GCU News Bureau
Sometimes you have to get creative. It’s a saying the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office is taking to heart for Un1ty One Week, which will get the cultural gears turning with everything from an art walk to a parade of nations.
“The theme is diversity through creativity,” said Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office Director Donald Glenn.
The creativity starts by spelling unity with a "1" instead of an "i." There will be an activity every day -- see schedule below.
It starts Monday with student discussions via Zoom. The art walk, which Glenn calls "a highlight," is set for Tuesday.
Glenn said the political debate Wednesday is designed to be an "an expression of how students at GCU can feel more comfortable expressing their thoughts and opinions when it comes to diversity." The week wraps up with the "Cooking and Culture Show" on Thursday and a worship service Friday similar to a parade of nations.
The Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office expanded over the summer to a 12-member team that includes Glenn, a Multicultural Office Specialist and 10 student coordinators.
The department kicked off the semester with the One Love Awareness Walk in September, which culminated Welcome Week activities.
Earlier this month, the Multicultural Office held a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration that included a talk about DACA, what that has meant for immigrants and how it is affecting them.
"It’s been really interesting to have these conversations,” Glenn said.
Here is what’s coming up for Un1ty One Week.
- Monday: “The State of Mind” on Zoom from 5-6 p.m. (a 7-8 p.m. session will be geared toward student-athletes; here's the Zoom link). During the virtual event, student-athletes will speak about their experiences as student-athletes of color. Access the Zoom link from the Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office's Instagram (gcu_multicultural) the day of the event.
- Tuesday: The "Unity Through Creativity Art Walk" from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Student Advising Services Building turf (Building 18). This event is modeled after the city of Phoenix's First Friday events. Students will sell their artwork, one student will create a mural, and COFAP will perform its Fall Student Spotlight Dance Concert at 8 p.m. near the Quad.
- Wednesday: Debate, 2-3 p.m., Ethington Theatre. The Multicultural, Diversity and Inclusion Office will partner with GCU’s Speech and Debate teams for this first-come, first-served event, patterned after Trump vs. Biden. Seating is limited.
- Thursday: Cooking and Culture show, 6-7 p.m., Canyon Field. Students will share their cultural attire through video, and they will show how to make an international dish with a finished product onsite to try.
- Friday: This worship night will feature a parade of nations from 5-6:30 p.m. on the Quad.
