WEB FEATURE: Campus groups focus on 'Unity'
Aubra Whitten
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
This week marks the first Unity Week for Mississippi State University.
Many MSU campus organizations are responsible for sponsoring the event, which ranges from the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center to the Bagley College of Engineering.
Alyssa Walz, vice president of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, said planning and accomplishing Unity Week has taken years of thought and work.
Walz, who also serves as treasurer for the Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, said her sorority had initially wanted to start a diversity banquet for the campus. That plan helped lead to this year's Unity Week.
The main purpose for the week is to teach and educate others about different cultures, Walz said.
"We hope to get different traditions out there," she said. "We want people to learn."
Walz said she hopes the week will become an annual event with additional programs.
"We want to raise food, money and cultural awareness, as well as awareness of our international student association here on campus," Walz said.
The projects for Unity Week began Monday with the construction of the Writing on the Wall project, which presents a physical representation to barriers that exist among people.
RHA president Autumn Nourse said other universities, such as the University of Florida, have done this project for several years. Nourse said the idea for MSU's project came from a student conference for residence hall leaders.
A wall built from cement blocks was erected for the project Monday in between the front entrance of the Colvard Student Union and the post office. The opening ceremony was Monday evening.
Residence director James Orr said the wall's purpose is to express and release barriers that students, faculty and staff have experienced.
"The purpose of this project is to confront the barriers of oppression and inhumanity that sometimes exist among us," Orr said.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to write on the wall throughout the week, area coordinator for housing and residence life Stephanie Lynch said.
Many MSU campus organizations are responsible for sponsoring the event, which ranges from the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center to the Bagley College of Engineering.
Alyssa Walz, vice president of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, said planning and accomplishing Unity Week has taken years of thought and work.
Walz, who also serves as treasurer for the Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, said her sorority had initially wanted to start a diversity banquet for the campus. That plan helped lead to this year's Unity Week.
The main purpose for the week is to teach and educate others about different cultures, Walz said.
"We hope to get different traditions out there," she said. "We want people to learn."
Walz said she hopes the week will become an annual event with additional programs.
"We want to raise food, money and cultural awareness, as well as awareness of our international student association here on campus," Walz said.
The projects for Unity Week began Monday with the construction of the Writing on the Wall project, which presents a physical representation to barriers that exist among people.
RHA president Autumn Nourse said other universities, such as the University of Florida, have done this project for several years. Nourse said the idea for MSU's project came from a student conference for residence hall leaders.
A wall built from cement blocks was erected for the project Monday in between the front entrance of the Colvard Student Union and the post office. The opening ceremony was Monday evening.
Residence director James Orr said the wall's purpose is to express and release barriers that students, faculty and staff have experienced.
"The purpose of this project is to confront the barriers of oppression and inhumanity that sometimes exist among us," Orr said.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to write on the wall throughout the week, area coordinator for housing and residence life Stephanie Lynch said.
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