2008 Woodie Awards
Students can explore cultures this week
Linsley Jones
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: News
Cultural Diversity Week is April 7-10 at Volunteer State Community College. There will be different activities going on through Thursday.
There will be an International Lunch at 12:15 p.m. in the carpeted dining room in the Randy and Lois Wood Campus Center, said Eric Melcher, coordinator of communications and public relations.
Eldo Osaitile, associate professor of English and Vol State student Gustavo Gruber will discuss coming to America. They will tell what it is like living in Tennessee with an international background.
Eldo Osaitile was born in Benin City, Nigeria and immigrated to the United States in 1981.
He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1985 with a Bachelor's degree in communications, and continued his education at Tennessee State University and the University of Louisville. Osaitile has been a part of the Humanities Division at Vol State since 1990.
"This culture shouldn't be biased to people with accents and should listen to people with open minds, everyone can be beneficial to one another," Osaitile said.
"I think that it is a great opportunity for students who are unable to go out of the United States to see other peoples' desires to be in this country and attain success," Osaitile added.
There will be a sampling of food from around the world and music from around the world as well, Melcher said.
A video will be shown entitled "World Song" which is a dramatic video on how we might be a lot closer to other cultures than we think, said Melcher.
On Wednesday, there will be a Mix It Up Diversity Luncheon in the Rochelle Center, said Melcher. There will be activities that are designed to get students thinking about diversity and what it means in the world, Melcher said. The luncheon begins at 12:15 p.m.
In the carpeted dining room at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, there will be a hidden bias test.
"We've been publicizing this test, which is organized by a group called Project Implicit which is sponsored by Harvard," Melcher noted.
Students can view the test and find out more about it at http://www.understandingprejudice.org/iat/racframe.htm.
Students are encouraged to take the test first. It only takes a few minutes. They can access it on the front page of the college website at www.volstate.edu.
There will be a discussion of what people found after taking the test and larger issues of hidden racial bias that people all have to some degree, said Melcher.
All events are free and open to anyone who would like to attend.
"I think that the cultural diversity week will be interesting to learn about people different from myself," said Zach Blankenship, sophomore.
There will be an International Lunch at 12:15 p.m. in the carpeted dining room in the Randy and Lois Wood Campus Center, said Eric Melcher, coordinator of communications and public relations.
Eldo Osaitile, associate professor of English and Vol State student Gustavo Gruber will discuss coming to America. They will tell what it is like living in Tennessee with an international background.
Eldo Osaitile was born in Benin City, Nigeria and immigrated to the United States in 1981.
He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 1985 with a Bachelor's degree in communications, and continued his education at Tennessee State University and the University of Louisville. Osaitile has been a part of the Humanities Division at Vol State since 1990.
"This culture shouldn't be biased to people with accents and should listen to people with open minds, everyone can be beneficial to one another," Osaitile said.
"I think that it is a great opportunity for students who are unable to go out of the United States to see other peoples' desires to be in this country and attain success," Osaitile added.
There will be a sampling of food from around the world and music from around the world as well, Melcher said.
A video will be shown entitled "World Song" which is a dramatic video on how we might be a lot closer to other cultures than we think, said Melcher.
On Wednesday, there will be a Mix It Up Diversity Luncheon in the Rochelle Center, said Melcher. There will be activities that are designed to get students thinking about diversity and what it means in the world, Melcher said. The luncheon begins at 12:15 p.m.
In the carpeted dining room at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, there will be a hidden bias test.
"We've been publicizing this test, which is organized by a group called Project Implicit which is sponsored by Harvard," Melcher noted.
Students can view the test and find out more about it at http://www.understandingprejudice.org/iat/racframe.htm.
Students are encouraged to take the test first. It only takes a few minutes. They can access it on the front page of the college website at www.volstate.edu.
There will be a discussion of what people found after taking the test and larger issues of hidden racial bias that people all have to some degree, said Melcher.
All events are free and open to anyone who would like to attend.
"I think that the cultural diversity week will be interesting to learn about people different from myself," said Zach Blankenship, sophomore.
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