Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
April 05, 2007 issue
The More You Know, The More You Grow—
Water The Garden
6th Annual Diversity Celebration at ASU April 14 to 21
Story by Sam Calhoun
Many people might think that they have to travel far outside the town limits of Boone to take part in a cultural safari, but thanks to ASU, residents and students can receive the same experience by staying in their hometown.
From Saturday, April 14, to Saturday, April 21, the 6th annual Diversity Celebration will take on the ASU campus, featuring an array of performing arts, craft workshops, educational and experiential activities and exhibits and samplings of ethnic food from every continent.
“The Diversity Celebration is a living, breathing, fully dimensional embodiment of Appalachian State University’s ongoing commitment to honor and nurture diversity in all its aspects,” said Susan H. King from the ASU Office of Equity, Diversity and Compliance. “The annual Diversity Celebration is at its heart a community-building, educational and cultural experience for learners of all ages. Its eclectic sweep of offerings rewards curiosity, deepens perspective and nourishes body, mind and soul. Appalachian values diversity, not as a programmatic add-on, but as an integral part of learning to live and work in a global society.”
The theme of the celebration, The More You Know, The More You Grow—Water The Garden, is meant to symbolize a safe environment for learning about others while encouraging a deeper exploration of differences.
Events, food and activities are free to all ages throughout the entire week.
The major events of this year’s celebration include the 11th annual Unity Festival in the Plemmons Student Union on Saturday, April 14; the People of the Planet Soccer Tournament at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Sunday, April 15; and Diversity Day in the Plemmons Student Union on Tuesday, April 17.
In addition to the three large events, dozens of smaller workshops, performances and presentations will be offered all week long.
According to King, April 14 and 17 will be the days with the most appeal for all ages of the general public. April 14 will also feature the most activities for children and families.
“[April 14 and 17] will have a cultural safari theme, with an exhibit from all seven continents and a food sample from all seven continents on both days,” said King. “On the other days, there’ll be an array of other events that are rich and wide-ranging.”
Unity Festival
The Unity Festival is a community development project designed to raise the level of diversity acceptance in Watauga County by using music, storytelling, drama, dance and visual art to explore diverse cultures and races at a free, family-oriented celebration.
The festival takes place in various rooms in the Plemmons Student Union from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 14.
Attendees will enjoy arts and crafts in the Blue Ridge Ballroom; foreign movies in the Greenbrier Theater; bluegrass, Japanese, Irish and Appalachian music in the Crossroads Coffee Shop; poetry and capoeira in the Linville Falls room; a sampling of international food in the Grandfather Mountain Ballroom; African drumming and storytelling by The Healing Force in the Roan Mountain room; belly dancing and puppet shows in the Solarium; gospel music in the Cascades Lounge and a children’s story time and a presentation from author Julia Ebel in the University Bookstore.
People of the Planet Soccer Tournament
On Sunday, April 15, the American teams of Earth and Water and the international teams of Space and Fire will play soccer on the turf of Kidd Brewer Stadium. Teams are made up of local and Olympic athletes. Four games will be played between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Game 1 (Space vs. Water) takes place from 9:00 to 10:20 a.m., Game 2 (Fire vs. Earth) takes place from 10:45 a.m. to 12:05 p.m., Game 3 (Water vs. Fire) takes place from 1:30 to 2:50 p.m. and Game 4 (Earth vs. Space) takes place from 3:30 to 4:50 p.m.
Diversity Day
On Tuesday, April 17, from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m., Diversity Day activities will take place in various rooms in the Plemmons Student Union.
Attendees will enjoy the Steely Pan Band in the amphitheater; arts and crafts in the Blue Ridge Ballroom; the Mi Terra Mariachi Band, the Lost Jewels of the Ghawazee belly dancing group and The Cockman Brothers’ bluegrass and gospel music in the Cascades Lounge; Appalachian music and history and Spanish skits and songs in the Crossroads Coffee Shop; a sampling of international food in the Grandfather Mountain Ballroom; a presentation on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and clogging by Arthur Grimes in the Linville Falls room; Native American storytelling by Lloyd Arneach and Jack Tales by Orville Hicks in the Roan Mountain room; the ASU Gospel Choir in the Solarium and authors Peggy Stern, Nora Percival and Judy Geary in the University Bookstore.
Other Events of Interest
From April 14 to 21, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts will present The Graphic Imperative: International Posters for Peace, Social Justice and the Environment 1965 to 2005.
On Thursday, April 19, at 8:00 p.m., Stop Suicide Now—a candlelight vigil—will be held at Sanford Mall to celebrate the survivors of suicide attempts and to provide an opportunity for families and friends to honor the memory of those who have died through suicide.
On April 19, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., a live discussion and information session called Contemporary African Issues: Perspectives from Appalachian State University Africanists will be held in room 114 of the Belk Library Lecture Hall. A panel of ASU African professors, staff and students and American Africanists leads the discussion.
Parking
Free parking is available on Tuesday, April 17, in the new parking deck located beside the Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons. All parking is free on campus on Saturday, April 14.
Sponsors
The Diversity Celebration is funded in part by the Watauga Arts Council and grassroots funds from the North Carolina Arts Council, the Mast General Store and ASU’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Compliance, Office of International Education and Development, Freshman Seminar, ASU Parents Association and the ASU Staff Council.
More Information
For a complete schedule of events and locations, click to www.celebration.appstate.edu/. For more information about the Diversity Festival, call 828-262-2144, 828-262-6252 or email diversity@appstate.edu.