Diversity Dialogue highlights Hispanic community

The Multicultural Student Affairs program EMPOWER hosted their first Diversity Dialogue Thursday. In an interactive dialogue setting, those in attendance circled together discussing various topics with regards to cultural diversity.

This month being Hispanic Heritage month, the floor was opened with different issues affecting the Spanish community including immigration, Justice Sotomayor’s recent appointment and health care reform to name a few. Students of all years, majors and ethnicities came to participate in discussion.
The Diversity Dialogue was not limited to topics pertaining to the Spanish Community though. Other topics included the benefits of being bilingual, the effects of being a minority and the importance of empathy towards other ethic groups.

EMPOWER is a student organization that originally started to advocate cultural acceptance, but has expanded to cover topics such as Social Justice issues and furthering campus awareness of racism and sexism. They sponsor Peer Educators to speak at University 101 classes upon request, and host a diversity retreat once a year in the spring.

Kristen Covington, a fourth-year criminal justice and African American studies student and the leader of EMPOWER, has been involved with the organization since the spring of her freshman year. “EMPOWER focuses on cultural diversity awareness, which is important in many aspects like the business workforce.”

Brooke Freeman, a first-year pre-pharmacy student, and Angeles Estrada, a first-year anthropology student, both were in attendance at the Diversity Dialogue as Opportunity Scholars fulfilling their Cultural event requirement for University 101.

“Everyone here is very tolerant of difference in our culture. We talk about everything from topics of abortion to immigration.” Freeman said. The Diversity Dialogue was Freeman’s second EMPOWER event.

“It’s good for people to get out of their comfort zone,” Freeman said.

Estranda was interested in the meeting because of her Hispanic heritage.

Justice Sotomayor inspired discussion pertaining to cultural diversity in America.

“Her appointment shows the shift our country is trying to make. Now people are trying to understand the Hispanic community and show respect for their community as well,” Markesha Miller said.

EMPOWER meets on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 5 pm in the Russell House. All students are welcome to attend. Diversity Dialogues are held one Thursday a month at 7 pm in various residence halls on campus.
 

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