November 9, 2010
Penn State Greater Allegheny will host its first Diversity Day on Thursday, November 11 from 12:15 to 1:35 p.m. The purpose of the event is to promote cultural awareness on the campus, according to Matt Kiss, student and president of the Diversity Affairs Club. ?The Diversity Affairs Club was approached by several people and the seeds were planted to explore and host such an event,? said Kiss. ?With Diversity Day, we are trying to accomplish a better awareness on campus of the various nationalities and cultures, not only from around the world, but how they each bring a unique perspective to our culture at Penn State Greater Allegheny and in our society, ?stated Kiss in a recent interview for the Penn State Greater Allegheny newspaper, The Collegian.
Enrollment Management Officer and International Club adviser, Sarah Ma, along with Student Activities Coordinator and Diversity Affairs adviser, Erin O?Malley assisted with overseeing the activities. In addition, the Black Student Union, another club on campus assisted with researching facts and securing a speaker to come to campus. Invited guest, Sister Iasia Eberly, will speak about apartheid in Africa and diversity in the United States at 12:30 on stage in the Café Metro. Eberly is a native of South Africa and immigrated to the U.S. with her family in the eighties.
Informational tables will be accessible from 12:15 until 1:35 p.m., located in the Student Community Center?s Concourse area and contain information about different cultures. Some of the regions of the world included will be Africa, China, India, Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. Details about the culture and crafts pertinent to each region will be available at each table. For example, at the Latin American table, instructions and supplies will be available to make cardboard maracas. At the table with information about Europe, making an Eiffel Tower from Popsicle sticks and glue could garner a best prize. Participants can enter a raffle drawing by visiting every table, signing their names, and depositing their ticket for the raffles. Some of the raffle prizes include gift cards to Sheetz, the Penn State Bookstore, a Penn State throw blanket, and a variety of other items. In addition, a one-year family-level membership to the Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, valued at $130 will be the grand prize.
Demonstrations and performances by the dance club, ?Wreckless? and the Tae Kwon Doe club will be held on stage after the speaker at 1:00 p.m.
Free pizza will be available, compliments of Housing and Food Services.