Photo Courtesy of FIU Computing and Engineering
Camila Saenz / Contributing writer
When you sit near the Subway in the Graham Center and look up and see the flags, can you identify which countries they represent?
Diversity Week at the University will be an entire week devoted to the diffusion of different cultures — which represent the students who attend the school.
The event, known as Diversity Week by FIU’s students and faculty, was started by Shirlyon McWhorter, director of Equal Opportunity Programs and Diversity.
“Our topic is more than just a celebration because now it has become more of a conversation,” he said. “It’s for us to see how we relate to each other, how we expose student and faculty to cultures that are represented here at Florida International University.”
Throughout the week, different events will be taking place, allowing students and faculty to explore different cultures and learn about countries that are not as foreign as we believe.
“The key is to make it meaningful to people,” said McWhorter. “If it is meaningful we will think about it and be conscientious of the people sitting next to us.”
The People’s Court’s Judge, Marilyn Milian, will be giving the 2015 Diversity Week Keynote, addressing “Diversity in South Florida.”
Milian is a former Florida state circuit court judge. She currently presides over the People’s Court, making her the first hispanic judge to chair a court show.
Milian was born in Queens, New York to Cuban parents and moved to Miami at the age of 8. She speaks Spanish fluently.
After graduating from Saint Brendan High School, she attended the University of Miami and later obtained her J.D. from Georgetown University.
“She is going to talk to share with us about being a minority in the media,” said McWhorter. “The effects of that… We are really looking forward to hearing about those issues.”
The Diversity Week Keynote Address will provide a broader outlook on the success of a hispanic woman who excelled in both the political world as well as the entertainment industry.
This year marks the first year of “Dialogue with the Dean” — where FIU students will be able to have conversations with the deans in a more casual environment.
Deans from various departments will be in the Green Library Breezeway on April 9th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., mingling with the students in order to answer any questions they may have.
Being culturally aware is an important characteristic for future generations, according to McWhorter. It will provide an understanding and tolerant generation.
He believes that, currently, college students are still forming their own opinions and are usually very narrow-minded. It is the perfect opportunity to learn about what they can do about other cultures.
For McWhorter, Diversity Week is an optimal opportunity to expand a person’s knowledge.
“We at FIU celebrate diversity and we embrace it,” he said.
The Diversity Week Keynote Address will be held on April 7 in the GC Ballrooms.
The event will go on from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
It is free and open to the public.
To RSVP, go to http://tinyurl.com/k5ww2ns.
–news@fiusm.com
About Post Author
