will be an event for students of all backgrounds to get to know each other in a relaxed, easy going atmosphere.
“We’re planning this as a fun, drop-in event that will give students the opportunity to meet and mingle with people from diverse backgrounds,” said Belinda Boon, Ph.D., CCI Diversity Team member and assistant professor in the School of Library and Information Science (iSchool). “Everyone can interact with student media organizations and other student groups and explore their unique qualities through games and activities.”
The week-long diversity event will include other activities including a “wall of oppression.” This interactive display will be set-up in the Kent Student Center Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Wall of Oppression will be a physical wall representing discrimination, racism, sexism and other "isms" that will be built up by students, faculty and staff and then torn down at the end of the week. The goal is to acknowledge the oppression that exists, make pledges to actively fight against this oppression in our society, and then symbolically tear down the barriers that hold us back.
In addition, students will engage in a variety of diverse activities all week long and post about their experiences on social media using #CCIDiversity. This will encourage people to expand their engagement and seek out new and diverse ways to connect with others. Activity ideas include and are not limited to:
- Attend a religious group gathering different than the one you would normally attend.
- Visit an art exhibit or a museum dedicated to other cultures.
- Plan an international or diversity movie night.
- Listen to a musical tradition from a different culture.
- Invite a friend over and cook traditional food.
- Volunteer with an organization working for diversity and inclusion.
- Learn about traditional celebrations from other cultures.
- Play a sport related to a different culture (Karate, Criquet, Pétanque...).
- Practice another language with a friend.
- Share other posts on social media that promote diversity and inclusion.
- Invite people from a different culture to share your customs.
- Spread the word around to family and friends.
For more information, contact Leu at aromansk@kent.edu.