A diversity forum hosted by the Office of Diversity, Access and Equity tomorrow will reach into the 21st century and be available across Ohio University campuses via webcam.
The event, which will consist of panels discussing topics such as socioeconomic, race and class problems; LGBT issues; women's and gender concerns and international perspectives, will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. in room 141 of the Human Resources Training Center.
While only open to registered faculty, staff and graduate students, the event will be available to undergraduates and those at branch campuses via live stream at streaming.cns.ohiou.edu/diversity/.
The Diversity Day of Learning can serve as a powerful tool in helping our faculty and staff connect with diversity in their midst in a way they didn't realize before
said Brian Bridges, vice provost of the Office of Diversity, Access and Equity.
I think it is significant in that we are under this one university concept so this allows us all to share in similar circumstances in real time said Linda Lockhart, the communications manager for regional campuses within the Office of Higher Education.
The content of the program is relevant to everyone and you should be able to participate whether or not ... you are geographically available to do so.
Live streaming the event will cost about $800, said Lockhart, which will cover the cost of the technology and the time of the person running it. Lockhart added that the figure is affordable when compared to the costs that would have been incurred if faculty from regional campuses had to travel to Athens.
Tomorrow's forum will serve as the kickoff event for a series of monthly diversity forums.
We are trying to launch a series of interactive workshops to talk about issues of diversity and how to bridge the gaps between us
Bridges said.
Bridges added that the sessions will last about 90 minutes and that, while currently designed principally for teachers, the Office of Diversity, Access and Equity is working on developing a similar forum for students. The series will cover topics related to diversity and status.
Hopefully these will help facilitate a conversation on campus
Bridges said.
Terri Combs, the leadership and staff development consultant for Human Resources, helped the series grow out of a three-hour discussion that was formerly part of an annual managerial assets program to a daylong event.
I hope they leave with ... an understanding of the labels we are all familiar with
and by putting faces on (labels)
people will realize that labels are more harmful that they are helpful
Combs said.
I'm hoping 3 generations from now we won't have discrimination or prejudice.
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