Hillel and Neal-Marshall Centers team up for diversity

Students interested in finding new ways to promote diversity in Bloomington focused on strengthening the relationship between the Jewish and black communities on campus in a discussion Thursday. To this end, the members of the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center and the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center met for the second annual Diversity in Bloomington dinner and discussion. \n"This program was set up to be a round-table discussion about how individual groups on campus can help each other meet their goals," said senior Laura Siegel, the student coordinator of the event. \nSiegel said the two groups need to work together through cooperative programming to target the Bloomington community at large rather than specific audiences. \nRepresentatives of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center expressed their frustrations when they have offered events to promote leadership, inviting people of all races and religions to attend, but still mostly blacks show up. This might be due to the misconceptions students have of the exclusiveness of various cultural centers on campus, participants said. \n"The venue has to change," said senior Jennifer Gubitz. \nGubitz suggested offering programs at the Indiana Memorial Union, a neutral building, so students would not feel uncomfortable about attending events. \n "I'm Jewish. I wear it on my sleeve," Gubitz said. "Everyone in this room is proud of who they are and from where they've come. But what do we do about those people who don't feel a connection to other people?"\nThe best way to promote diversity, Gubitz said, is to have a common ground like a philanthropical organization. This organization would not be based on religion or race; it would just be a group of people helping those in need. \nRabbi Sue Shifron, Hillel director, said she was pleased with the discussion's turnout, but she hopes to see even more students attend future events.\n"I think there are more people who would be happy to do something if there was a comfortable way to do things. It is up to us to get people comfortable and used to doing things."\n-- Contact staff writer Lindsay Lyon at lrlyon@indiana.edu