Different, Similar, Daringly Diverse

Madison Weikle, staff writer

 The first Diversity Awareness week was held at PVCC from Feb. 26 to March 2. Throughout the week, students were encouraged to gather in the Bolick Student Center and stand up for what they stand against with the “PVCC Stands Against” Campaign.

To participate, students were asked to write down a word or phrase representing what they stand against and then take a picture with their sign to be posted in the student center later in the week.

“What we’re trying to do is make sure to provide students, faculty, and staff with more opportunities to engage in conversation about diversity,” said Coordinator of Student Engagement and Student Life Shawn Anderson. He believes the importance of talking about diversity promotes a better understanding of everyone being brought up differently and having different backgrounds.

A person’s background can directly influence the way they perceive the world. Diversity week promotes the discussion of different viewpoints in order to reach a better understanding and connect through the similarities between every person at PVCC.

The PVCC Stands Against movement was inspired by the USA Network’s campaign “I Won’t Stand For.”

The campaign, according to the USA website, was put in place to fight racism, bullying, religious intolerance, sexism, homophobia, ableism, or any other form of discrimination.

PVCC was also using their campaign to promote the film I’m Not Racist … Am I? shown on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

Anderson said, “Progress, from my perspective, would be if we could all come to a consensus or understanding about differences and being able to respect those differences I think that’s progress.”