Programming Highlights
April is Arab American Heritage Month, a time for celebrating the history, contributions and culture of this diverse group. A recent INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine article has information about terminology, religion, language, population size, immigration, education and ways to support Arab American students.
Also, the month begins with a vigil to remember the lives lost during the March 16 shooting in Atlanta, Georgia, where eight people were killed including six Asian American women. The vigil will serve as a call to action to stop Asian hate.
Events and activities are numerous throughout the month, which includes Holocaust Day of Remembrance, Lavender Graduation, TEDTalk Tuesdays and much more.
Arab American Heritage Month Presentation
Thursday, April 1,
Noon-2 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will show a PowerPoint presentation to commemorate Arab American Heritage Month. This presentation pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans by sharing information about historical events, leaders and general facts.
#StopAsianHate Vigil: A Call to Action
Thursday, April 1
6 p.m., Foster Auditorium
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The UA campus and Tuscaloosa community are invited to this vigil to remember the victims of the recent Atlanta shootings, where eight people were killed including six Asian American women and one other person was wounded. The event also acknowledges the dramatic increase in bias and hate crimes against members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and serves as a call to action against anti-Asian hate crimes.
Building an inclusive community requires all of us to be engaged. We encourage participants to think about what they can do to make our campus more inclusive. People who want to share their pledge to end hate crimes and bias incidents are asked to submit their commitment statement to diversity@ua.edu. The comments may be shared on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website.
Sponsors for this event include: Chinese Faculty and Staff Association, Korean Faculty and Staff Association, Asian American Student Association, Chinese Student Association, Korean Student Association, the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and UA Athletics.
Those who plan to attend are asked to sign up via Eventbrite.
Face coverings and social distancing are required per UA policy.
In addition to the vigil, webinars that focus on addressing anti-Asian hate and bias will be held via Zoom in April. More information will be available on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website.
Safe Zone Resource Center: Rainbow Connection
Fridays, April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 2-3 p.m.
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host Rainbow Connection, its weekly support and dialogue group for LGBTQIA+ identified students and their allies, each Friday in April. This group provides an opportunity to form supportive friendships with other group members, learn resilience skills and strategies for self-care, and set personal goals. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
NCAA March Madness: Final Four Tournament
Saturday, April 3
Noon-7 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will host a special viewing party of the NCAA March Madness Final Four Tournament on Saturday, April 3. NCAA March Madness was founded in 1939 and features more than 68 Division 1 NCAA basketball teams across the country. This event will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about the NCAA March Madness Tournament and the basketball bracket and scoring system and will feature catered food and giveaways. Register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Wounded Hearts Gallery
April 5-9
Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement)
The month of April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The Alabama Panhellenic Association in partnership with the Women and Gender Resource Center will present the Wounded Hearts Gallery. This exhibit offers visual testimony to the impact of interpersonal violence and sexual assault in our own or loved ones’ lives. The sponsors hope that through this gallery you can help us to honor and acknowledge survivors during not only this week, but throughout all of our lives.
Domestic Partner Abuse in Deaf and Deaf-Intersectional Communities Panel
Monday, April 5
Noon-1:30 p.m. via Zoom
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The College of Communication and Information Sciences and the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will host a Zoom-based webinar presentation by Dr. Caroline Kobek Pezzarossi, professor at Gallaudet University Department of Psychology, as she shares her research on Deaf female undergraduates’ labeling of partner violence. Pezzarossi is director of Institutional Effectiveness and Certification with Student Success and Academic Quality at Gallaudet University. She is responsible for directing institutional accreditation efforts necessary to meet the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) standards and will serve as the MSCHE Accreditation Liaison Officer. Her areas of teaching include human sexuality, psychology of gender, social psychology, and abnormal psychology. Pezzarossi focuses her research in intimate partner violence and the impact of media on mental health within the Deaf, DeafBlind, Deaf Disabled, and Hard of Hearing (DDBDDHH) community. The webinar format presentation will be conducted in American Sign Language and voice interpreting and live captioning will be provided. A live Q&A session will be held at the conclusion of the presentation. Register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents. For more information, contact Darrin Griffin, associate professor, at djgriffin1@ua.edu.
TEDTalk Tuesdays: Why women stay silent after sexual assault
Tuesday, April 6
Noon- 1 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will begin its TEDTalk Tuesdays with the segment, “Why Women Stay Silent After Sexual Assault” by Inés Hercovich in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Hercovich will adress an inside encounter with sexual assault to provide insight of what these situations really look like and the difficult choices women make to survive. This segment will address several facts such as only 10% of women report sexual assault while the other 90% remain silent.
Safe Zone Resource Center: Let’s Get Books Together Book Club
Tuesdays, April 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 2-3 p.m.
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host its weekly book club meeting to discuss, “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáen. The purpose of the book club is to expose students to LGBTQIA+ literature, discuss related narratives, themes and ideas, provide education on materials featuring gender and sexuality topics and LGBTQIA+ history, and initiate dialogue related to students’ personal identity-based experiences. The LGBT Book Club meeting will take place on Tuesdays in April. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Holocaust Day of Remembrance Presentation
Thursday, April 8
Noon-2 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will be providing a PowerPoint presentation about important facts of the Day of Remembrance, historical events and general facts in observation of the official Holocaust Day of Remembrance within the Center.
Colors, Race & Ethnicity Virtual Movie Screening
Friday, April 9 at 7 p.m.
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its Spring 2021 Social Justice Movie Series screening of “Colors: Race and Ethnicity” to commemorate Arab American Heritage Month. For racial and ethnic minorities, the struggle for recognition and equality is nothing new. Perhaps nowhere is this more visible than in the United States. The polarizing effects of stereotyping, racial prejudice and discrimination, and its impact on generations of Black Americans are discussed. Viewers also will meet the Bazzy family, an Arab American family in Michigan who must cope with local misconceptions and generalizations about Arab culture in the wake of 9/11. For this screening, all attendees must have official University (MyBama) credentials. If you are a community member or outside of the UA Network and unable to view due to this authentication requirement, please contact the Intercultural Diversity Center at ua_idc@ua.edu. Register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Stretches, Not Stresses
Saturday, April 10
Noon-1 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will host Stretches, Not Stresses, a group yoga session for participants to de-stress and relax before finals week. No Limits Fitness will host a group yoga session which will feature ambient music, natural light and other relaxation techniques. Participants will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win an exclusive giveaway. Blenz Bowl will provide an assortment of healthy options for free to all participants. Register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Safe Zone Resource Center: Lavender Graduation
Monday, April 12
6:30 p.m., Ferguson Center Theater
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host its annual Lavender Graduation to honor the accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ students at The University of Alabama. Students honored at this event not only have completed the academic requirements for a college degree, but also have demonstrated personal resilience as members of the marginalized LGBTQIA+ community during their school years. We honor them for that as much as their papers, reports and projects. Following the event, a reception will be held in the Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100). To register, visit 2021 Lavender Graduation. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
TEDTalk Tuesdays: 3 lessons on success from an Arab businesswoman
Tuesday, April 13
Noon-1 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will continue its TEDTalk Tuesdays with the segment, “3 lessons on success from an Arab businesswoman” by Leila Hoteit in observance of Arab American Heritage Month. Hoteit will discuss how professional Arab women juggle responsibilities and handle adversities in numerous ways. Guests will learn how these women go for roles of political figures or rulers, are professionally motivated and receive education within a male dominated environment.
World Art Day Presentation & DIY Activity
Thursday, April 15
11 a.m.-1 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will host a do-it-yourself activity in observance of World Art Day. Guests will learn about artistic creations in society, awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists within society. Participants will be provided paint kits, catered options from Mary’s Cakes & Pastries/Gampy’s, accompanied by a presentation on the international holiday. To receive a paint kit, register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Study Break
Monday, April 19
Noon-2 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center and Zoom
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will host a hybrid Study Break event to provide an opportunity for participants to decompress and take a break from studying and final exam preparation. This event features live DJ, healthy snacks, exclusive giveaways, and more. Register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
TEDTalk Tuesdays: Study Methods & Tips
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Noon-1 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will conclude its TEDTalk Tuesdays featuring videos on helpful study methods and tips on managing stress presented by student Yana Savitsky and neuroscientist Daniel Levitin. Participants will learn about goal setting, time management skills and other methods to successfully manage stress while studying.
Black Men in White Coats Documentary Screening and Live Q&A with Dr. Dale Okorodudu
Wednesday, April 21
(Educational Engagement)
Register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Earth Day Presentation & Air Plant Activity
Thursday, April 22
11 a.m.-1 p.m., Intercultural Diversity Center (Ferguson 2100)
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will host a do-it-yourself air terrarium activity and presentation in celebration of Earth Day. Participants will have the opportunity to get individual kits that include terrarium orbs, sand, moss, ribbon, and an air plant and can design their own air plant terrariums. Through this activity and an informational Earth Day Facts presentation, the Intercultural Diversity Center will promote societal engagement, inclusive participation, and education regarding ways that individuals can contribute to the fight against pollution. To receive an air plant kit, register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents