'Week of Inclusive Excellence' offers interesting views of campus diversity
- February 17, 2014 8:00am
Today (Monday, Feb. 17) is the first day of programs that are part of Cal State East Bay's "Week of Inclusive Excellence: A Celebration of the Diversity of our Students, Faculty and Staff." Events run through Friday, Feb. 21 and are sponsored by the Cal State East Bay's Office of University Diversity.
The celebration kicks off with an address by CSUEB President Leroy M. Morishita that began at 9 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room of the New University Union. Also speaking were Michelle Xiong, Associated Students president; Corey Gin, director of Leadership and Employment Enrichment Program president; and Dianne Rush Woods, university diversity officer, who will discuss "our advances and challenges," according to Woods.
The award-winning Aphasia Tones, a Cal State East Bay chorus comprised of persons learning to live fully with aphasia (a communication disorder that most commonly occurs after a stroke) were also scheduled to perform during the Monday morning event.
The week-long series will feature other speakers, including a Monday evening presentation by members of Henrietta Lacks' family.
"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," a former No. 1 bestseller on the New York Times book list, explores the life, death, and ethical controversy surrounding Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells were taken from her without her knowledge. Many millions of dollars were generated and important tools for medicine were created from those cells, and yet she never knew and her family didn't benefit from the discovery. Those who attend the Monday evening presentation will have an opportunity to meet Ms. Lacks' family. This presentation begins at 6 p.m. and will be held in the University Theatre on the CSUEB Hayward Campus, 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd.
CSUEB's Associated Students Inc. Diversity Center will host "A Tunnel of Oppression" for the education of the CSUEB campus community. The Tunnel of Oppression will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19 and Thursday, Feb. 20 in the Multipurpose Room of the New University Union.
Amer Ahmed, a scholar and intercultural consultant who speaks on "Islamophobia," will provide a presentation on Islam and Hip Hop in the New University Union's Diversity Center from 3 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20.
On Friday, Feb. 21, Stella Ting-Toomey will present "Best Practices for Intercultural Communication and Pedagogies" from 9 a.m. to noon in the New University Union's Multipurpose Room.
"I encourage the CSUEB community to hear our presentations and plans for moving forward with diversity and inclusive excellence on our campus," Woods said.
Additional information is available by contacting the University Office of Diversity at (510) 885-2809 or visiting diversity.
-- Barry Zepel