Valuing Our Ownmarks the theme for Diversity Week at West Virginia University, Oct. 2631. The Office for Social Justice invites everyone to celebrate diversity and the importance of valuing the entire human race by participating in a variety of activities.

The week kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday with a presentation in the Mountainlair Gluck Theatre calledUnchanged Memories: Testimonials From People Who Survived Slavery,sponsored by the Center for Black Culture and Research, Division of Social Work and Community Coalition for Social Justice.

The performance will include the reading of actual narratives from slaves on such topics as emancipation and hard laborproviding an understanding of life in the southern United States during the 1800s from a slaves perspective.

On Monday, celebrate the many different cultures that make WVU unique at the International Festival from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. Sponsored by the International Student Organization, the International Festival features studentscustoms and cultural treasures from their homelands.

Come meet Rick Yount and his seven golden retrievers on Tuesday as Yount presents information about Morgantowns Golden Rule Assistance Dogs. This program encourages at-risk youth to train golden retrievers to become assistance dogs who help people with physical disabilities. The presentation begins at 2:30 p.m. in Allen Hall, Room 512 (Evansdale Campus).

On Wednesday, the Council for Womens Concerns will host the Women of Color Day Luncheon featuring Caridad Morales Nussa from Havana, Cuba. The luncheon starts at noon in the Mountainlair Ballrooms. Tickets are on sale for $15 ($10 for students) by calling 304-293-2339.

Bring your appetite to Lunch with the Amigos Thursday at noon at Hatfields. Amir Mohammadi, associate vice president for Student Affairs; Jennifer McIntosh, executive officer of Social Justice; and other WVU administrators will prepare a diverse menu of dishes from different cultures.

Another Thursday event isJourney to a Hate Free Millennium: Stories of Compassion and Hope,a documentary by Director Brent Scarpo, at 7 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre.Journey to a Hate Free Millenniumtakes a hard look at stories that made national headlines in recent years: the murder of Matthew Shepard; the dragging death of James Byrd Jr. and the Columbine shootings.

And finally, join WVU employees on Friday when it closes Diversity Week with guest speaker, Neil Bucklew, as he presentsThe Value of a Socially Just Societyat 10 a.m. in the Gluck Theatre.The Office for Social Justice hopes that each of you will take a few moments out of your busy week to come join this celebration of acceptance,McIntosh adds.

Other Diversity Week events are as follows:

MondayInternational Day

  • Guest Speaker Scott Kelley:Valuing People Around Us,10 a.m. in the Gluck Theatre
  • Guest Speaker Michael Lastinger:Valuing People Far and Wide,2 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre
  • Guest Speaker Tabitha Kanogo:African Women Crossing Boundaries,4 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre
  • Native American Film Festival:In The Light of ReverenceandSmoke Signals,7 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre

TuesdayWest Virginia Day

  • Guest Speaker Tom Dorer:The Value of Integrity,10 a.m. in the Gluck Theatre
  • Guest Speaker Cameron Hackney:Valuing the Environment,2 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre
  • Disability Awareness Faculty Development Seminar, 3-5 p.m. in the Rhododendron Room of the Mountainlair
  • DEF Poetry Jam, 7-9 p.m. in the Jean Benson Lounge at Tower Residence Hall (Evansdale Campus); pizza and refreshments provided
  • Native American Film Festival:Lakota Stories of the HorseandSkins,7 p.m. in the Gluck Theatre

WednesdayWomen of Color Day

  • Guest Speaker Carol Markstrom:The Value of Family,10 a.m. in the Gluck Theatre
  • Native American Film Festival:Sweating Indian StyleandSkin Walkers,7 p.m., in the Mountainlair’s Rhododendron Room
  • Fireside ChatDr. Cynthia Wesley:Female Genital Mutilation,7:30 p.m. in Eisland Hall, Life Sciences Building (PRESENTATION CONTAINS SENSITIVE INFORMATION )

ThursdayDisability Awareness Day

  • Guest Speaker Jill Kriesky:The Value of Service,10 a.m. in the Gluck Theatre.
  • Guest Speaker Mary Ellen Zeppuhar:Interdisciplinary Certificate Program in the Field
  • of Disability Studies,9 a.m. in Allen Hall, Room 802B (Evansdale Campus)
  • Guest Speaker Margaret Glenn:A Retrospective of Civil Rights for People with Disabilities,10 a.m. at Allen Hall, Room 802B
  • Golden Rule Assistance Dog Program Information Booth, Internet Access for Persons with Disabilities Information Booth and West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services Information Booth11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Mountainlair lobby

FridayCommunity Day