So far, the Union’s Diversity Week celebration failed to attract many of the U’s diversity groups.

Because of poor communication skills, only about five groups set up tables at Wednesday’s diversity fair.

Union Programs’ record this year is largely unsuccessful though its staff has their hearts in the right place. In events like the Black Pumpkin Affair, attendance went down compared to past years because of poor advertising. Other ideas have had even less success.

Since the Union’s Diversity Week is new, many students aren’t aware of it.

Most of the school’s diversity groups say they didn’t know about the fair early enough to set up tables.

While letters and emails were sent to some groups two weeks early, some group leaders didn’t receive them due to problems including incorrect addresses and time off for Thanksgiving.

The excuses aren’t very convincing because many of the groups?including the Women’s Resource Center, International Center, Center for Ethnic Student Affairs, American Indian Resource Center, Lesbian and Gay Resource Center and Center for Disability Services?are located in the Union building.

Members of Union Programs could have walked to the various groups’ offices and spoke with the leaders before and after finalizing plans.

Another aspect of Diversity Week is the free concerts and movie screenings. Screenings of “Sound and Fury,” about the conflict of getting implants for babies born deaf, Jonathan Demme’s Oscar-winning AIDS in-the-workplace drama “Philadelphia,” the TV AIDS documentary “And the Band Played On” and “Adanggaman,” about a revolt against the African king in the late 17th century, were, or will be, held in the Union Theater this week.

It’s expensive to publicly exhibit these sparsely attended movies.

The failure of Diversity Week shouldn’t bring about the end of the program, but board members should find better ways to make U students aware of what’s going on. That way, the money will be well spent instead of wasted, and students will truly benefit from the week.