Diversity Week Oct. 20-25, 2013
DIVERSITY WEEK
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OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
A Message from Our Chief Diversity Officer David Fryson
Dear students, staff, faculty and community partners, There is a place for YOU at WVU! The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is proud to sponsor WVU’s 18th Diversity Week Event as we celebrate together the rich diversity of our University community. You are invited to join in more than 40 unique programs and activities planned.
Although we endeavor to celebrate diversity every day, one of the main goals of this week-long event is to promote the different spectrums of diversity that are continuously growing on the WVU campus. It is structured to bring the campus together and share student differences and similarities through varying identities. Now, for the Diversity Week Challenge at WVU. 1. Join me on Monday at
ON THE INSIDE
12:30 p.m. in the Mountainlair Food Court for our kickoff and cake-cutting event and show your support for this year’s program theme: “There’s a place for you at WVU.” 2. Check out the Diversity Week website for an up to date list of multicultural festivities, symposiums, interactive workshops and lectures. For a complete schedule of events, visit http://diversity.wvu.edu/
5| Celebrate Native American heritage with WVU’s annual Peace Tree ceremony.
schedule 3. Attend as many events/ activities as possible from October 20-25! 4. Learn something new and meet new friends! 5. Be sure to attend the “Leaning in @ WVU” held 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Gold Ballroom. Find out how ‘leaning in’ individually can benefit us collectivelymaking a better, stronger WVU. Presenter: Provost Michele Wheatly, Vice-
President for Academic Affairs Administration. 6. Tweet. Pass the word along and bring a friend to each event! I would like to personally thank the Diversity Week Committee who worked hard to ensure that WVU student organizations, staff and faculty shaped this year’s program. I would like to also thank the DA staff and student writers, edi-
tors and our WVU advertising departments for making this tabloid possible. And finally, our thank you to university relations writing staff, web services and to Alan Waters and the DA staff. Their expert help and recommendations made this program possible. Have a great week of celebrating the richness of diversity.
8-9| Check out the schedule of events to see all that WVU’s Diversity Week has to offer.
DIVERSITY WEEK
OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
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Annual Women of Color luncheon Distinguished Speaker Series to to take place during Diversity Week highlight engineering opportunities by Kahli Blankenship office of diversity, equity and inclusion
For the 26th consecutive year, the Women of Color Luncheon will be held during West Virginia University’s Diversity Week. The luncheon will be held on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. Everyone is welcome. The luncheon will be hosted by the WVU Council for Women’s Concerns in partnership with the WVU Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It will be the stage for discussion of a variety of topics and includes speeches from WVU’s Chief Diversity Officer David M. Fryson and President James P. Clements. This year, the keynote speaker will be Diane Lewis, President and CEO of Action Facilities Management, Inc., which has a branch located in Morgantown, West Virginia. She is also
a member of the West Virginia University’s Board of Governors and was voted the 2013 Small Business Administration’s Small Business Person of the Year for West Virginia. In addition to her professional success, Lewis is a strong advocate for community involvement. She is currently the vice-chair of Members of Diversity community non-profit, on the Board of the Public Theater and serves as treasurer of Berean Baptist Church. According to Tonya Michael, the chair for the Council of Women’s Concerns, “Lewis not only represents both the local and campus communities, but she is an excellent representation of entrepreneurial women within the state and beyond. She is an amazing woman who has a great work ethic and personal spirit.” For more information about the Luncheon or how to purchase tickets, please contact Michael at tonya. michael@mail.wvu.edu.
By Jacob Bojesson staff writer
West Virginia University’s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources will host its first speaker of the year in the Distinguished Lecture Series Friday. The Staler College has been hosting the lecture series for several years are a way to give students and faculty an opportunity to hear from professionals within the engineering community. “The annual series brings speakers from a variety of engineering and industry specialties to campus to showcase the opportunities a WVU engineering education provides our students,” said Mary Dillon, coordinator of marketing and communications. “It is an op-
portunity for us to bring distinguished people whether they’ll be alumni or friends of the college in to speak to our students about their experiences as engineers. We host several distinguished lectures each academic year.” As part of Diversity Week, Irving Pressley McPhail, president and chief executive officer of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, will speak about a new dilemma facing Americans. “He is going to be talking about confronting the new American dilemma, the The NACME strategy,” Dillon said. “In the case of Dr. McPhail, he is not an alum, but since he holds such a prestigious position with this organization it will give our students a chance to learn from him.”
The “new American dilemma” refers to the absence of African Americans, American Indians, and Latinos within the engineering field and what needs to be addressed in order to reverse the situation. McPhail will present his views on the situation as well as suggestions on how to achieve “an engineering workforce that looks like America.” “It is the first distinguished lecture of this academic year and we have other lectures that come up through the year,” Dillon said. “We probably have 3-4 each year. They are very well attended by both students and faculty.” The lecture is free and open to the public and will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in room G102 of the Engineering Sciences Building.
Mountaineer Week
Celebrating Appalachian Heritage November 1 - 10, 2013 Craft Fair &
Quilt Show Weekend
Fri., Nov. 1 - Sun., Nov. 3 WVU Mountainlair 1550 University Ave Morgantown, WV 26508 (304)293-2702
Other Weekend Activities: Friday:
FREE Mountain Music Concert Hillbilly Gypsies
Saturday:
Mountaineers Run United Run/Walk Family Fun Day Telebration Country Vittles Dinner Buffet Appalachian Style Fiddle Contest
For a complete schedule visit: mountaineerweek.wvu.edu
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DIVERSITY WEEK
OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
From camo to campus
WVU to host event to provide resources, information to future, current student veterans. By Hilary Kinney staff writer
The number of veterans attending West Virginia University is growing, and with this growth the amount of support available to them on campus must grow, as well. Thursday, “From Camouflage to Campus” will kick off at 6 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. Presented by the Office of the Veterans’ Advocates, this event will feature numerous speakers and resources to inform current and future WVU veteran students. Some topics of conversation will include how vet-
erans transition from the military to college, different types of military experience, and what the college experience is like for veterans. The event will feature consultant, author and speaker Lisa Rosser, with “The Value of a Veteran,” advice and insight from current WVU veterans, a question and answer panel, and information tables featuring campus and outside resources. Carolyn Atkins is the professor of a lab course specifically for campus veterans, Effective Public Speaking. Four of her students from this course will be speaking at the event: Peter Allen, of
the U.S. Marine Corps with “Thirteen Weeks in Paradise,” Paul Jerabek, U.S. Army, with “The Last Jump,” Dennis Ribeiro-Matos, U.S. Army, with “Another Day,” and Nicholas Shamblin, Army National Guard, with “A Time to Change.” “One takeaway for veterans who attend this event, hopefully, is to realize that they are not alone in their feelings,” Atkins said. “A support group exists on the campus of West Virginia University. Veterans need to know that there are places they can go to seek help with college and classes.” In college, all students have important decisions
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“Veterans need to know that there are places they can go to seek help with college and classes .”
Carolyn Atkins
WVU Professor
to make. However, Atkins said veterans can find it more difficult to choose a specific direction. “They are coming from a disciplined environment to a university setting that, in many cases, does not offer the regimented direction with which they are familiar,” Atkins said. “They have choices, something which the military typically does
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not provide.” Jerry McCarthy, interim veteran advocate at WVU, came to WVU in 2002 after 20 years of active duty. He said at the time of his transition to the University there were not many resources on campus to help veterans. McCarthy said the resources available now are crucial because of the background veterans have.
“Part of military behavior, part of that culture, dictates how students are going to behave when they get to a college or university,” McCarthy said. “In many instances, in the military, they learn how to adapt and improvise through a wide range of circumstances that allow them to come out and be successful at the end of the day. But that doesn’t mean that they ask for help. College is a little bit different than being in the military.” For more information about the “From Camouflage to Campus” event, contact Sharon Mallow at 304-293-5600 or sharon. mallow@mail.wvu.edu
OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
DIVERSITY WEEK
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Annual Peace Tree ceremony to honor heritage By Alexis Randolph Correspondent
The Peace Tree Ceremony will take place Oct. 24 this year.
FILE PHOTO
The Peace Tree has stood in front of Elizabeth Moore Hall for 21 years to serve as a representation of West Virginia University’s belief in the rediscovery of American Indian heritage. The tree was planted on the Downtown Campus in 1992. In 1996 the tree was vandalized and cut down; later the same year, a new tree was planted and still stands today. In 1996, for the second tree planting ceremony, Chief Jake Swamp of the Mohawk Nation, founder of the Tree of Peace Society, said the tree was a symbol of peace for the University. Swamp died in 2010. The ceremony is held
annually at the University and the department considers it to be one of the highlights of the academic year. The 2013 Peace Tree Ceremony will be held Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the site of the Peace Tree. The guest of honor for the 2013 Peace Tree Ceremony will be Klane King of the Blackfoot Nation, Blood Tribe. King is a language instructor and works as a spiritual caregiver to Native patients in Montana. King describes his personal philosophy as life being a lesson each person can learn from. “Experience and life lessons become valuable tools in one’s journey through this existence,” King said. “There are constant barriers to overcome and quests
always to be achieved.” King will also giving this year’s Peace Tree Lecture, Traditional Medicine for Modern Problems, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in G11 of the Life Science Building. Sophomore music education major Laura Marsh said she believes the ceremony is important for diversity at the University. “I think the ceremony will help to open students’ eyes about the different cultures on campus and about what those cultures have to offer to students,” Marsh said. “We really can learn from one another and the traditions our cultures carry.” To learn more about the ceremony and the Native American studies program at WVU, visit nas.wvu.edu.
DIVERSITY WEEK
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OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
DRIVE + TEXTS = WRECKS
University Police to talk new texting laws By Caroline Peters Staff writer
WVU Extension Service celebrates Diversity Week What’s Your REAL Color? Communication and the Value of Diversity October 22 | 3:00pm | Rhododendron Room, Mountainlair
Connecting the people of West Virginia to the University’s resources and programs is the primary goal of WVU Extension Service and its 55 offices throughout the state. Local experts, like WVU Extension’s agents and specialists, work to help improve the lifestyles and well-being of youths, workforces, communities, farms and businesses through trusted research in the counties in which they serve. To learn more about WVU Extension programs, visit www.ext.wvu.edu, or contact your local office of the WVU Extension Service.
In July, the West Virginia state government passed a law forbidding people from driving while distracted, and the West Virginia University police are cracking down on texting and driving. Those who violate the distracted driving law will be given a hefty fine. The first violation is $100, the second is $200 or subsequent violations are $300. Lieutenant Peggy Runyon, campus police investigator, said the WVU police department has seen an increase in people texting and driving on the roads. “We have seen a small increase as far as accidents because of texting,” Runyon said. “However, there has been a huge usage of people blatantly texting while driving. We have had to start giving out citations.” It’s not just texting that is causing distractions on the road. Runyon said she has
witnessed people do anything from eating to reading while driving. “I have seen people eating and drinking while driving. I even have seen people reading a book while driving or doing their make-up,” Runyon said. The police have the right to pull over any driver that appears to be distracted. “The law is written as a distracted driving law,” Runyon said. “The main problem at this point is the number of people texting while driving but other distractions can cause problems. If we see someone swerving, about to hit someone or running a stop sign, we have the right to pull them over because they seem distracted.” Runyon said the problem doesn’t stop behind the wheel. People are distracted on their phones while walking. “It’s a generation thing. Everyone is used to having that instant message or connection,”he said. “Just sit in front of the Mountainlair
and watch people. There are numerous people on their phones while walking.” Runyon advises drivers to simply pull over if they must send a text message. “The best and safest alternative to texting and driving is to pull off the road,” Runyon said. It is just not worth getting into an accident over a text. Trying to text and drive leads to distractions. If there is a passenger in the seat, they could always send a quick text for the driver.” Greg Clarke, a WVU finance student, said he supports the new law. However, Clarke isn’t confident the law will put an end to reckless driving. “It’s a smart way to enforce people to stop texting when driving,” Clarke said. “My only concern is that people will still continue to text and drive, despite the law.” Runyon will lead a discussion about the new law Thursday at 5 p.m. in the Shenandoah room of the Mountainlair.
DIVERSITY WEEK
OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
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‘WORTH THE WEIGHT’
Professor to talk discrimination, bias toward overweight individuals By Evelyn Merithew Staff writer
Race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age and disability are all part of the West Virginia University non-discrimination statement, but what about weight? Deborah Christel, a WVU assistant professor whose area of research is focused on discrimination toward plus-sized women, will address the WVU community about this topic through her presentation “I’m Worth The Weight” Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the Laurel Room of the Mountainlair. “We put a lot of atten-
tion on the obesity epidemic but very little has been done to stop bias and discrimination toward obese children and adults,” she said. “There is a lot of research that shows there are social consequences for being obese and fat.” Christel’s research focuses primarily on plussized women in regards to clothing and their experiences while trying to dress themselves. “(Obese) people, who I really love, would share with me their experiences trying to find clothes to express themselves and how emotionally draining it is,” Christel said.
According to Christel, research shows obese and overweight people are discriminated against in many aspects of life: employment, education, healthcare, and interpersonal relationships. “Parents telling their children ‘You’re fat and need to lose weight’ reduces the quality of life for fat people,” she said. “What this presentation is going to do is question that. Is being fat really wrong? Is it really that bad?” New research on weight-bias violence is showing the discrimination overweight people experience is even more det-
rimental to their health. After conducting research, Christel said she believes weight bias is a universal issue. “There is weight bias in Australia, Canada, Sweden and London,” she said. “I think universities all over the United States are also experiencing it.” Christel said WVU does not recognize weight as part of its diversity statement, and a petition will be passed around at the presentation for students to sign in an effort to change this. If weight is added to the statement, students who feel they have been discriminated against in this
aspect will be able to go to the WVU Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and have action taken. Christel said in today’s society, people may not realize weight bias is really an issue and said people tend to just accept the “fat kid” is always the one who is made fun of. “There are techniques we can do to reduce this bias. The first step is recognizing it: seeing it in commercials and in conversations,” she said. “The second step is joining the conversation when you see it: speaking out and saying “Hey, is that joke about the overweight person actually
THE DAILY ATHENAEUM Use the hashtag #YouAtWVU during Diversity Week to join the discussion.
There’s a place for YOU at WVU.
DIVERSITY WEEK 2013
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October 20-25, 2013
DIVERSITY WEEK Sunday, oct. 20
1:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 7 p.m.
Tarang Children’s Dance Dinner: 2013 Tarang Celebration Tarang
Mountainlair Ballrooms Hatfields Mountainlair Ballrooms
monday, oct. 21 12:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m.
Diversity Week Celebration Kick-off The Power of Privilege Being a Good Neighbor The Black Family: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Leaning in @ WVU Assistive Technology
Mountainlair Food Court Mountaineer Room Shenandoah Room Rhododendron Room Gold Ballroom Rhododendron Room
october 20-25, 2013
Arrive Alive African Dance Ensemble What is Your Real Color? Journey Series: The Dust That Covers My Heels I’m Worth the Weight Health and Wellness in Nigeria Jesse’s Story (Movie) International Body Image Norms and Ideals Speak Up(!) Diversity Poetry Reading Deaf Jam (Movie)
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Wednesday, oct. 23
10 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.
tuesday, oct. 22 11 a.m. 12:15 p.m. 3 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 8:30 p.m.
DIVERSITY WEEK 2013
Go Green 26th Annual Women of Color Luncheon Irish Dance Team We’re One Global Family Social Media Impacts Journey Series: China 101 Journey Series: From Sand & Rocks of Turkmenistan to the Profusion of Trees & Mountains of West Virginia International Fashion Show and Mixer The Times are Changing: Were the Hippies Right? Orange is the New Black: Diversity in Pop Culture
Mountainlair Commons Area Mountainlair Ballrooms In front of J.A.C.S. Rhododendron Room Shenandoah Room Monongahela Room Laurel Room Blue Ballroom Rhododendron Room Shenandoah Room
thursday, oct. 24 Towers PRT/Rec Center Roadway In front of J.A.C.S. Rhododendron Room Shenandoah Room Laurel Room Shenandoah Room Gluck Theatre Rhododendron Room Gold Ballroom Gluck Theatre
11 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Noon 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6 p.m. 9 p.m.
In front of Hatfields Nutrition Between E. Moore & Martin Halls Peace Tree Ceremony Mountainlair Common Area Hip Hop Dance Club Laurel Room My Journey & My Dream: A Unique Path from Rwanda to West Virginia Rhododendron Room Consent Game Shenandoah Room Drive + Texts = Wrecks Life Sciences Building G11 Peace Tree Lecture: Modern Problems, Traditional Medicine Mountainlair Ballrooms From Camouflage to Campus Mountainlair WVUp All Night: Around the World
Friday, oct. 25 11 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 9 p.m.
Confronting the New American Dilemma: The NACME Strategy Native American Luncheon WVUp All Night: Around the World
Engineering Building G102 Allen Hall 802B Mountainlair
DIVERSITY WEEK
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OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
STAYING WELL
WELLWVU to host variety of Diversity Week events By Alexis Randolph staff writer
WELLWVU: The Students’ Center of Health is helping to expand diversity into every aspect of student life on campus. Throughout Diversity Week, WELLWVU will hold several events in conjunction with the Office of Diversity and Global Initiatives. These events include a guest speaker, the “Consent Game” and a WELLWVU booth in the Mountainlair. Alison Tartaglia, health education specialist for WELLWVU, said she feels students have a lot to gain
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“People gain a new appreciation for the variety of backgrounds and stories we have on campus. We want to make sure we are meeting the needs of all students at WVU.” Alison Tartaglia
Health Education Specialist
from Diversity Week and the programs involved. “People gain a new appreciation for the variety of backgrounds and stories we have on campus,” she said. “We want to make sure we are meeting the needs of all students at WVU.” Guest speaker Adebayo Jumoke will give a presentation, “Health and
Wellness in Nigeria,” focused on the work she has done with her organization in Nigeria. Jumoke’s group worked with impoverished communities, including women and children who had been impacted by HIV and helped fix the problems by meeting the community’s needs. Jumoke will speak
Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the Shenandoah Room of the Mountainlair. The Consent Game, a program for WVU students, will take pl in the Mountainlair at 4 p.m. on Thursday. The purpose of the game is to teach students what consent in a relationship is. The game is paired with WELLWVU’s WELLaware
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campaign. WELLWVU will also have a booth available Thursday, from 9 a.m. -2 p.m. in the Mountainlair Commons Area. At the booth students will be able to find information from the WELLWVU office about diversity on the WVU campus. Tartaglia said she be-
lieves diversity is important to every aspect of education for a student at the University. “Diversity is the experiences we have; the places we come from make us diverse. It makes for an immensely richer environment for students, faculty and staff to learn in,” Tartaglia said. “Not only is it important we respect and celebrate diversity, but also we want to make sure we are reaching out to a diverse population on campus.” To learn more about WELLWVU visit, http:// well.wvu.edu.
DIVERSITY WEEK
OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
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From South Africa to Morgantown Student to talk about transition to life in West Virginia By Caroline Peters staff writer
Teboho Mabuka, a freshman political science student, traveled from South Africa to attend West Virginia University. Mabuka said the people and the environment are what brought her to the University. “I know of friends that went to WVU from South Africa,” Mabuka said. “I went to the African Leadership Academy in South Africa, an international school that educates people from all parts of Africa. The environment also helped me want to move to (Morgantown). I knew it was a college town and was rel-
atively smaller than most cities.” Mabuka said she is adjusting to the climate change and looking forward to seeing her first snow. “South Africa is generally warm. Even the winter doesn’t get too cold,” Mabuka said. “Morgantown has been nice and warm so far, but I hear it will get really cold soon. I am actually nervous about the snow season because of the cold, but I’m excited to experience it since we don’t have it back at home. “ Mabuka also said she is grateful for the financial aid and activities WVU has offered her. “I received some scholar-
ship money that has helped me pay for WVU, and I’m very proud of that. I love the school, and I’ve discovered that the University offers so many activities.” she said. “The academics here are good. My two favorite classes are my international relations class and my poetry and drama class.” Mabuka said her parents supported her decision to move to Morgantown, despite the distance. “My family is excited that I chose this very different route for my undergraduate,” Mabuka said. “They have always understood that I love traveling and having different experiences, so they were very
Indian students to share culture By Alyssa Pluchino staff writer
West Virginia University contains a student body associated with various cultures across the globe. Particularly, the number of Indian students studying abroad at WVU seems to grow each year. However, many are still left unaware of Indian culture. The Indian Students Association is an organization where Indian students can celebrate their culture and also learn about their rich heritage. “(This club) is unique in that it expresses our culture and religion from our motherland. It explains our views and ways of doing things and how we go about our lives and daily activities,” said Anirudh Jonnalagadda, ISA vice president. “There are a diverse group of students at WVU, and they all bring a
special part of their culture with them.” ISA will be celebrating the Hindu holiday of Diwali, the “Festival of Lights” Sunday, from 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballroom. In Hinduism, this fiveday event is meant to bring awareness to “the inner light.” Traditionally, those who celebrate the holiday light small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. Those who attend the event will be able to enjoy traditional Indian cuisine and performances. “(Indian culture) entertains by dance and movies. India is the largest movie/ song producing country in the world. Indian people eat, sleep and live on Bollywood movies, and it’s their favorite pastime,” Jonnalagadda said. “It is always colorful and filled with excitement.”
The club gives students an opportunity to better themselves and learn important skills they may not otherwise learn. “(Students who join ISA) learn how to lead, manage, and be a team player. They also improve their communication and interpersonal skills while providing interaction between alumni and current students,” said Praveen Majjigapu, president of ISA. “It provides pickups from airport and temporary accommodations for new Indian students just arrived at WVU.” The club also hosts several other events and activities throughout the year, including movie nights and spring sports. Other holidays that ISA will be celebrating are Indian Republic Day, which honors the date in which the Indian Constitution was enforced
see ISA on PAGE 12
accepting of my decision to come to WVU.” Although she lived in South Africa her whole life, Mabuka said Morgantown has become her new home. “By the end of the first week of classes I had developed a sense of belonging,” Mabuka said. “By the end of the first month of school, I felt very free. I feel like I’m at home.” Although she represents WVU, Mabuka still keeps her nation’s morals at heart. “My country is a democracy, but lately, South Africa has been going through a lot of issues,” Mabuka said. “If there is anything my homeland has taught me to have,
it’s a sense of hope. I also come from a place where we know that in life, it is important to be connected.” Mabuka said the South African way of life is much different than the American way of life. “There’s a difference in how people do things and see things and treat each other,” Mabuka said. “In South Africa it’s not black and white. At home, it is weird to walk past someone and not say hello. We all make some kind of eye contact. Here, everyone has a cell phone in their hand 24/7. Social Media isn’t completely on-hand at home. Here, I find myself sitting with friends who are always
on their phones. It seems like people are simply too busy in college.” The food in South Africa has also left an impact on Mabuka. “We have burgers and fries, but WVU’s food is college town food,” Mabuka said. Even though Mabuka appreciates WVU, she still plans on returning to her homeland after graduation. “After graduation I plan on interning for the summer in South Africa, then applying for grad school for fall,” Mabuka said. “I worked for two years before starting college, so I want to start school right away after graduating.”
Considering Your Future? WVUJOBS As you look at the next chapter in your life, consider West Virginia University. We have many employment opportunities available. Visit us at jobs.wvu.edu
DIVERSITY WEEK
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OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
Health Sciences students learn to care for diverse populations By April Henry
office of division of diversity, equity and inclusion
Well-rounded. Accepting. Approachable. Understanding. Passionate. These are the words WVU Health Sciences students use to describe the kind of healthcare providers they want to be in the future. And thanks to the thread of diversity weaving throughout all educational programs, students believe they are on their way to fulfilling those expectations “Learning about diversity gives us a better understanding of different cultures and broadens our perspectives,” said Jennifer Nguyen, a School of Dentistry student who was born in Vietnam. “Espe-
cially for healthcare professionals, who interact so closely with patients with such diverse backgrounds, understanding various cultures and traditions will give us an advantage to communicate, connect and treat patients with better care and respect.” Integrating diversity at WVU happens in three ways: through recruitment, admissions, and retention. Boosting the mix of students and faculty members from diverse backgrounds; through the curriculum by incorporating diversity into each course; and through a blanket approach by cultivating a welcoming environment. “Diversity within our class and curriculum will allow us to become wellrounded providers who
Embracing
can establish good relationships with our patients and provide proper care,” said Rebecca Furby, a School of Medicine student from Charles Town, W.Va. “The better you understand a person, the better avenues of care can be sought. Therefore, diversity will greatly impact how we approach and deliver preventive care for our future patients.” WVU School of Dentistry Associate Dean Shelia Price, works with representatives from the other health schools to create an inclusive environment – one that warmly welcomes all students and faculty members, no matter what gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.
ROBERT C. BYRD HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
“Fostering inclusive learning communities is an essential step in achieving academic excellence,” Price said. “Our collaborative effort in creating educational opportunities to engage diverse groups has been an amazingly enriching experience. Promoting respect and mutual understanding despite cultural, economic, linguistic or other differences in the educational environment is a professional necessity. There is a pressing need to prepare the current and future health workforce to meet the health needs of an increasingly diverse society.” HSC students are looking forward to being contributing members of that workforce. “I want to know how to approach those individuals who will one day sit in my chair,” said School of Dentistry student Tyler Crowe. “Coming from a small, rural town in southern West Virginia, I was limited in my knowledge of other cultures. My awareness of diversity during my time at WVU is preparing me to be a better healthcare professional by providing me with experience in treating patients from all over
ISA
as a hallmark of
academic excellence
Continued from page 11 in January and Holi, the “Festival of Colors,” traditionally celebrated in the spring. “I have visited India several times, but I still want
the map. I have had the opportunity to learn how to handle language barriers, physical limitations, and cultural restrictions.” According to Price, all of WVU’s health education programs need to address health disparities within minority groups. “The burden of numerous diseases and health problems disproportionately impacts minorities. For example, the prevalence of diabetes is higher among African American and Hispanic/Latino adult populations by comparison to their majority counterparts,” Price said. “Diversity and cultural information should be incorporated throughout the curriculum, not as a single course, but in each course.” While the HSC is making strides toward an inclusive environment, the effort is still a work in progress. Raul Sanchez, a School of Medicine student from York, Pa., has noticed Morgantown doesn’t have the ethnic diversity that a larger city would have. “There are a few students in our class from different backgrounds, but I would like to see more clubs that have a cultural focus,” he said.
Nguyen and Crowe both cited various accents as challenges for all students. “Because West Virginia is not as diverse as some other states, people here are not used to the different accents, so communication with people from international backgrounds may be more difficult,” Nguyen said. “Within our class, we have found that some of the people from other countries have a hard time understanding us with a southern dialect,” Crowe said. To address these obstacles, Price and her colleagues in other disciplines offer presentations and hands-on activities that promote diversity. The programs provide opportunities for students to develop cultural awareness, examine stereotypes, and recognize biases – all with the goal of educating s ensitive individuals who will deliver quality healthcare. Ultimately, d i v e rsity means looking past differences and seeing commonalities. “(When that happens), we can all connect, unite as one, and grow stronger together,” Nguyen said.
to learn more about my Indian side of the family. It is such a complex culture,” said Onalee Makam, an exercise physiology student of half Indian decent. “Although my dad can tell me all about his childhood in India, nothing can replace experi-
encing the traditions first hand.” Tickets will be $12 for students and $20 for the public, and all children under five are free. To learn more about ISA, visit their official website at http://indians.studentorgs. wvu.edu/.
Find us on
DIVERSITY WEEK
OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
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‘Being a good neighbor’ Student Legal Services to host presentation to help students navigate living in Morgantown By Sam Bosserman Correspondent
Students at West Virginia University are often grouped together as if they were all the same. As a result, many students often suffer from a bad reputation when it comes to being good neighbors. From couch burning to car flipping, some students at WVU have certainly done things that are good cause for community mistrust. Despite the negative reputation, WVU Stu-
dent Legal Services said they believe most students want to be responsible tenants and good neighbors. Student Legal Services will host a presentation Monday at 4 p.m. in the Shenandoah Room of the Mountainlair to help students navigate living in Morgantown. Carrie Showalter, managing attorney for Student Legal Services, said the presentation will highlight various topics any student on the WVU campus should be aware of.
“Basically, the focus of our presentation is to educate students on local ordinances and tips on how to be a positive member of the surrounding Morgantown community,” Showalter said. “One goal of the presentation is to help maintain positive relationships between the students and the permanent residents of the city.” Showalter also said many WVU students already take proactive steps when it comes to positive interactions with their neighbors.
“Many students will make an effort to introduce themselves to those living in their neighb o r h o o d ,” S h o w a l t e r said. “This is a very simple step students can take, yet it is often very effective.” In addition to common sense tips, Showalter said other useful topics will be discussed, including information on various criminal offenses as well as how to properly dispose of trash. Abel Ninan, a senior occupational ther-
apy student who lives off campus, said he agrees being a good neighbor is very important for WVU students to always keep in mind during their off-campus living experiences. “Being involved in a community is important for individuals, because it gives them a sense of belonging,” Ninan said. “It helps individuals be part of something bigger.” Ninan also said he believes being a responsible member of a community is about making a positive
difference. “ B e i ng a re s p e c table community member is what you give back to society,” Ninan said. “This is done through small things like volunteering and following local rules.” Students unable to attend the presentation, can visit Student Legal Service’s website at http:// studentlife.wvu.edu/student_legal_services for more information about many of the topics that will be discussed at the event.
The West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Proudly Supports Diversity Week
DIVERSITY WEEK
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OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
HOW A DREAM BECAME REALITY Rukundo to share journey from Rwanda to WVU in Diversity Week presentation By Shelby Toompas Staff Writer
As a university complete with diversity, equality and inclusion, West Virginia University offers a week set aside to recognize individuals and groups who promote cultural understanding. Freshman biochemistry student Patrick Rukundo, an executive board member in charge of education and
public affairs for the African Students Association, said Diversity Week is important because it’s an opportunity for students to share their different experiences from different backgrounds and cultures. “Diversity is the power to embrace every diverging idea or point of view and trying to incorporate it in you own point of view,” Rukundo said. “This can vary
from culture, ethnic group, color, sex, religion and physical appearance.” Rukundo’s presentation, “Journey Series: My Journey and My Dream – A unique path from Rwanda to West Virginia,” is about his dream and journey to WVU and the inspiration he had when he started school. “I will primarily be speaking, showing short videos and photos of my country,
Rwanda,” he said. “The topic is how a man’s dream became a reality and how this realization led to visions of future change.” With his presentation, Rukundo hopes students, faculty and other guests will learn the truth about the genocide against Tutsi, rather than what they have already learned in books or in movies such as “Hotel Rwanda,” which
he states is an inaccurate representation. “My presentation is simply a way to show diversity on campus and to foster unity among the WVU community,” he said. “I hope to be able to teach and give a positive image of Africa and African students on campus.” By being born in a small town called Gisenyi near Lake Kivu in Rwanda, and
being the first of six children to attend college, Rukundo said he has big dreams for his country. “I believe that my dreams to change my country are still alive because they are nourished by the high quality education I am lucky to receive at WVU,” he said. Rukundo’s presentation will take place Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Laurel Room of the Mountainlair.
Poetry reading to bring variety of students together BY Paige Little corespondent
As a new addition to this year’s Diversity Week, a Speak Up Diversity Poetry Reading, was created to showcase the work of students, faculty and community members. This event promises to host a wide variety of speakers and show the diversity of the West Virginia University campus. Spectrum, a student organization for gender and
sexual diversity, has played a sizable role in the coordination of this event. The program provides a comfortable environment to express ideas and to find a sense of community and social support in the day-to-day struggles many of us face. Spectrum also provides education on lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders and gives residents of Morgantown opportunities to spread activism on campus and throughout the community.
“Speak Up Diversity,” the theme for this event, will spotlight a number of people and allow Morgantown residents and students alike to read their original poetry. The poems, varying in length, will center on life experiences residents deal with in regards to diversity, on and off campus, and their personal beliefs related to the topic. Spectrum will help fund this event along with the Morgantown Association of
Poets, a group that promotes poetry around the city. In planning for this event, Spectrum held a poetry workshop last week to help students and faculty prepare. The workshop also created a group poem that will be read at the poetry reading Tuesday evening. “It was a really cool process,” said Melissa Chesanko, Gender Equality Movement president. “I’m excited to share it with
the audience. We’re hoping this poetry reading will be one of the biggest events during Diversity Week this year.” To ensure the event runs smoothly and every participant gets a chance to speak, the relations department has set guidelines for each performance. A limit of 3 poems, or about 7 minutes of speaking, has been established. “The poetry reading is a way to bring people together in the community and share
personal experiences in a different way,” Chesanko said. The poetry reading will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms and is open to anyone who would like to speak, but priority will be given to those who sign up before the start of the event. For more information or to sign up to participate in the poetry reading event Melissa Chesanko at melissa. chesanko@mail.wvu.edu.
Panel to discuss challenges of being international student by madison Fleck associate city editor
The number of international students and scholars at West Virginia University has dramatically increased over the years, and students have the opportunity to get to know this diverse group. The Office of International Students and Scholars will host a panel on “getting to know” these international students. The panel, which will be made up of OISS faculty, will
discuss diversity of international students as well as the challenges they face by attending school in a different country. “We’re going to talk about what kinds of challenges our students experience,” said Doina Jikich, associate director of Immigration Services. “That’s cultural adjustment, academic expectations, language barriers, financial constraints and immigration related issues.” Jikich also said there is much to be learned from
these international students. “Discovering and getting to know them is a privilege,” she said. “They help us understand the world around us, and understanding them begins with recognizing their needs and challenges.” International students are far from home and far from what they are familiar with, and the panel will address the relationship building necessary to keep international students feeling comfortable. “I think that one major
challenge for universities is the adjustment and the relationship building among the diverse international students and scholars population,” Jikich said. “To us, unless international students feel like they belong, the education and professional experience will not be as successful as it could be.” Jikich said she feels the international students’ experiences will be more fulfilling if other WVU students show up and show an interest, un-
derstand and try to help with the challenges international students face. “We expect (WVU students) to be in the audience, and having a panel that talks about all these topics that pertain to them makes them feel good about WVU taking interest in getting to know them,” Jikich said. Giving international students a feeling of belonging, according to Jikich, will make their experience in the United States more
successful. “It actually has to do with getting to know our international population,” she said. “Getting to know the people at WVU and the scholars and international students that come from all the corners of the world.” The panel, which is open to all students, faculty and staff, will be held in the Mountainlair Wednesday at 3 p.m. For more information on OISS, visit http://oiss.wvu. edu/about_us.
DIVERSITY WEEK
OCTOBER 20-25,2013
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Student to share academic differences across cultures By Meghan Bonomo staff writer
Diversity Week gives West Virginia University the chance to expand socially and learn about different cultures. The Journey Series will spotlight different international students on campus throughout the week and allow them to tell their story of their place of orgin and their journey to Morgantown. Madina Sabirova, a freshman general studies
student from Turkmenistan, will be presenting Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Mountainlair . Sabirova’s presentation, “From Sand and Rocks of Turkmenistan to the Profusion of Trees and Mountains of WV,” will provide insight on the culture of her home country. “I decided to do a presentation on my home country to tell people about how it is different in terms of culture, people and living,” Sabirova said. “I just want people to know
where Turkmenistan is because everyone questions where Turkmenistan is.” Sabirova, is one of the first from her country to attend WVU, said she chose the University for its engineering program. Sabirova grew up in a multilingual household where she learned to speak Turkmen, Russian and Uzbek, and she started English during high school. “In my high school we don’t have any English classes,” Sabirova said. “Outside of my high
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school, I used to go to this language learning center, and I went there for a year before I participated in the exchange program.” Sabirova also explained some of the cultural differences between college life in America and Turkmenistan,; one of the differences is high school and universities require uniforms. “When you go outside (in Turkmenistan), everyone tries to look very nice, and one thing I noticed here, people never
iron their clothes,” Sabirova said. “Here, it’s very relaxed. When you are very late to your class, you can go to class in your pajamas, and your professor won’t yell at you and say ‘Hey, get out of here, you’re in pajamas.’” In Turkmenistan, students attend college for five years, must decide their major upon entering and are not allowed to change, unless they restart their five years. “There is no bachelor’s degree. When you gradu-
ate you get a degree of specialist, and if you want to go further, you get a Ph.D., no master’s,” Sabriova said. “One of the good things about studying here is when you come with one major you are able to change it after a year or two, there is no binding you have to study it.” Sabirova will be presenting to show the cultural differences of her country during Diversity Week and students are encouraged to come experience a different perspective.
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DIVERSITY WEEK
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OCTOBER 20-25, 2013
Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion opens new location The West Virginia University Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officially opened the doors to its new location in August, which brought all the division’s services, programs and activities into one central office for the first time. President James P. Clements, Provost Michele Wheatly, and Health Sciences Chancellor Dr. Christopher C. Colenda spoke at the event hosted by Chief Diversity Officer David M. Fryson and the diversity team to discuss the strategic vision for diversity at the University. “The diversity team is excited to be provided this state of the art office to attest to WVU’s ever growing commitment to the goals of diversity and inclusion,” Fryson said. The division’s new of-
fices are located in Suncrest Center at 1085 Van Voorhis Road, Suite 250. Located across from the Mountaineer Station transportation center, the new office provides faculty, staff and students a more centralized and accessible place to meet with division officials. The new office brings together all of the division’s services, including the former President’s Office for Social Justice and the former Office of Disability Services, renamed the Office of Accessibility Services. The division works to recruit diverse faculty, staff and students, measure the campus climate in terms of diversity as well as celebrate the many cultures and experiences currently part of the WVU community. The division is charged with imbuing the
principles of social justice throughout the WVU community through promoting opportunity, equality, civility and respect for all people. Fryson was appointed WVU’s first-ever Chief Diversity Officer in 2012. From day one, Fryson set out to construct and align the division’s strategic goals with the WVU 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future, adopt a vision and values statement, and reorganize the division by bringing all of its dedicated professionals together to work from one central location at the Suncrest Center. Five distinct units make up the Division: Equity Assurance, Affirmative Action/EEO, Accessibility Services, Diversity Initiatives and ADA Services. The division aims to
transform the University’s delivery of services from top to bottom, with multiple programs for staff, faculty, students and West Virginia’s communities. “Our goal is to raise the appreciation and importance of diversity throughout the University community, across all classes of employees, and among constituents,” Fryson said. “Our office is the first stop for many: a student from a diverse background or with accessibility needs arriving on campus for the first time, a faculty member seeking mediation information and services, or University departments seeking leadership for education, promotion, and awareness on a broad range of relevant issues. “We will continue to develop staff and programming aligned with a Diver-
sity business strategy and WVU’s strategic goals, and garner support from senior leadership to move WVU forward. We are making a tremendous investment in the infrastructure of the office and will be benchmarking our Big 12 peers and other national and regional offices of diversity excellence in support of a continuous improvement model. “Our goal is to become a strategic partner in the University’s life and to be directly involved in addressing diversity challenges and validate business results with performance metrics,” Fryson said. “Clearly, we will seek champions throughout the University as we build strategic goals annually and will measure our effectiveness toward the achievement of such goals.
“The work we have in front of us remains formidable. We continue to seek resources, are hiring talented people, inspiring them to do great work, making process improvements, and changing staffing configurations to meet both short and long-term goals,” Fryson said. WVU, West Virginia’s flagship institution, is often seen as a model that other institutions emulate, and has built strong relationships across campus and throughout the state to help WVU become that model for diversity. The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is the proud sponsor of Diversity Week 2013 and wishes to thank all lecturers, staff, faculty and students who helped to make the program possible this year.
Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
EQUALITY
RESPECT R RE INCLUSIVE Q
Diversity Initiatives Q Accessibility Services Q Equity Assurance Q Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity
Proud Sponsors of Diversity Week XVIII
OPPORTUNITY OPPO ORTUNITY CIVILITY ACCESSIBILITY BILITY LITY ITY DIVERSITY Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Call 304 293-5600
E-mail diversity@mail.wvu.edu
Visit diversity.wvu.edu
Office of Accessibility
Call 304 293-6700
E-mail access2@mail.wvu.edu
Visit accessibilityservices.wvu.edu
Suncrest Center | PO Box 6202 | 1085 Van Voorhis Road, Suite 250 | Morgantown, WV 26506-6202 6\Y VMÄJLZ OH]L TV]LK >L HYL SVJH[LK PU [OL :\UJYLZ[ *LU[LY )\PSKPUN VU =HU =VVYOPZ 9VHK IL[^LLU (WWSLILL»Z HUK :[HYI\JRZ PU [OL ZHTL I\PSKPUN HZ :[LW[VL 1VOUZVU HUK *SLHY 4V\U[HPU )HUR
“There is a place for YOU at WVU.”