Diversity Days, which kick off today and run through Friday, are the result of students' desire for a program celebrating unity and the ideas that bring students of all cultures together. The program - new this year - is built on three major objectives: to trace the roots of the various groups that make up the University, to encourage tolerance and harmony between students of different races, genders, religions and sexual orientations, and, finally, to create an understanding of differences among student groups through a celebration of their similarities.
Diversity Days differ from other cultural pride weeks in the broad-based approach they apply to racial and ethnic celebration. Rather than applauding the contributions and experiences of a single group - and thereby excluding other student groups on campus - Diversity Days boldly attempt to reach out to a larger population.
In terms of the cultures and ethnicities represented in its student and general population, Ann Arbor is a diverse community. While the University is fortunate to have such variation, the community too often ignores its variegated composition - rarely do diverse segments intermingle. The resulting self-imposed isolation restrains one of the greatest advantages of attending a large public university: the chance to learn about and experience other cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Diversity Days presents different groups with a golden opportunity to get to know one another.
Students wishing to enrich their educational experience should take advantage of such a rare occasion - over the course of the week, they will have numerous chances to get involved. Scheduled events include a number of speakers, films and ethnic activities. Each day's programs are thematically linked. Today's celebrations revolve around religious studies; tomorrow, the focus will shift to gender issues and on Wednesday, the topic of sexual orientation takes center stage. Thursday's events, collectively described as "Our America: Race, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism," will feature Nadine Strossen, national president of the American Civil Liberties Union, who will deliver a Diversity Days keynote speech. The program wraps up on Friday with "Share Your Pride Day." All events are free.
From the opening event - an ethnic food festival at the Power Center tonight - to the World Music Dance Friday evening, Diversity Days offer students a chance to experience other cultures without leaving Ann Arbor. Students should take advantage of an excellent opportunity to step out of their own lives and observe the world from several different viewpoints.