The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offers monthly programming that provides educational engagement, cultural exploration and social enrichment for students, faculty and staff.
UA Graduate School: GROW Welcome Reception
Friday, Aug. 13 | 5-7 p.m. | the Quad
(Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
In partnership with the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, GRaduate Orientation and Welcome (GROW) will be hosting a community engagement social event on the evening of Aug. 13, designed to facilitate opportunities for students to connect with faculty, learn about campus resource and services, familiarize themselves with the campus, and begin to build community. The orientation event features a welcome from university leadership, with program faculty and students, free UA swag and more.
IDC: Food for Thought: Cultural Learning, Sharing and Teaching
Wednesday, Aug. 18 | noon-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Ferguson Center
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host the first installment of its new development series Food for Thought: Cultural Learning, Sharing and Teaching Aug. 18. As part of this program, the Intercultural Diversity Center will offer all students, faculty and staff an opportunity to engage through a variety of ways from training to food to art to music and more.
The first Food for Thought will be led by Dr. G. Christine Taylor, vice president and associate provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and will focus on what diversity is and its importance. Participants will have the opportunity to break down the meaning of DEI, explore what diversity, equity and inclusion looks like within higher education and how to make formal strides towards promoting DEI within daily life. Catered lunch and refreshments from Jason’s Deli and Full Moon BBQ will be provided. This program will have several giveaways to support educational efforts such as scholarships, backpacks and University of Alabama swag. To reserve your spot, register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
BSU: ONYX 2021
Friday, Aug. 20 | Tabling 5 p.m., Event 7-11 p.m. | Ferguson Lawn
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
A UA tradition, Onyx brings students together for an evening of fun and information. The event has an organization/department tabling component and a showcase of National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations and other groups that dance and sing. Also, fashion students show off their design skills and Sup Store merchandise. The event is sponsored by UA’s Black Student Union, University Programs, Experience Onyx 2021, and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. For more information, contact the Black Student Union at theblackstudentunionua@gmail.com.
LACLS & IDC: Hostile Terrain (HT94) Exhibit Toe Tags
Saturday, Aug. 21| noon-2 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Ferguson Center
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
In conjunction with the Department of Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies, the Intercultural Diversity Center will provide an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to complete toe tags for the Hostile Terrain (HT94) exhibit installation. The exhibition is composed of over 3,200 handwritten toe tags that represent migrants who have died trying to cross the Sonoran Desert of Arizona between the mid-1990s and 2019. These tags represent the recovered bodies of people who have died between 2000 and 2020 crossing the U.S./Mexico border through the Sonoran Desert.
Safe Zone Resource Center: Identities 101 Workshop
Tuesday, Aug. 24 |noon-1 p.m. | Zoom
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host Identities 101, a workshop for students, faculty and staff allies and community members to learn terminology, appropriate use of terminology, the impact words can have and the importance they have regarding the LGBTQ+ community in a safe space. This workshop will be hosted by Safe Zone staff that have been trained on LGBTQ+ identities. Identities 101 Workshop will offer refreshments and resources. To reserve your spot, register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Around the World at UA
Wednesday, Aug. 25 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. |Ferguson Lawn
The Capstone International Center is hosting Around the World at UA where students can learn about Education Abroad, English Language Institute, and the International Student & Services office as well as the international student organizations on campus. Students who attend the event will have the opportunity to fill out a passport as they walk around. At the end, students can turn in their passport to receive a BobaMania drink, and also have a chance to win a prize. Co-sponsor for the event is University Programs Weeks of Welcome.
Safe Zone Resource Center: Game Night
Wednesday, Aug. 25 | 5-7 p.m. | Safe Zone Resource Center, 2419 Ferguson Center
(Social Enrichment)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host Safe Zone Game Night to provide a community-building experience for all students. The event will offer new students an opportunity to interact with returning students and foster a sense of community. Students will have a chance to learn about college success and campus and Tuscaloosa community involvement. Refreshments will be provided, and attendees have an opportunity to win a general book scholarship. To reserve your spot, register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Get on Board Day
Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021 | 5-9 p.m. | Ferguson Center Plaza and Promenade
(Social Enrichment)
Get On Board Day (GOBD) is held on the UA campus each fall and spring and is a major tradition of campus involvement. For any student who wishes to get more actively engaged with campus, GOBD can provide a springboard for connecting to hundreds of student organizations, community vendors, and departments which are housed on the UA campus. For more information, contact The Source at uainvolvement@ua.edu.
Multicultural Coffee Hour
Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Ferguson Center
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
The International Student and Scholar Services department and the Intercultural Diversity Center will host weekly coffee hours for students, faculty and staff to enjoy free coffee, tea, snacks and conversation with others from around the world. Participants will have the chance to learn about involvement, art, music, dance and cuisine from a global perspective. For more information, contact International Student and Scholar Services at bethanyli@ua.edu.
IDC: Social Justice Movie Series: ‘Miss Representation’
Friday, Aug. 27 | 7 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Ferguson Center and via Zoom
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
The Intercultural Diversity Center will kick off its Fall 2021 Social Justice Movie Series featuring “Miss Representation.” Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, “Miss Representation” uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film exposes how mainstream media contributes to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself. Refreshments will be provided for all students, faculty and staff. Attendees will also have the chance to win prizes. A hybrid model of this program will be provided for all participants to engage virtually through Zoom. In order to attend the online component, registration is required at http://tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Blackburn Institute Symposium
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27-28 | Ferguson Student Center
The theme of the Blackburn Institute’s 2021 Annual Symposium, “The Next Normal: Dynamic Leadership in Changing Times,” highlights the work of the Institute and feature speakers and panelists sharing the challenges of the past and working to affect positive change in Alabama and around the world. Learn more
LACLS & IDC: Hostile Terrain (HT94) Exhibit Toe Tags
Sunday, Aug. 29 | noon-2 p.m. | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Ferguson Center
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement/Social Enrichment)
In conjunction with the Department of Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies, the Intercultural Diversity Center will provide an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to complete toe tags for the Hostile Terrain (HT94) exhibit installation. The exhibition is composed of over 3,200 handwritten toe tags that represent migrants who have died trying to cross the Sonoran Desert of Arizona between the mid-1990s and 2019. These tags represent the recovered bodies of people who have died between 2000 and 2020 crossing the U.S./Mexico border through the Sonoran Desert.
Safe Zone Resource Center: Open House
Monday, Aug. 30 | 3-6 p.m. | Safe Zone Resource Center, 2419 Ferguson Center
(Cultural Exploration/Social Enrichment)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host an open house for the UA campus community to get more information about the center. Participants will learn about LGBTQIA+ campus resources, programming and involvement opportunities. Guests will be provided dinner and informational resources. Also, pride flags and Safe Zone buttons will be available. Register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.
Safe Zone Resource Center: Karaoke Night
Tuesday, Aug. 31 | 6-8 p.m. | Safe Zone Resource Center, 2419 Ferguson Center
(Social Enrichment)
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host LGBTQ+ Karaoke Night during the Weeks of Welcome to provide a social community-building experience. The event will allow new and returning students to interact in the Safe Zone and further a sense of community on campus. Catering will be provided for attendees, and Safe Zone promotional handouts will be available. To reserve your spot, register at tinyurl.com/deiidcevents.