Calvin Unlearn Week Set for October 7-12

October 4, 2007 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Summary: Calvin College is planning a variety of activities for October 7-12
to educate Calvin students, faculty and staff about anti-racism and diversity.

Full story see http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2007-08/unlearn-week.htm
 
Unlearn Week, a yearly event from the Multicultural Student Development Office
(MSDO), will take place from Sunday, October 7 through Friday, October 12.

The MSDO has planned a constellation of events for Unlearn Week to educate
Calvin students, faculty and staff about anti-racism and diversity.

"Unlearn Week is the catalyst for new students to engage in this conversation
about what it means to be an anti-racist institution," said assistant dean of
multicultural student development Jacqueline Rhodes, who pioneered Unlearn Week
five years ago. "And to the returning community, it's a reminder of a
commitment we made with the FEN document. We want to create a community where
all students feel a sense of belonging."

From Every Nation or FEN, Calvin's multicultural statement of mission, has as
its goal an academic community "from every tribe and language and people and
nation," as inspired by Revelations 5: 9–10.

"It's a beautiful, well-written document that can easily sit on a shelf," said
Rhodes. "FEN has to be integrated into the fabric of the campus."

Unlearn Week is programmed with that kind of integration in mind; its events
range from open discussions to lectures to movies to crucial conversations with
Calvin faculty. Rhodes is excited about the schedule of events, particularly
as it partners Unlearn Week with various departments on campus, and proud that
Calvin is not a place that's afraid to grapple with tough issues.

"An Unlearn Week would not be possible on a lot of college campuses," she
said. "That says a lot about who we are."

Contact Rhodes at 526-6081 or jrhodes@calvin.edu

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Received on Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:45:46 -0400