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Diversity Series opens local dialogue |
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Tuesday, 04 March 2008 |
by LINDSAY DIEDRICH
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
Striving to improve intercultural relations on campus, the committee on Multicultural Student Development presents the on-campus Diversity Series.
The Diversity Series provides lectures designed to create an “open dialogue of good work on improving inter-cultural relations on campus,” assistant director for student involvement and leadership Gus E. Pena said.
Tonight at 7 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Ballroom of Plemmons Student Union, the Diversity Series will
present Dr. Mark Bauman speaking on Jewish and African American Interaction in the American South.
Bauman is a former professor as well as the founding editor of “Southern Jewish History.”
“In general terms this lecture brings three very unique cultural groups together,” Pena said. “Whether or
not you’re Jewish, African American or any other culture group it’s important for everyone to learn a
little more.”
“I think the lecture is a really good idea and will open up to help share some boundaries and similarities
where we think that maybe no one can understand where we’re coming from or how we feel,” said
Danny A. Batiansila, a sophomore psychology major and Appalachian’s ambassador for North
Carolina’s Hillel.
“I think the Diversity Series is awesome. The kind of stuff they talk about most people don’t think
about on a regular basis,” sophomore child development major and Hillel president Lyudmila Trost,
said.
“People don’t think about the prejudices that Jewish Americans have had to deal with. Just because
Jewish Americans are always behind the lines in the background, they don’t really go out come forth
anything like that,” Trost said.
Batiansila said both cultural groups are frequently stereotyped.
“Whether it’s a given day or given week, we [Jewish Americans and African Americans] have our own
stereotypes,” Batiansila said. “…Religion being the touchy subject that it is, it is hard for people to
allow leeway.”
The Multicultural Student Development center is striving to change these prejudices.
“The goals of the Diversity Series are to provide spaces and opportunities where students, faculty, and
staff can come together to learn about different cultural groups in a way where everyone feels included,
supported, and respected,” Pena said.
“It’s important to learn about other cultures as well as students who come from under- represented
cultural groups to see what similarities they share,” Pena said.
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