Last year, President Sharon L. Gaber declared The University of Toledo would shine a spotlight on diversity with a month filled with events.
“While we celebrate diversity every day on our campuses, it’s important to set aside some time to schedule events and come together to discuss our differences. Our inclusiveness gives us strength,” Gaber said.
Dr. Willie McKether, vice president for diversity and inclusion, echoed the president’s sentiments: “Our inclusive campus values and celebrates diversity and uniqueness. We can all learn from our differences and each other.
“I hope to see students, faculty and staff in attendance at our events during Diversity Month. Everyone is invited and welcomed.”
New this year is an Implicit Bias Speaker Series.
“Implicit bias refers to the unconscious attitudes we have about people that, left unchecked, can lead to prejudice and discrimination,” Jennifer Pizio, associate director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said. “By learning about these biases and making the implicit explicit, we can change our attitudes and help create a more diverse and inclusive environment.”
Ari Melber, MSNBC chief legal correspondent, will kick off the series Thursday, April 6. He will give a talk on “Bias in a Post-Truth Era” at 5 p.m. in Doermann Theater.
“There’s nothing new about bias distorting our view of the world, but are polarized politics and selective information making bias worse? What can we learn from social science and legal training to combat our own biases? I’m hoping to tackle those questions in this program,” Melber said.
Other topics and speakers in the series are:
• “Unconscious Bias and Its Impact on the Patient-Clinician Relationship” by Dr. Adil Haider, surgeon and Kessler Director of the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Thursday, April 13, at 4 p.m. Collier Building Room 1000B.
• “Discrimination, Subtle Bias and Inequalities in the Workplace: In the Name of Meritocracy” by Dr. Leanne Son Hing, associate chair of psychology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Tuesday, April 18, at 5 p.m. Thompson Student Union Room 2584.
• “Unconscious Racial Bias in Health Care and in Medical School Admission” by Dr. Quinn Capers IV, associate dean for admissions at Ohio State University College of Medicine, Wednesday, April 26, at 4 p.m. Health Education Building Room 110.
In an effort to take the pulse of the campus diversity and inclusiveness climate, McKether said the annual diversity assessment survey will be conducted from Monday, April 17, through Saturday, April 22. Students, faculty and staff will receive an email with a link to take the survey.
Diversity Month is hosted by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Office Multicultural Student Success.
Listed by date, other events include:
• Monday, April 3 — Gay? Fine By Me Tie Dye, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thompson Student Union steps (rain location: Thompson Student Union Trimble Lounge).
— Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Kickoff, noon, Thompon Student Union steps (rain location: Thompson Student Union Trimble Lounge).
• Tuesday, April 4 — Diversity and Dialogue, 6 p.m., Thompson Student Union Ingman Room.
• Thursday, April 6 — Maayan Keret, former international model and now author, will discuss media, technology, women, and the cultural and environmental factors that impact the female body image, 7 p.m., Memorial Field House Room 1140.
— Spectrum Drag and Talent Show, 8 p.m., Rocky’s Attic.
• Saturday, April 8 — African People’s Association African Night, 6 p.m., Thompson Student Union Auditorium. Tickets are $10 and $15 for VIP in advance; and $15 at the door.
• Sunday, April 9 — Beyond the Afikomen: A Passover Survival Kit, Toledo Hillel House, 2012 Brookdale Drive, Toledo. Stop by for snacks.
• Monday, April 10 — Screening of “Gender Revolution: A Journey With Katie Couric,” 5 p.m., Memorial Field House Room 1050. A panel discussion will follow the film.
• Tuesday, April 11 — Asian American and Pacific Islander Tea Party, noon to 2 p.m., Thompson Student Union Trimble Lounge.
• Thursday, April 13 — Diversity Celebration, 8 p.m., Thompson Student Union Ingman Room.
• Friday, April 14 — Solo Success Workshop, “How to Thrive in the Academy When You’re the Only __________ in Your Department,” 9 a.m. to noon, Thompson Student Union Room 2592. Dr. Rosemarie Roberts of Connecticut University will facilitate the program. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. with luncheon at noon. Register at utoledo.edu/diversity/events.
— Shabbat Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Toledo Hillel House.
• Tuesday, April 18 —Asian American and Pacific Islander Film Screening, “Ip Man,” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thompson Student Union Room 3018.
• Thursday, April 20 — Holi Toledo, UT’s fourth annual celebration of the Indian holiday Holi, 3 p.m., field south of Memorial Field House.
• Friday, April 21 — Shabbat 101, 5 p.m., Rocky’s Attic.
• Thursday, April 27 — Rock in the Red Zone, 7 p.m., Toledo Hillel House.
• Saturday, April 29 — Toledo Sister Cities International Festival, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Savage Arena. Admission: $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Info: toledosistercities.org.
For more information on these events, go to utoledo.edu/studentaffairs/omss.
