Project Unite kicked off this week tackling various aspects of campus diversity, some of which have not been touched on in past years.
Project Unite is an annual weeklong program geared toward educating students and faculty about issues surrounding topics regarding different forms of diversity, including sexual orientation and ethnicity.
"(These) are topics that people don't really like to discuss, but people need to know about," said Alicia Golston, vice president of Student Government Association.
Each day concentrates on a certain aspect of diversity, starting Tuesday with the differences between Greek and non-Greek life, a topic that Golston said is not often discussed.
"This is really beneficial because there is a stereotype between Greeks and non-Greeks," said Sheena Freeman, a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority. "We can differentiate between what Greeks expect of non-Greeks and what non-Greeks expect of us."
Wednesday will focus on sexual orientation and a student forum and panel will be held on the fourth floor of The University Center at 1 p.m. A professor of sociology, as well as members of BGALA (Students for Bisexual Gay and Lesbian Awareness) will discuss new research and history behind homosexuality.
Thursday, students and faculty will have a chance to learn about the differences between traditional and non-traditional students, a topic that does not usually receive a great deal of discussion.
"Everybody has a different lifestyle, whether there is a difference in age or whether a student lives on campus or is a commuter," said Golston. "Most of us are between the ages of 18-24, but we also have older students as well as senior citizens on campus."
This panel will be held on the fourth floor of The U.C. at 11 a.m. and will host speakers from Adult and Commuter Student Services.
"Bringing awareness to students is more than important, due to the fact that there are so many different things to learn from other groups of people," said Natasha Britton, a senior education major.
Project Unite culminates with the Multicultural Festival at noon on Friday, focusing on ethnic diversity. Different ethnic groups on campus in the student plaza will set up informational booths for students and faculty to come by and pick up. Multicultural entertainment, including song and dance, will be performed throughout the afternoon. Free food will also be provided.
"We don't want to put anybody out (with these events), but people need to be educated," Golston said.
