Diversity week at the University of Akron kicked off Monday with the university’s Steel Drum Band on stage in the Student Union.
The week will feature 26 programs and events on campus focused on a variety of cultures to help students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of individual differences.
“Diversity isn’t a day or a week, but a way of life,” UA interim President Matthew Wilson said as he welcomed students and encouraged them to take part in some of the week’s events.
Wilson talked about his background, telling students how he spent a lot of his time overseas learning about different cultures. He said one of his missions in higher education is to help students include and encompass different cultures and go out and change the world in a positive way.
“We love to take advantage of any chance we get to perform and educate and to talk about the diversity of music and its history,” Matt Dudack, Steel Drum Band artistic director, said of the band, which played Cuban, Brazilian and Caribbean music. “It’s important to us as artists and musicians to learn about every aspect of the instruments.”
Listeners learned about the percussion instruments such as the tenor pans, congas, scratchers, shakers, cowbells and the iron, which Dudack described as the “parts and pieces in the engine room.”
Students said they enjoyed the event and were glad they were able to hear the group.
“It was really good, and I learned a lot while listening to good music,” said Michael Culp, 20, a sophomore at UA.
Aziza Salukombo, of the Republic of Congo, said when she walked into the student union and heard the drums, she thought it was a friend of hers with his band entertaining and wondered why he didn’t let her know he would be at the university.
“He plays African drums professionally,” said Salukombo, 22, a student and member of the African Students Association on campus. “Then I learned it was an Akron U group. I didn’t even know the group existed. It was pretty awesome.”
There was also food set up next door in the piano lounge, including mini beef empanadas (pastries filled with seafood, meat, cheese, vegetables or fruit) and Caribbean jerk chicken salad-stuffed avocados.
“The best way to show off our cultures is with food and music, and that’s how we showcased it,” said David Vale, assistant director of campus programs, who coordinated the event.
Meanwhile at the other end of the student union, members of the Undergraduate Student Government group were busy collecting red paper “bricks” for their wall of oppression event.
Students jotted down words such as annoying, stupid, boring, towel head, faggot, b--ch, slut, dumb blonde and being called sweetie or honey.
“All you have to do is write a word or expression you were called that you felt was oppressive or hurtful,” said Darian Kanouff, 20, of New Philadelphia, as she tried to recruit students to the table explaining the concept as a way to bring out awareness and encouraged them not to censor what they wrote.
“The words will be placed on the wall, and on Thursday at 1 p.m. we will tear down the wall to symbolize ending oppression within the campus community,” she told her fellow students.
The organization will continue to collect words and phrases until then.
Brittany Beacham, 18, of Akron, said she’s always being described by the color of her skin.
“I know I’m brown, but why do I have to be referred to as “dark skinned”? she said.
Laura Metzer, 20, of Mansfield, said she liked the exercise because it acknowledges the hurtful words out there that have to do with “everything that’s wrong in society, including racism, sexism and attacking people’s sexual orientation, and using words that people like using just for the sake of saying it or for the fun of it, but the words aren’t funny.”
David Long, 22, of Cleveland, said he has experienced many offensive remarks including the N-word and an attack on his sexual orientation. He said he convinces himself he’s over it, but sometimes it still hurts.
“I think its a good idea to write down some of these feelings of oppression. It’s important to try to end all the name calling,” he said. “It’s real out there and not just at the university. I think we can all benefit from the symbolic tear-down too as an effort to recognize the words and recognize the words need to be destroyed.”
USG President Megan Bodenschatz, 21, said it may not solve all the problems of today, but it does bring out awareness.
For Diversity week details, visit www.uakron.edu/studentlife/campusprograms/diversityweek.dot.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.