K-State's fourth Diversity Summit April 6

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Source: Myra Gordon, 785-532-6536, mygordon@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

K-STATE'S FOURTH DIVERSITY SUMMIT APRIL 6

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's fourth Diversity Summit will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 6, in the K-State Student Union Ballroom. The theme of the summit is "A Time for Institutional Accountability, Strategic Planning and Re-Engagement."

"The Diversity Summit each year is so important because it is our only all-university forum for discussing issues of campus diversity," said Myra Gordon, associate provost for diversity and dual career development, chair of the President's Commission for Multicultural Affairs and summit coordinator.

"The first summit in 2003 provided the raw material from which the first strategic plan for diversity was crafted. Now at the fourth summit, we will be assessing our performance against the strategic plan and gathering the input needed to produce the strategic plan which will guide us over the next five-year interval," Gordon said.

The summit will cover several topics including "The State of Diversity at KSU: A Five-Year Retrospective," presented by Gordon and other members of the President's Commission for Multicultural Affairs.

The feature presentation, "Cultural Crossroads in the House of Dance and Feathers: Learning Through Engagement," will be presented by Ronald Lewis, a community activist from the 9th Ward in New Orleans, La., and Patrick Rhodes, professor of architecture at Tulane University, as well as current and former students from K-State's College of Architecture, Planning and Design. The presentation will explore the history and cultural traditions of Mardi Gras Indians in New Orleans; the history of the House of Dance and Feathers, a community museum in the 9th Ward; and the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the 9th Ward. It also will showcase efforts of K-State architecture students to rebuild the House of Dance and Feathers.

"I am so proud of our students, not only for what they did, but also because they transformed themselves in the process of helping others," Gordon said.

The summit will conclude with a presentation by Duane Nellis, K-State provost, on "Re-Engaging Diversity."

Registration for the summit is $10. For more information or to make reservations, contact the office of diversity and dual career development at 785-532-6276. A full schedule of the day's events can be found at http://www.k-state.edu/ddcd/SummitSchedule.pdf

The summit is sponsored by the K-State President's Commission on Multicultural Affairs, the Diversity Advisory Council and the office of diversity and dual career development.