Freshmen, upperclassmen, faculty and staff are all excited to kick off festivities for an important time: diversity week! Heidelberg’s diversity Week is composed of several events designed to help everyone learn about all of the aspects of diversity through extra-curricular activities.
Aaron Nelson, Director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, emphasizes the importance of this week, "Our goal is to come together, bring all underrepresented groups together to showcase different cultures, ethnicities, traditions, and to acknowledge differences and lived experiences. Hopefully, from this week of events, we're able to create more allies, support, and relationships."
Everybody is welcome and encouraged to attend everything! Here’s a rundown of all of the Diversity Week activities, from a Roundtable and open dialogue session to Diversity Dodgeball, and everything in between.
Tuesday, April 9
-Paint and R&B - University Commons - 4:30pm-6:30pm
Vibe out to music and have our guest artist walk us through painting a canvas that may be different than your own lived experience! Registration required.
-Take Back the Night - Legacy Patio - 7pm-9:30pm
March to reclaim the night for anyone who may feel unsafe walking alone. Enjoy guest speaker Amy Kinney, the Executive Director of Fostoria’s First Step Domestic Violence Shelter, and take advantage of the free safety items that will be offered as we stand and raise our voices in solidarity.
Wednesday, April 10
-RoundTables/Dialogue - Great Hall - 3pm-5pm
Engage in conversation on a variety of different topics. These topics include but are not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, culture, privilege, discrimination and much more.
-Culinary Class - Harbster Chapel - 6pm-7:30pm
Join the special guest chef visiting on campus to learn some exciting and fun ways to enhance some of your traditional college meals! Students must register.
Thursday, April 11
-Diversity Organization Fair - Great Hall - 3:30-5pm
Come hear about resources related to different intersectionalities, as well as tips to become a better ally in the community to expand your social responsibility.
-Diversity Dodgeball - Campus Center - 5pm-6pm
This unique way of playing dodgeball highlights some conscious and subconscious privileges that we may experience within our individual lived diversity. Our Diversity Dodgeball showcases these differences by having participants start the game with different advantages and/or limitations. Come play with us!
Friday, April 12
-Fashion show/Block Party - Campus Center - 6pm-9pm
Participants will have the opportunity to experience a drag show as we welcome a performance from around Ohio. There will be a dunk tanks, inflatables, pong and more games while you enjoy music and food from a plethora of countries, all set with a vibe from our guest DJ!
Thank you to marketing student worker, Kaidan Mathias for her work on this story!