September 22, 2005 Source: University of Waterloo:
http://newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca/news.php?id=4592 Diversity Campaign launched at the University of Waterloo WATERLOO, Ont. -- The University of Waterloo is about to launch a Diversity Campaign to promote a campus environment where differences are openly explored, celebrated and understood. The "One Waterloo" campaign, with the themes "Different Perspectives - Distinct Talents - Infinite Possibilities" and "Creating Unity - Celebrating Diversity" is the result of a committee made up of a cross-section of the UW community. This included students, administration, faculty, student societies, the Student Life Office and the UW Federation of Students. "Our concept for the campaign is to tie unity and pride in the university with variety and diversity of individuals in the university," said Rick Theis, campaign co-chair. Discussions by the committee earlier this year, which led to the campaign that has been going on since students returned to campus for the fall semester, found that students believe it's about time they started celebrating their diversity, he added. The official launch takes place next week but for now, posters have begun appearing around campus to get students thinking about diversity. The purpose of the first round of posters was to identify individual people and numbers, separate from any definition except what the viewer created in his or her mind. The second round demonstrated how each of those individual elements comes together to make up "One Waterloo." All of the posters and information about the campaign can be found on the website link After the launch and over the next year, the campaign will collaborate with various groups to promote awareness, acceptance and understanding of the various identifiable groups in the university as well as the uniqueness of each individual, Theis said. The campaign kicks off on Sept. 27 with concerts at the Student Life Centre Great Hall featuring K'naan at 1 p.m.; Jully Black at 10:30 p.m.; and Bedouin Soundclash, 11:30 p.m. Admission is free for the "UW Community (students, staff, faculty and alumni)." Then, on Sept. 29, there will be guest lecturer K-OS (spoken word/questions and answers) from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Humanities Theatre. Tickets are $12 for students, staff, faculty and alumni, and $15 for guests. On Sept. 30, comedian Shaun Majumder will leave them laughing from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Humanities Theatre. Tickets are $12, students, staff, faculty and alumni, and $15, guests. Tickets for both the Sept. 29 and 30 events are available at the Humanities Theatre Box Office and the Federation of Students front desk. Contact: Rick Theis, Federation of Students, (519) 888-4567, ext. 3909; fedclubs@feds.uwa Jim Fox, UW Media Relations, (519) 888-4444; jfox@uwaterloo.ca Release no. 209 -- September 22, 2005
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