SRU student organizations collaborate to celebrate Unity Week

The Student Union for Multicultural Affairs at Slippery Rock University is hosting Unity Week, April 24-29, as several groups are coming together for education, awareness and to celebrate culture and diversity.

April 25, 2017

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Education, awareness and culture converge with cooperation as the Student Union for Multicultural Affairs at Slippery Rock University hosts Unity Week now through April 29.

"Everyone's collaborating," said Keshia Booker, assistant director of multicultural affairs in SRU's Office for Inclusive Excellence and SUMA adviser. "It's a chance for campus unification and for student organizations, as well as anyone who would like to participate, to focus on multicultural affairs, diversity and inclusion."

The week started April 24 with a departure from previous years' Unity Week events with education about groups that go beyond celebrating cultures and ethnicities. SUMA partnered with Slippery Rock Student Government Association and the Alpha Xi Delta sorority for Project Positivity Day to support Autism Speaks. The attendees enjoyed music on the Quad and learned more about autism with opportunities to donate to Autism Speaks.

SUMA will collaborate with a pair of student organizations for two activities April 25.

First up is a bingo game in partnership with the HOPE Peer Educators that includes sexual education facts and awareness at 1 p.m. in the Smith Student Center. The second event, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 102 of the Vincent Science Center, is "Trivia Night" with the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and RockOUT, the student lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally organization at SRU, with questions and answers centered around the groups they represent.

The remaining events during Unity Week include:

• Afro-Latino Night, 6:30 p.m., April 26, Vincent Science Center, Room 102: SUMA will facilitate a discussion with Black Action Society and Student Organization of Latinos/Hispanics and Allies about the groups they represent. Snacks will be provided and there will be a showing of a movie related to Afro-Latinos;
• Craft Night, 5 p.m., April 27, Vincent Science Center, Room 102: SUMA welcomes FMLA and the Psychology Club to create stress balls and other art activities;
• JamRock Showcase, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., April 27, Smith Student Center Theatre: SUMA will lead a group to attend the JamRock dance team's showcase event;
• Jamboree, Friday, 4-6 p.m., April 28, SGA Bookstore Patio: Jamboree is a celebration with music and foods that represent different cultures. There will be t-shirt giveaways and artists creating caricatures, balloon modelling and Henna temporary body art. Additionally, several student organizations will have tables set up to share information about their groups;
• Cookout in the Quad, 3-7 p.m., April 29: SUMA, BAS, SOL and JamRock, in conjunction with the National Pan-Hellenic Council and KINGS Org. and QUEENS Org. - two student organizations at SRU that offer mentorship programs for black men and women, respectively - are co-sponsoring this cookout in the Quad;
• Cascade, 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., April 29, Olympic Fun Center in Hermitage: BAS, SOL and SUMA are hosting a late-night roller-skating party with pizza and drinks. Cost is $15 for SRU students and $20 for non-SRU students, including bus transportation.

According to Booker, SUMA is hoping that by having a captive audience throughout the week's events that the organization will be able to encourage more participation in future programming and identify opportunities to include additional groups and cultures.

"The University has been putting a major focus on diversity and inclusion and I hope everyone is able to see that the students are reflecting this mission," Booker said. "This is a good step to be as inclusive as possible."

For more information, contact SUMA President Dominque Moye, a sophomore biology major from Cheswick, at ddm1005@sru.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu