Cupid, chocolate, flowers and love are in the air every Feb. 14, but dancing, donating and cooperating will be in the air as well Tuesday evening.
The Better Together Ball — hosted by Better Together, Residential Housing, United Campus Ministry and the Office for Diversity, Access and Equity — is an interfaith Valentine’s Day dance celebrating Ohio University’s successes as part of the White House Interfaith Service Campus Challenge.
President Roderick McDavis will give a brief address on the importance of interfaith and diversity efforts at OU.
“He is going to help people understand why these interfaith efforts are important,” said Brian Bridges, vice provost for Diversity, Access and Equity. “As the leader of the institution, he can talk about how this work can strengthen the university community and Athens as a whole.”
One of Residential Housing’s diversity goals is to promote social justice issues with gender, sexuality and religion, said Micah McCarey, resident coordinator for James Hall.
“The interfaith movement and the White House challenge has given us a timely ‘in’ to addressing diversity through growth and development," he said.
The ball serves as an alternative activity on Valentine’s Day while raising interfaith awareness, said Melissa Wales, executive director of United Campus Ministry.
“It’s people coming together across perceived differences for the better good,” she said. “But it’s also a time to have fun.”
The event features a photo opportunity with McDavis, a DJ playing international dance music and signs where people can write about what they love about their beliefs, Wales said.
Better Together asks for a $1 entrance fee — which will fund clean water projects with Charity: Water — or a canned good that will be donated to a local food pantry.
“I think this event is great because it is a celebration of diversity and Valentine’s Day,” McCarey said. “But it is also great to be able to provide services to the Athens community through the canned goods or globally with donations to Charity: Water.”
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