'One for Diversity' to educate IU

Eight of the largest student organizations on campus have joined forces to make the One for Diversity Project a reality. The project, originally conceived in the wake of last year's Benton Murals controversy, aims to raise money to bring more multicultural art to campus. \nThe steering committee, which is composed of the organizations' presidents and others, will be giving a kick-off celebration at 8 p.m. Thursday in Alumni Hall. The concert will feature performances by Ladies First, Voices of Hope, the African American Choral Ensemble, Essence, Delta Sigma Theta, IU Tae Kwon Do Club and the Indian Student Association.\nJennifer Jacobs, a graduate student who is advising the steering committee, believes the celebration will be a good way to make students aware of the One for Diversity Project and the impact it will hopefully have.\n"Right now, the majority of students have no idea this is going on," Jacobs said. "In response, several of the student leaders got together and said they wanted to do something to make students aware. (IU-Bloomington) Chancellor (Sharon) Brehm will be speaking and there will be performances from several students groups. It's basically just a big celebration of the campus' diversity."\nStudents will also be displaying visual art in the solarium during the performances.\n"The art on this campus isn't limited to performances," Jacobs said. "The committee felt like it was important to represent a wide variety of the campus's art."\nStacy England, president of IU Dance Marathon, will be helping work a booth during the fair. She said that while increasing awareness of the One for Diversity Fund is primary, it's also a great chance for students from different organizations to work together.\n"This helps the dance marathon intermingle and be involved," England said. "I think the cause is very important, but the benefit is that by it being run by presidents of different organizations, we get to know each other and how our groups can work together. For instance, on Thursday, Dance Marathon is working with Residence Hall Association." \nKara Kosowski, treasurer of NRHH and vice president of internal affairs for RHA, said a big celebration is a great way to show that the One for Diversity fund is just getting started and is going to have a large impact.\n"It's going to be a huge celebration, and Chancellor Brehm will be speaking," Kosowski said. "It promotes awareness, and that's key. It's really just getting underway."\n-- Contact staff writer Kehla West at krwest@indiana.edu.