Week Aims To 'UniDiversify' Campus

The Office of Multicultural and International Student Services will spread some “UniDiversity” around campus beginning Monday (Oct. 22) with activities designed to increase students’ awareness of a variety of different issues.

“UniDiversity Week,” which is comprised of a little more than a week, will kick off at noon that day with the “Study Abroad Program” in Lowman Student Center Room 304.

“The Study Abroad program is going to be a very significant program this semester because it will focus on giving SHSU students the valuable information they need in order to study abroad, and as a result, expand their educational horizons,” said Ashley McDonough, MISS program coordinator.

“The program will discuss how to find funds in order to study abroad and will also help students learn about, and eventually choose, the right study abroad program for their personal interests.”

On Tuesday (Oct. 23), the Bearkat OneCard Office, in conjunction with MISS, will teach students the “Ultimate Money Skills” at 11 a.m. and again at 6 p.m. in the LSC Theater.

“Managing money is a legitimate concern for all groups (of students),” McDonough said. “It’s definitely something that pertains to certain students, and while we try to cater to minority students, we also want to get information out to all students.”

On Wednesday, MISS will teach students the ins and outs of disability etiquette with a seminar at 2 p.m. in LSC Room 304.

“The etiquette seminar will be extremely interesting and informative as it will dispel the commonly misunderstood topic of disability etiquette and how to handle the social situations related to it,” McDonough said.

Wayne State University philosophy professor John Corvino, who has written books used in SHSU philosophy classes, will take on the “MISSconceptions” of homosexuality, morality and diversity on Thursday (Oct. 25). The program will be held at 3 p.m. in LSC Room 320.

Finally, on Oct. 29, MISS will look at more “MISSconceptions,” this time of the African versus African-American culture at 2 p.m. in LSC Room 320.

“These seminars focus on dispelling stereotypes or, as the title references, misconceptions about other cultural and/or social groups,” McDonough said.

“In actuality, UniDiversity is a little over a week of events this semester, and the goal of the ‘week’ is to bring greater awareness to diversity issues on campus,” she said.

For more information on UniDiversity Week and its activities, visit the MISS Web site at www.shsu.edu/diversity or e-mail diversity@shsu.edu.

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SHSU Media Contact: Jennifer Gauntt
Oct. 19, 2007
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