The weeklong celebration helped faculty, staff and students better understand diversity throughout the university and community.
After a weeklong celebration, Texas Tech University's Diversity Week finished Saturday (March 28) with a diversity showcase and Holi festival, hosted by the South Asian Student Association and the Tech Activities Board.
Diversity Week celebrates people's roots and helps faculty, staff and students better understand the importance of diversity in today's society.
“The culmination of Diversity Week reminds us of the importance of a university education that prepares its graduates to be competitive in a global marketplace,” said Juan Muñoz, senior vice president for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement and vice provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Affairs. “Diversity Week offered the campus community a thoughtful combination of events, discussions and opportunities for personal reflections of how to excel professionally anywhere in the world upon graduation from Texas Tech University.”
Throughout the week more than 40 departments on campus hosted daily events in which the Texas Tech community could participate. Events included a Diversity Week kickoff mixer, a photo contest, discussion groups/panels, film viewings, trainings and opportunities to speak openly about breaking stereotypes and asking questions about other cultures.
“Texas Tech University's second annual Diversity Week was a huge success,” said Claire Maginness, head of the Diversity Week committee and unit coordinator for Student Union and Activities. “Those who attended the events seemed to enjoy them and truly learned more about themselves and others through their participation. I think the campus coming together in this manner really impacted the way students at Texas Tech will develop into globally aware citizens.
“I'm looking forward to seeing how much bigger and better we can make next year's Diversity Week.”
Bruno Saliba Helmer, a freshman, international student from Brazil and a graduate from Texas Tech University ISD, said Diversity Week helped him gain a better understanding of himself and others.
“Being an international student, Diversity Week meant a lot to me,” he said. “It made me realize that I am not the only one who is different. Actually, the different ones are those who believe they are the same.”
For more information about Diversity Week or Texas Tech's mission to create a diverse community, please visit the Student Union and Activities or the Institutional Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement websites.
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