UPEI kicked off its fourth annual Diversity Week today, saluting traditions and culture from many of the 60 countries represented by students at the university.
“We have another splendid showing this morning,” said Wendy Carroll, vice-president of student affairs, who told the crowd of about 60 people at the opening cermonies that diversity is a “large and important” part of the school.
Today’s event was an international pavilion where participants were able to get a passport stamped for each country’s booth they visit. Whoever visited and socialized at the most booths wins a prize, explained Ruth Freeman, equity outreach co-ordinator.
Tonight, an international film festival hosted by City Politica begins at 5 p.m. Each film deals with diversity. One of the films, Being Osama, details the sometimes humorous lives of five men in Montreal who are named Osama and what it was like to have that name after Sept. 11, 2001. Although, Freeman said, one of these men is Christian.
“You kind of have to drop some of those stereotypes,” said Freeman.
Another, Beyond the Red Light, portrays the life of 13 girls who are part of the sex trade in Mumbai.
The films will be shown again on Thursday night.
On Tuesday there will be a Muslim/Christian dialogue held in the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre from 7-9 p.m. looking at the Qur’an and biblical views of peace.
This event was popular during last year’s Diversity Week. “A lot of people were keen on it,” said Freeman.
There will also be a graffiti wall where students and members of the community can post an ‘aha!’ moment whether it be big or small. Their goal with this is to show people you can make a “change in the world” said Freeman.
“The point is to take advantage of when something is happening,” she said. “It’s everyday people that really do change the world,” she added.
The final event on Friday, is a speech by Sherry Bernard, who will speak on Mi’kmaq issues.
“UPEI is committed to individuals and diversity and these events this week is only part of what we do to make this happen,” said Freeman.
The full schedule of events is available at studentservices.upei.ca/diversity-office.
