Lectures challenge campus diversity

A campus-wide lecture series will explore ways to make IU a more diverse and accepting environment.

The first panel will be held from 12:30 to 2 p.m. today in the Indiana Memorial Union Georgian Room.

Eileen Diaz McConnell, associate professor at Arizona State University, will speak about “U.S. Demographic Trends, Population Projections, and Implications for IU and other Universities” after the panel at 3 p.m.

Each event in the series will include a panel, a guest speaker and accompanying workshops, said associate professor Joan Pong Linton. She was involved with the creation of the program and said the series was inspired by the Diversity Day activities on campus.

ARC2010! or “Attention, Reflection, Connection: Taking Steps Toward an Inclusive Campus” is funded by the Multidisciplinary Ventures and Seminars Fund, part of the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs.

“We wanted it to be a process of inquiry, something that is both intellectual and has an affective component to it,” Linton said.

She said the program allows for in-depth discussion and reflection.

Linton said the purpose of ARC2010! is to dispel the idea that diversity is a one-time issue or just involves minorities, and to allow everyone on campus to feel they have a stake in the issue.

Panelists will include Professor of Law Kevin Brown, Associate Dean of Students Pamela Freeman and Nobel Laureate and professor Elinor Ostrom.

“The first panel is about how we can work together to address challenges and turn them into opportunities for collective action,” Linton said. 

She said the panelists will be discussing issues such as demographic changes, the economic downturn, budget cuts and external pressures such as national standing that make it difficult for any group to work on its own to promote diversity.

“We want to challenge people to think beyond the traditional categories, to envision cultural differences as not just race and gender but also extending to class, religion, sexuality, ability, generational, veterans,” Linton said. “We want to see an inclusive campus in which everyone feels supported and feel they have a stake in our community.”

—  Stephanie Doctrow