January
15, 2015 marked the inaugural Diversity and Global Engagement Expo. The
University Libraries’ Diversity Committee and Orolando Duffus, the Diversity
Resident Librarian, were the main catalyst behind the event. The delicious food
and exquisite pineapple punch were jointly sponsored by the Office of
Multicultural Affairs.
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| Library staff display diverse collections |
The
cold 300F day of January 15, 2015 was eclipsed by the warmth, flare
and excitement that permeated Jackson Library’s Reading Room. The library’s
main floor Reading Room was transformed into a multicultural oasis that attracted
students representing all inhabited continents. The buzzing atmosphere was
bursting with curious patrons; some came out for cultural enrichment and
exposure, while others merely stumbled upon what one participant described as
“a day of delights.” Some international students even hinted that the event
organizers did an astonishing job of identifying and selecting authentic foods
that are popular in their native lands.
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| Sampling food from different cultures |
The
well attended multicultural awareness exposition was highly rated by
participants and is regarded as a “must-go” event for coming years. There were eleven
multicultural organizations in attendance promoting their products and services
to the dozens of students that were in attendance. Many of the participants indicated that the
diversity expo enhanced their awareness of different cultural practices. Some
of the activities included sampling different foods and sharing interesting
facts or common misconceptions about some cultures.
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| Representatives from eleven multicultural organizations speak with students |
Live
music provided by an acoustic guitarist was well received and it certainly set
the tone for the event. The melody of the guitar was earthy; it captivated the
attention of the audience without interrupting the continuous exchange of information.
The conversations ranged from study abroad opportunities to the difficulties of
Muslims living in the United States of America.
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| Panel discussion |
The
event concluded with a panel discussion where students, student leaders and
members of UNCG’s administration and faculty convened to discuss social justice
and human rights issues globally. The panelists included Dr. Penelope Pynes (Associate
Provost, International Programs), Dr. Mark Villacorta (Assistant Director,
Office of Multicultural Affairs), Mr. Curtis Tarver (Associate Director, Campus Activities and Programs), Dr. David Nelson (Director,
Quality Enhancement Plan), Edna Chun (Associate
Vice Chancellor, Human Resources), Mr. Joseph Graham (Vice President, Student Government
Association), and other student leaders. The discussion was moderated by Omar
Ali (Associate
Professor, African American & African Diaspora Studies).
The Diversity and Global Engagement
Exposition was a part of a cultural enrichment initiative
that aims to provide access to culture so that every Spartan, regardless of national origin or domicile, may exude a
high level of intercultural competence. Based on the success and campus-wide support of
this event, we plan to propose another Expo for the next academic year.
--Written by Orolando Duffus
