Thursday, October 16, 2008

Chain, chain, chains

The diversity committee, of which I am a member, has instituted a Chains of Diversity activity for Diversity Awareness Month. This is to be my activity for the fall where the librarian is to be in charge of cultural diversity in the student community. There is a blurb about it on the student portal. So, what the committee has decided to do is to create paper chains (you know, the kind you did in kindergarten/grade school) to represent the different aspects of each individual and how we are all connected to support and strengthen the bonds of community. Every five links will represent a person. Of course this idea originated before we had over 500 students. With that in mind, we decided to target the Success Strategies classes so that we had all of the new students involved and then make it voluntary for all of the other students. The incentive to participate is a $50 gift card for Borders. Participation in the activity is anonymous, but students can put their names on the back of the ballots if they want to be entered into the drawing. The chain will start at the library bulletin board which has a diversity theme and includes information on Chains of Diversity and the Chain legend and go all over campus, I expect. More to follow as the activity progresses....

3 comments:

Jan said...

That sounds like a lot of fun! I think it is very thoughtful and attention-getting at the same time. I would love to "borrow" your idea if our diversity committee is interested.

Libby said...

Neat idea, Cynthia. We are going to have a "Taste of Rasmussen" event before the start of evening classes on Nov. 25. Students will bring samples of food that reflect their heritage and culture. (Can be Thanksgiving-themed but does not have to be.) Makes me hungry already...

Amy Springer said...

I have suggested that we do this at Eagan. Thank you for the inspiration!