Macalester/Diversity Weekend

from the Macalester Public Knowledge Base

Multiculturalism at Mac

Multicultural Life
American Studies
Cultural House
Faculty of color
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Diversity Weekend
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Diversity Weekend is an annual student-led initiative at Macalester College organized to celebrate diversity and explore issues of race and racism in the United States. It is a weekend of events meant to promote discussion, reflection, and raise awareness on issues affecting students of color, as well as empower and mobilize students of color at Macalester College.

(mission statement drafted by the fifth DW planning committee, mostly involving Jessie Buendia and Grace Awantang - July 2004. link to statement)

Portal: http://mpkb.net/en/Diversity_Weekend/Home
Promotional site: http://mpkb.net/en/Macalester/6th_Diversity_Weekend/Public

[edit] History

the first Diversity Weekend in 2000 was titled A Celebration of Us: Diversity at Macalester and took place between November 10th and 12th. There was 1) a faculty panel moderated by prof. Kendrick Brown, 2) a student and alumni panel, 3) a formal dinner, and 4) dance [1]
the second Diversity Weekend in 2001 didn't have a title and took place betwen November 9th and 10th. Elena Featherston lectured on ducation Industrial Complex and the Role of Ethnic Studies in Higher Education, followed by
- a cabaret involving a Native American band led by Darry Tonemah, spoken word artists: andré carrington, Toki, and Edupoetic, and a musical performance by the hip hop band Heiruspecs, featuring President McPherson’s son.
- Next day there was a discussion and forum on an educational studies class from last year, and a session on How to design your own major, organized by African American Studies and Comparitive North American Studies in the Cultural House. Then there was a semi-formal dance with resident DJ Ashif Rahman
- Mac Weekly coverage: [2]
the third Diversity Weekend in 2002 was called Optimistic Future and was from November 15th until 16th. Vijay Prashad was scheduled to give a speach entitled These are Bad Times but got sick the day before.
- Next day there was a spoken word exhibition with Asian American urban poetry with Mongrel (incl. Bao Phi '97) followed by a dinner and discussion and a dance, with Senam Gbeho as DJ.
- Mac Weekly coverage: [3] [4]
the fourth Diversity Weekend was called Axis of Evil: 9/11 and Hate Crimes at Home and mainly organized by Isabelle Chan.
- King Downing from ACLU gave the keynote speech
- next day there was a panel discussion called Exploring the Impact of Hate Crimes across Communities: How do we deal? with Saeed Fahia, Amy Korbuchar, Joan Humes, Doug Faderhart, Ilean Her, Manpreet Dhanjal, Amalia Anderson, King Downing and Myra Garnes. Then there was a dance by the chicana/mexica group QuetzalCoatlicue and a (normal) dance.
- on sunday there was a brunch of cultural orgs with the panelists and a candle light vigil in the evening.
- Mac Weekly coverage: [5] [6] [7]