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Diversity series narrows
focus
By Laura Pelner
Campus
Editor
Purdue University will begin its Diversity Dialogue
Series today; the series focuses on the differences among Purdue faculty
members.
The Diversity Dialogue Series features structured
conversations between two people who share a specific similarity and
a specific difference. In the past two years, this program has capitalized
on differences among Purdue students, faculty and staff members, but
this year, series coordinator and founder, Alan Manifold, decided to
focus directly upon faculty members.
"Since education is perhaps the most important
job in society, it is essential that educators be diverse to guarantee
that students benefit from a variety of perspectives and see role models
for themselves," said Manifold.
Manifold believes many people don't always realize
how hard it is for professors to be "different" among so many
other pressures, such as preparing for class, publishing research, mentoring
students and serving on University committees.
Manifold founded the Diversity Dialogue Series
to contribute to the awareness of diversity on campus. "We needed
to have more conversation and understanding of diversity, and although
there were programs taking place, such as classes, I felt that the Diversity
Dialogues would have a better impact."
This year, the speakers’ similarities will
be that they are both Purdue faculty members, and their differences
will be in areas such as gender, race, religion, sexual orientation,
disabilities and socioeconomic status. Today's program will feature
physics professor Ian Shipsey, who is hearing impaired, and John Harbor,
a professor in the department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, who
is not.
The Diversity Dialogue Series is sponsored by the
Purdue Baha’i Club and the Diversity Resource Office. It's in its
third year and has proved to be successful.
"People like this idea," said Beth Bernett,
the series co-coordinator and academic adviser in the School of Science.
"They think it’s an interesting thing, and you never really
sit down and think about what it’s like to be a Jewish student,
an African American, or someone who is disabled."
Bernett recalls a topic from last year's Diversity
Dialogues spotlighting a disabled student in a wheelchair and one who
isn't. The disabled student expressed his concern for the fence that
was to be constructed around the Class of 1939 water sculpture. He was
upset because he enjoyed going through the fountain, and now the fence
would make it impossible for him to do that again.
"It never occurred to me how important something
like that was to someone in his situation until after I heard these
two students speak," said Bernett. "You definitely gain a
greater sensitivity toward this particular group, or any group of people
for that matter … this is what makes life more enjoyable."
Manifold agrees that the Diversity Dialogues have
had a significant impact on the awareness of diversity at Purdue. "These
have added a better understanding that all people want to be thought
of as individuals and that no one wants to be judged according to their
abilities, religion or race."
All students are invited to attend the Diversity
Dialogue programs from noon to 1 p.m. today, as well as those on Dec.
3, Feb. 4, March 4 and April 8, in Stone Hall, Room B2. All programs
will be at the same time and in the same room.
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CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
(765)
743-1111 ext. 253
Campus editor:
Laura Pelner
Assistant campus
editors: Kurt Esposito,
Dave Stephens
To
send a letter to the editor, please email campus@purdueexponent.org
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