Diversity in Utah is an issue affecting everyone from elementary students to professors, according to a diversity conference held Monday and Tuesday.
The U’s Academic Outreach and Continuing Education held the two-day conference to explore the issue of diversity in education.
The conference consisted of speeches, group presentations and panel discussions focusing on race, gender and ethnicity in public and higher education in the state. The specific topics ranged from the transition between high school and college to the educational benefits of diversity in higher education.
Organizer Anne Peterson hopes the conference helps build bridges in the community to help diversify the campus.
“I hope we can start building an effective network between educators and families to raise awareness of diversity and the value of it,” she said.
One session of the conference focused on measuring diversity and its effects. The U houses the Center for the Study of Race and Diversity in Higher Education, and the information gathered is “invaluable.”
“The center means we really have the ability to bring research about diversity and ethnicity to people,” Peterson said. “We need proof, and this will provide it.”
The final session of the conference was a rallying cry to try to create concrete actions to help increase the diversity of the campus.
Hiagi Wesley, director of educational equity for Granite School District, stressed why diversity is important.
“Diversity is not a problem for or about ethnic minorities. It’s about America’s responsibility to get over racism,” he said. “Whites must be included in all groups, and all other groups must collaborate.”
Graciela Italiano-Thomas, chief executive officer of the Centro de la Familia, wants to see more action in the community.
“Sometimes I get frustrated with all of the academic talk and no action,” she said. “We need family service specialists, counselors, therapists?people who can navigate both worlds without violating families.”
She also wants to see more people become aware of other cultures.
“We need to navigate this [diversity] problem in a culturally oriented way,” she said.
The conference, “Changing Faces of Utah,” was held in the Union’s Saltair Room and about 155 people attended.
“The attendance has really exceeded our expectations,” Peterson said.