Technician
thursday march
24 2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Diversity office confronting hate head-on Spring dialogue session to focus on hate crimes. Justin Rose Staff Writer
At the invitation of University’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, diversity expert Jacqueline Barnett will be hosting a lecture Thursday concerning hate crimes. The event, “Confronting Hate: understanding the current status and history of federal hate crime legislation,” is part of ODI’s bi-annual Dialogue on Diversity. The seminar is open to all N.C. State students, faculty and staff who wish to attend. The session will take place at 3 p.m.
in the Washington-Sankofa Room on the first floor of Witherspoon Student Center. According to Diversity’s website, the lecture will also “provide practical tools as to how to utilize this new statute, and related legislation, to create a more inclusive and safe community.” Jo-Ann Robinson, assistant vice provost for Student Diversity, said the event is partly in response to incidents last year where hate speech was written in the Free Expression Tunnel. The goal of the seminar is to address any confusion surrounding hate speech, hate crime and free speech by providing a venue where students and faculty can learn about federal legislation against hate crimes, according to Robinson.
Realignment
“I want students to understand it from historical perspective; the legal precedents, and how it impacts diversity and inclusion,” Robinson said. “[Barnett’s] presentation will really inform our campus community.” In previous sessions, Dialogue on Diversity has covered the University’s Islamic and GLBT community, neodiversity and illegal immigration–topics that got a lot of attention and were well-attended, according to Robinson. In each of the events, ODI strives to address controversial diversity topics head-on and give students an open forum to discuss these issues. “The dialogue is focused on students and is designed to get them talking
diversity defined In addition to hosting lectures and seminars, The Office for Diversity and Inclusion is focused on “helping campus leaders establish and maintain diversity and inclusive excellence across the university,” according to their website. ODI defines diversity as: “an inclusive community of people with varied human characteristics, ideas and world-views and whose interactions both benefit and challenge each other to grow while making the community better.”
Here are a few of the benefits of a diverse community, according to ODI: • It better retains a diverse population and promotes equity and equal opportunity. • It encourages interaction among diverse people to enrich the educational experience, promote personal growth and enhance the community. It fosters mutual respect • It promotes cross-cultural • understanding It prepares leaders to live and • work in a competitive global community. Source: Office of Diversity and Inclusion
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Making the turn
University realignment to merge diversity centers Offices of Equal Opportunity to combine with GLBT, Women’s Centers.
ation of an entire program. But negative effects are not something synonymous with the merge of the Women’s Center, the GLBT Center and the Office for Equal Opportunity. JusAlanna Howard tine Hollingshead, the director of Deputy News Editor the GLBT Center, said the merge is The University Office for Equal Op- viewed as a positive change. “The details of the merge are portunity, the Center for GLBT Programs and Services and the Women’s still in talks. There is currently a Center are set to combine under the discrepancy about which departUniversity’s realignment initiative— ment is moving where, and where though those affected by the merger each department will report, but overall it will promote equity and see a silver lining in the plan. According to Joanne Woodard, vice diversity,” Hollingshead said. “And provost for the Office for Equal Op- any move where all units related to portunity, the merge would combine diversity are going to be combined the Office of Equal Opportunity, di- seems like a logical one.” T he cu r rent versity and inclusion pla ns i nclude and multicultural combining a ll affairs with student three offices unaffair groups, such der the Office as the GLBT Cenfor Equal Opter and Women’s portunity, but Center, without any unknowns still expected job losses. Justine Hollingshead, director, exist, including “The new unit enCenter for GLBT Programs and number of jobs compassing all these Services retained. separate areas would According to be called the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. Woodard, however, the new ofI would be the director of this area, fice shouldn’t be subject to staff as the vice provost of the new office,” changes. “This merge is not going to cause Woodard said. Change is something that will be these units to lose their identity. synonymous with the University It’s a realignment of units that in the coming months, as it tries to work together in similar areas, streamline operations and depart- so that they can transcend the ments to save money wherever pos- individual programs and pool resible. Sometimes this change leads to lost jobs, a cut in funding or cancelmerge continued page 3
“The details of the merge are still in talks.”
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In the WIllis R. Casey Aquatic Center, Burton Younts, a junior in computer engineering, does laps Wednesday afternoon. He took the swim conditioning class last year but hardly come to the pool this year. “My favorite part is the workout, the cardio,” Younts said. Younts was helping his friend correct his form for different styles of swimming.
Women’s Center racing to combat sexual violence University, UNC teaming up for charity in Great Human Race. Chelsey Francis Senior Staff Writer
State beat Wildcats for the second day
State drop Northwestern in a close one. See page 8.
“Any Trigangle area non-profit can participate in the fundraising portion of the event.”
Softball lights up Spartans for pair of victories
State gets to 15-12 after 17 run 2-game outing. See page 8.
American reactions to Japanese reactors See page 5.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
A fundraising event for local nonprofits will take place Saturday morning in Durham, and N.C. State’s Women’s Center is raising money for a state charity that aims to prevent rape, sexual assault and other forms of abuse. The Great Human Race is an event sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Durham. The race is a 5k competitive run and 5k community walk through dow ntow n Du rham. Any Triangle area non-profit can participate in the fundraising portion of the event. T h e Wo m e n’s Center is fundraising on the behalf of North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault. They have worked closely with NCCASA in the past and will continue to work with them in the future, according to Carolina Alzuru, rape preven-
tion education coordinator with the Women’s Center. The NCCASA works with both N.C. State and UNC- Chapel Hill students, providing rape crisis and prevention services as well as different training opportunities. NCCASA is an inclusive, statewide alliance that is working to end sexual violence through advocacy, education and legislation. According to Alzuru, the group works mainly with colleges. NCCASA has set a goal of $5,000 for the Great Human Race. As of Wednesday evening, they had only raised $545, according to the official donation website. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Following the race, there will be refreshments and activities. According to Alzuru, the groups participating in the Great Human Race will set up booths for participants to see following the race.
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$5.00 from the sale of each shirt to benefit “Origami Wishes” NC State’s campus-wide fundraising for the American Red Cross. T-shirts will be available this Friday for $10.00 each at NC State Bookstore.
Great Human Race FAQ What’s the Great Human Race? A 5K run and community walk to benefit various Triangle nonprofit organizations. When’s the race? • Saturday (Rain or shine) • Registration begins 7 a.m. • Run starts 8:30 a.m. • Walk starts: Immediately after all runners start. Where’s the race? • Durham Bulls Athletic Park Downtown Durham • • The race course winds through the newly renovated Downtown Durham Streetscape. Who benefits from the race? It’s up to the racers. Participants can raise funds to benefit their chosen nonprofit organization, school, or faith-based group in the Triangle. What’s N.C. State’s role? This year, N.C. State and UNC students are joining forces to raise money for the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault. SOURCE: thevolunteercenter.org