UPEI celebrates second annual Diversity Week January 18 to 22
UPEI celebrates its second annual Diversity Week from January 18 to 22, and everyone is invited to take in the events. All events are open to the public and are free of charge.
Diversity Week is a commitment to recognizing and appreciating the variety of characteristics-both visible and invisible-that make individuals unique, in an atmosphere that promotes inclusion and celebrates individual and collective achievement, says Ruth Freeman, equity outreach coordinator at UPEI.
The celebration kicks off with an opening ceremony at noon on Monday, January 18, in McMillan Hall, W. A. Murphy Student Centre. The ceremony will include drumming, a blessing by a Mi'kmaq elder, welcoming remarks by UPEI's Academic VP Rosemary Herbert, and cake and hot chocolate.
At 7 p.m. in McMillan Hall, a panel, moderated by religious studies professor Peter Koritansky, will discuss the question: 'Can we ever really be equal?' Panelists are Ann Braithwaite of women's studies, Pamela Courtenay-Hall of the philosophy department, and Charles Adeyanju of the sociology and anthropology department.
On Tuesday, January 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a pavilion organized by UPEI's international students will feature cultural exhibits and, at noontime, a tasty treat of 'dips from around the world.' This will be held in the W. A. Murphy Student Centre concourse.
Also on January 19, Laura Archer, a nurse with the international humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders, will be the first presenter in a new speakers' series that features inspiring alumni. Her presentation takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium of McDougall Hall. The series is organized by the UPEI Student Union.
Aboriginal drummers, crafts and food will be featured in the W. A. Murphy Student Centre on Wednesday, January 20, from noon to 4 p.m. That evening at 7 p.m., everyone is invited to try out their trivia skills at 'Diversity Trivia' at The Wave.
On Friday, January 22, UPEI students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to come to 'Sound-off' at The Wave from 4 to 6 p.m., and have their five-minute say on the same subject as Monday's panel, 'Can we ever really be equal?'
At 6 p.m., the Women's Basketball Panthers take on the UNB Varsity Reds at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Half-time entertainment features the Eagle Island Singers.
Capping off Diversity Week is a performance by Moccasin Joe in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday. The alter ego of Aboriginal comedian Leonard Dick of Northern Ontario, Moccasin Joe is a fictional stereotypical character who addresses issues of diversity through joy and the healing power of laughter.
Dick's performance is sponsored by the Native Council of PEI, Aboriginal Women's Association of PEI, and UPEI's Department of Student Services. Admission is free, but donations for Chief Mary Bernard Memorial Women's Shelter in Lennox Island and Grandmother's House will be gratefully accepted at the door.
Check upei.ca/do for the full schedule. For more information, please contact Freeman at (902) 628-4332 or rfreeman@upei.ca
