Stephanie Feldman/Contributing Writer
Every day at FIU seems like Diversity Day, with students from all corners of the globe walking through the hallways, talking in a myriad of languages and all with different cultural and religious backgrounds. In response to the diverse student body, FIU’s Student Government Association has set up an event to honor and engage in issues relating to the diversity of society and the University’s student body.
On Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., all FIU students will be invited to a Diversity Fair made up of different councils, panel speakers and performers, all with one goal – to spread awareness and appreciation of diversity.
The event is being held at the Wolfe University Center’s Panther Square and is free to all FIU students. It begins with a meeting of Multicultural organizations and councils from throughout the University, followed by a poetry reading and performance by spoken word artist Jason Carney, an award winning poet who has been featured on HBO’s “Russell Simmons Def Poets”.
For the past ten years, the University has incorporated different themes for Diversity Day. This year’s theme will be homosexuality, with a focus on the intersection of religion and homosexuality.
While past Diversity Days have focused on the subjects of race and self-identity, this year’s discussion panel will tackle a more controversial subject matter, specifically the role that religion plays in gay/lesbian acceptance in society, legal rights and gay marriage. This theme is especially poignant since there continues to be an ongoing struggle in the LGBT community for legal rights and acceptance, especially from within their respective religious communities.
Craig Cunningham, director of Campus Life, hopes that this event will help students “expand their knowledge of diversity issues”.
Cunningham, along with Ivy Siegal, coordinator for Campus Life, who is overseeing the event, believe that it is “important for students to be exposed to different ideas and beliefs” as well as engage in an open dialogue in order to “come together and understand and accept each other”.
Students, such as Eben Stratton, a junior anthropology major, who hopes to attend this year’s Diversity Day sees the benefits that such an event can have.
“It helps remind us that diversity is what makes us special, there are things that all people have in common but without the things that make us different life would be boring,” said Stratton. “It’s those differences that make us unique and special, and inspire those who feel out of place to see that diversity is all around, and that there is no mold for normal.”
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