Diversity Month tackles wide array of topics

RACE, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and other ideologies will be in the spotlight this week as the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) celebrates Diversity Month.

Dialogues on “Girls Leading Change” as well as student discussions on sexual orientation will be on the agenda today at the univer- sity’s different campuses.

Every year, the university celebrates the diversity of its students and staff with dialogues, music, marches, food displays and art exhibitions for a month.

Centre for the Advancement of Non-racialism and Democracy (Canrad) senior manager for advocacy, education and training Sonwabo Stuurman said Diversity Month was an NMMU initiative about change and intellectuality, as well as a catalyst for transformation and building social cohesion.

He said the initiative was important because NMMU students were transitory and would leave with impressionable ideas of scholarship, engagement and citizenship.

“Furthermore, staff who remain with the NMMU for much longer periods are understanding the need for openness, diversity, sharing a common vision and mission, and NMMU’s student-centred approach.

“The critical advancement is that staff and students alike are opening their personal and group spaces towards forging relationships with the wider NMMU community.”

Stuurman said Diversity Month objectives included engaging the university community in activities and programmes that supported and concretised non-racialism and democratic practice.

The “Girls leading Change” dialogue will be held at the South Cam- pus Council Chambers at 5pm, while the discussion on sexual orientation will be held at the Student Village at Ziggy’s.

Tomorrow the student governance will be celebrating women with a discussion on Health Matters: “Things Every Woman Should Know” at the education building at South Campus at midday.

Diversity Month will also include book launches, memorial lectures and seminars.