Discovering Diversity in How We Grow

Diversity at Dickinson has grown significantly over the years. Dickinson values the variety of thought and experiences that every student brings to the college and works to create a truly global environment. The support and recognition that students with various backgrounds receive is apparent from the large number of diverse offices and organizations on campus. This fact enables students to feel welcome and comfortable in the Dickinson environment.

Recent Events and Activities

The annual Multicultural Seder brought together various campus organizations to celebrate liberation from the chains of oppressions of all people in every part of the world.

A yearlong celebration of Dickinson’s 125 years of co-education and women’s achievements has included events sponsored by the college, the Women's Center and the Feminist Collective.

Dickinson College hosted the third-annual Gay-Straight Alliance Student Leadership Summit.

Spoken-word poetry, food and music were featured at the Soul Café, presented by the African American Society.

Tu B' Shevat celebration featured New Jersey singer/songwriter Eric Komar.

U.S. District Justice Richard J. Leon, the first federal judge to conduct habeas-corpus proceedings on the imprisonment of the Guantanamo Bay detainees, spoke about this complex matter on campus at an event sponsored by the Clarke Forum on Contemporary Issues.

Dickinson hosted the first-annual Japan Festival which included taiko drumming, Japanese snacks and students presenting speeches and performances on topics related to Japanese culture.

Dickinson and the Carlisle theatre united for a Haiti Benefit Concert which raised more than $17,000 for relief efforts.

Other events and activities have included:

The 46th-annual Public Affairs Symposium featured actors Danny Glover and Felix Justice who spoke about the need for activism in the keynote Poitras-Gleim Lecture; Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée llibagiza and Dr. P.M. Forni of the Civility Institute at Johns Hopkins University also contributed talks aligned with the PAS theme "Why Can't We All Just Get Along? Civility and Respect in Today's World."

Portuguese Club officers presented Cozinhando, a Brazilian cooking class.

Fulbright Scholar Danielle Goonan '07 returned to Dickinson to discuss her research on hip-hop culture in Bologna, Italy.

Middle East political issues were a topic for debate during a panel Violence in Gaza,discussion that examined the current conflict in the Gaza Strip sponsored by the Clarke Forum on Contemporary Issues.

Antonio Banderas and Antonio Soler presented the first U.S. public screening of El Camino de los Ingleses in Carlisle. A discussion with the film's director and screenwriter followed the screening.

Part of Gender Month and co-sponsored by the Women's Center and the Department of Theatre & Dance, students performed the comic play The Most Massive Woman Wins.

A wide world of possibility was opened to Dickinson students when the college presented its annual Study Abroad Fair.

The Latin-American Club hosted its annual Flavors of the Caribbean dinner.

The Flavors of Asia Dinner included foods from the Middle East, Indian sub continent, Thailand and Burma.

At the annual Diversity Week celebration, hosted by Dickinson College's Office of Diversity Initiatives, there were a variety of events, including a Apollo Night, a Diversity Expo and the Diversity Monologue Contest.

On Oct. 25, the annual Semana Poetica—Poetry Week—featured bi-and tri-lingual readings from internationally recognized poets.

Students and community members joined the Middle Eastern Club for a night of eating and listening to Middle Eastern music at the annual dinner.

Notable Events and Activities

Off-campus Activities

The Women's Center and women's studies department sponsored a trip to the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

Sponsored Discussions

African American Society – the presidential campaign

Religious Life & Community Service – Christian privilege

Office of Diversity Initiatives – Race, Racial Identity and DNA Testing

Newman Club – five-part series on the myths and truths of Catholicism

Spectrum – Coming Out Day student panel

Social Justice and Awareness Activities

Students for Social Action – the second-annual Fair Wares Market

A.S.I.A. – Noodle Night for Burma

Sustained Dialogue – Stereotype Me Day

Office of Diversity Initiatives – Tunnel of Oppressions

Social/Cultural Activities

Middle Eastern Club coffeehouse with live music, skits, coffee and food 

Annual Apollo Night hosted by Umoja and Pi Beta Phi

Spectrum's Gay Prom

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