The spotlight will shine even brighter on diversity during April at The University of Toledo as Diversity Week has been expanded to Diversity Month.

“Diversity at The University of Toledo has been an area of emphasis this year,” UT President Sharon L. Gaber said. “I hope each of us will spend time during Diversity Month asking ourselves what more we can do to ensure basic values such as dignity and inclusion are reflected across UT campuses.”

To kick off Diversity Month, Gaber will give an address at noon Monday, April 4 in the Student Union Ingman Room.

“The University of Toledo offers more than a great place to educate yourself. It offers a place to be yourself,” she said. “At UT, we value all people — regardless of their cultural background, beliefs, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity — because this rich diversity enables us all to excel.”

“Diversity Week, which is the first week of Diversity Month, is meant to celebrate and embrace the high amount of diversity at The University of Toledo and our surrounding communities,” Shailen Shah, diversity chair of the President’s Council on Diversity and Student Government, said. “Many think of diversity as just ethnicity; we are trying to expand those beliefs to embody all types of diversity. We hope to see many students, faculty and staff at all of our events.” 

Rapper, record producer, actor and activist David Banner will give a keynote address, “Diversity in Politics,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6 in the Student Union Auditorium. A question-and-answer session will take place after the talk, and Banner is scheduled to sign autographs and take photos.

“Having David Banner here on our campus in Toledo is huge, not just for the University, but the city as a whole,” Lance Price, president of the Black Student Union, said. “His voice carries a lot of weight, so the excitement is crazy. People need to hear his message no matter where you came from.”

Diversity Month is hosted by the Office of the President, the Division of Student Affairs, Student Government and the Ad-Hoc Diversity Plan Advisory Board in collaboration with Student Government’s Diversity Week.

Listed by date, other events include:

Saturday, April 2

• “Rhythm of Africa,” 7 p.m., Student Union Auditorium. Tickets: $10 in advance at the Ask Rocky counter in the Student Union; $15 at the door.

Thursday, April 7

• Dr. Jim Ferris, the Ability Center of Greater Toledo Endowed Chair in Disability Studies, UT professor of disability studies and director of the Disability Studies Program, will host a discussion titled “Against Awareness: Disability, Sexuality and the Problem of Protection” at 12:30 p.m. in University Hall Room 4180.
• The Annual Imam Khattab Lecture on Islamic Thought, “Is ISIS Islamic?” by Dr. Ovamir Anjum, UT Imam Khattab Endowed Chair of Islamic Studies, 7 p.m., Driscoll Alumni Center Auditorium.
• Spectrum Annual Drag Show, 8 p.m., Rocky’s Attic.

Saturday, April 9

• 40th Annual International Student Association Dinner, 6 p.m., Student Union Auditorium. UT President Sharon L. Gaber will speak at the event. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door; table of eight is $100, and children 5 and younger are free. Purchase tickets at Ask Rocky in the Student Union.

Wednesday, April 13

• Holi Toledo, UT’s third annual celebration of the Indian holiday Holi, 3 p.m., field south of the Memorial Field House.

Saturday, April 16

• Toledo Sister Cities International Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Student Union Auditorium. Admission: $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Info: 419.245.3334.

Tuesday, April 19

• Film screening, “He Named Me Malala,” 6 p.m., Student Union Ingman Room.

Wednesday, April 20

• Jewish Jeopardy, 11 a.m., Hillel House.

Monday, April 25

• Spectrum’s Diversity Ball, 7 p.m., Student Union Ingman Room.

Thursday, April 28

• President’s Ad-Hoc Group on Diversity will host “A Celebration of Diversity” from noon to 2 p.m., Student Union Room 2592.

For more information and additional events, go to utoledo.edu/diversity/diversity-month or call the UT Office of Multicultural Student Success at 419.530.2261.

Media Coverage
The Blade (April 2, 2016)
WTOL 11 (April 5, 2016)
WTOL 11 (April 5, 2016)
The Independent Collegian (April 6, 2016)
The Independent Collegian (April 20, 2016)