The Student Government Diversity Awareness Team wants students to embrace culture and diversity by participating in the first LSUnity Week.
Juhee Woo, SG Campus Outreach assistant director, said the team wants to represent many aspects of diversity through the week.
“The Diversity Awareness Team exists to promote the range of students we have on our campus,” Woo said. “Even though we have such a big campus, we want people to know that they can be unified.
LSUnity Week kicked off Monday with a wheelchair obstacle course in Free Speech Alley and a women’s self-defense class taught by Kathy Saichuck, Student Health Center coordinator, in the Union.
Today’s events include a discussion hosted by the Safe Space Campaign titled “Diversity in Discrimination: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Sexual Orientation” at noon in the African American Cultural Center.
The Women’s Center will also show a documentary titled “Step by Step: A History of the U.S. Feminist Movement.” The film begins at 6 p.m. tonight, and the co-hosts are the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, Women Organizing Women and the Women’s Center.
Students can also see the Academy Award-winning film “Crash” tonight in the Union at 7:30 p.m.
LSUnity Week peaks Wednesday with six events. The day begins with sign language and yoga classes in the Union. The Women’s Center will also sponsor a brown bag luncheon titled “Women at Work,” which coincides with Women’s History Month.
Students can enjoy vegetarian cuisine Wednesday evening at the vegetarian potluck dinner and sushi at the Japanese celebration.
Caitlin Songy, SG Campus Outreach director, said the event titled “Dialogues with International Students” stems from a program called “Your Class: Their Voice,” which provides “a forum that will benefit both students and faculty.”
“Your Class: Their Voice is composed of seven to 10 students of diverse backgrounds who are committed to accomplishing this goal,” Songy said. “We have spoken to almost all faculty departments on campus and have now expanded the program to the classroom and to leadership seminars and have spoken to over 1,000 students with great results.”
Students can visit Free Speech Alley on Thursday to enjoy food and music from Thailand, Greece and India. The Brazilian Student Association also plans to perform Capoeira dancing.
The week-long celebration concludes Friday night with “Judaism 1001: Shabbat Dinner” hosted by Hillel in the Union. Woo said Hillel will use this opportunity to teach students about Jewish traditions and culture.
Monday, March 12
Wheelchair Obstacle Course: Noon – 1:00 P.M., Free Speech Alley
Women’s Self-Defense Class: 7:00 – 8:30 P.M., Union Ballroom
Tuesday, March 13
“Diversity in Discrimination: A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Sexual Orientation”: Noon – 1:30, African American Cultural Center
Documentary: Step by Step: A History of the U.S. Feminist Movement: 6:00 P.M., Women’s Center
Film: Crash: 7:30 – 9:30 P.M., Union Ballroom
Wednesday, March 14
Sign Language Class: 10:45 – 11:45 A.M., Feliciana Room in the Union
Yoga Class: Noon – 1:00 P.M., Student Recreation Complex
Brown Bag Luncheon: “Women at Work”: Noon – 1:30 P.M., Women’s Center
Vegetarian Potluck Dinner: 5:00 P.M., Hill Farm Community Garden
Japanese Night: 5:00 – 6:30 P.M., International Cultural Center; learn to make sushi, view karate demonstration
Dialogues with International Students: 6:30 – 7:30 P.M., International Cultural Center Thursday, March 15
Food, Music, and Fun: 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M., Free Speech Alley
Friday, March 16
Judaism 1001: Shabbat Dinner: 6:00 P.M., Magnolia Room in the Union
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon [email protected]