Voices heard at Diversity Forum

by Jennifer Johnson
The Collegian
Issue date: 4/1/08

The 5th Annual Diversity Forum was held on the Clarkston campus March 27.

The Forum, themed "Voices," took a different direction in showcasing Diversity by not having a panel or keynote speaker and instead relying on the voices of students, faculty and staff in attendance.

Students trickled in and out of the three-hour event, but filled the Jim Cherry Learning Center auditorium with their voices in response to questions and topics brought up by event coordinator Joe Odom and 'co-host' Courtney Godfrey of Clarkston SGA.

"Diversity if one of our defining features and makes Georgia Perimeter College a premier community college," said Odom.

Odom encouraged students to attend the International Festival April 4 and surprised the audience by including that, depending on the semester, 145 to 150 different countries are represented on the Clarkston campus.

Odom stressed that there are many types of diversity; racial, ethnic, cultural, age, ability, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and financial and class status.

Odom began a long slideshow of celebrities' images, featuring the remarks they had made over the last year that were in some way bigoted, including quotes from Don Imus, Mel Gibson, Isaiah Washington, Kanye West, Halle Berry and Sally Kern. Audience members jumped to respond when Odom asked if any of the celebrities or their comments surprised them.

Dialogue across the room included most audience members, the number of which waxed and waned, though did take home the colorful water bottles and the Diversity Forum's signature jellybeans in campus gift bags on their way out.

"Racism is straight across the board," one student said. "We need education. Social education, not just classroom education. The biggest problem is lack of tolerance."

Odom, who zigzagged across the auditorium to bring the microphone to students, passed it on to Godfrey, who worked the audience while images appeared on the projection screen. Godfrey warned students to be mindful of others when stating how each image made them feel.

A male student from the back of the auditorium had the opportunity to address the audience when images of terrorist appeared on the screen. "Terrorists don't represent Islam," he said. "Just like Timothy McVeigh doesn't represent Christianity."

The atmosphere remained respectful through sensitive subjects, which was the goal of the Diversity Forum.

Toward the end, the three entries for the Student Film Competition, sponsored by the Humanities department were viewed and awards given to the students. Third place went to Melissa O'Steen with her film Concrete and Wood, second to students Jalen Reddish and Brian Little for their film What Really Matters?, and first place went to Misty Novitch for her film We Are All Concerned About Humans.

Before audience members broke for ice cream and special Forum-themed cakes, Odom gave Shinning Star awards to Godfrey, Margie Bright-Ragland, Dr. Terri Lampe and Ms. Lois Shelton for their support of the Diversity Forum 2008.