Week 2009
Diversity Week provides opportunities for the campus
community to explore various histories, cultures, issues,
languages, and life styles of peoples who compose the
mosaic of human kind.
Monday, April 13
– Allies: Film: Were the World Mine, 7:00 pm, Bottletree Cafe, Birmingham
South-Side; Sign-up in Student Affairs
o Synopsis of Movie: If you had a love-potion, who would you make
fall madly in love with you? Timothy, prone to escaping his dismal
high school reality through dazzling musical daydreams, gets to
answer that question in a very real way. After his eccentric teacher
casts him as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, he stumbles upon
a recipe hidden within the script to create the play’s magical, purple
love-pansy. Armed with the pansy, Timothy’s fading spirit soars as
he puckishly imposes a new reality by turning much of his narrowminded town gay, beginning with the rugby-jock of his dreams.
Ensnaring family, friends and enemies in this heart-wrenching chaos,
Timothy forces them to walk a mile in his musical shoes. The course
of true love never did run smooth, but by the end of this moving
musical comedy of errors based on director Tom Gustafson’s prolific
award-winning short film, Fairies, the bumpy ride comes to a heartfelt
conclusion. With vibrant imagery, a first-rate ensemble cast and
innovative music rivaling the best of pop/ rock and contemporary
Broadway, Were the World Mine attempts to push modern gay cinema
and musical film beyond expectation.
Tuesday, April 14
– Le Cercle Francais: Film: La Vie en Rose, 6 pm, Hanson Loft
o La Vie en Rose follows the life of the French singer Edith Piaf, a famous
singer that led a controversial and unusual life. The film details her
journey to celebrity status, as well as her stumbles along the way. A
short discussion will follow the movie.
Wednesday, April 15
– Allies: Day of Silence Sign-ups, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, Norton Atrium
o Students take a vow of silence to bring awareness to the bullying,
name calling, and harassment experienced by LGBT students and
their allies.
Thursday, April 16
– Allies: Day of Silence Sign-ups, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, Norton Atrium
– Interfaith Alliance: World Religions Panel. Speakers address the basic tenets
of their religions and their views on the theme of care for the earth. CEIS, 4:00
pm, Norton Theatre, Birmingham-Southern College
o Panelists include: Prathiba Khare – Hinduism, Raed Awad – Islam,
Ven. Lama Tenzin Deshek – Buddhism, R.G. Lyons – Christianity, Steve
Jacobs – Judaism
– Multi-Cultural Awareness Organization: International Bazaar, 7:00 pm, Second
Floor, Norton Common Area & Norton Theater, Birmingham-Southern College
Friday, April 17
– Allies: Day of Silence, All day, Campus-Wide
– African Awareness: Invisible Children: Blood Diamond, 6:00 pm, Norton
Theatre, Birmingham-Southern College
o Synopsis of Movie: Set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos
in 1990’s Sierra Leone, Blood Diamond is the story of Danny Archer
- an ex mercenary from Zimbabwe – and Solomon Vandy - a Mende
fisherman. Both men are African, but their histories as different as any
can be, until their fates become joined in a common quest to recover
a rare pink diamond that can transform their lives. While in prison
for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon - who was taken from
his family and forced to work in the diamond fields – has found and
hidden the extraordinary rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen,
an American journalist whose idealism is tempered by a deepening
connection with Archer, the two men embark on a trek through rebel
territory, a journey that could save Solomon’s family and give Archer
the second chance he thought he would never have.
Sponsored by the Multicultural
Advisory Committee