For the first time at Abilene Christian University, the Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars and the Office of Multicultural Affairs are collaborating to create Multicultural Week to celebrate diversity across campus.

In previous years, different departments and offices have held events, such as Culture Week, but this will be the first year for OISVS and OMA to host the event together.  A variety of events throughout the week will celebrate diversity across campus –

• Monday – International Student Panel in the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. for faculty and staff to hear from students of different cultural backgrounds about what it is like to be a student with different cultures and backgrounds.
• Tuesday – Chinese Chapel Interest Table from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the McGlothlin Campus Center to gather interest for a potential Chinese chapel in the spring.
• Wednesday
  • Taste of Africa from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the McGlothlin Campus Center hosted by the African Students Association.
  • Cross-Cultural Connections Chapel at 11 a.m. in the ACU library CORE classroom hosted by the Honors College, Office of Major Scholarships and Teaching English as a Second Language courses. Four students will share their experiences related to applying for a Fulbright Award, taking a TESOL course, volunteering at the International Rescue Committee teaching English as a second language, or traveling internationally.
• Thursday
  • Multicultural Chapel at 11 a.m. in Chapel on the Hill with Ryan Bowman (’06), director of multicultural initiatives, speaking.
  • Sisters and Brothers Conversation at 5 p.m. in Hart Auditorium. Minority students across campus will come together to discuss how to support each other at ACU.
  • Multicultural Silent Disco, 8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. in the Hunter Welcome Center. The International Students Association, the African Students Association and Campus Activities Board are providing a night of music and dancing featuring songs from around the world.
• Friday
  • International Students Day Celebration, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the McGlothlin  Campus Center.
  • Sisters Movie Marathon at 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. in Hart Auditorium with students watching the movie, The Hate U Give, and a talkback following the film to encourage women of color.

“Our goal is to highlight multicultural and international initiatives by hosting and promoting a variety of events that involve our entire campus,” Veronica Summers (’12), director of international student services at ACU, said. “We’re not trying to make this just an OISVS and OMA event, we want the whole university to be involved in creating this experience with us.”

Summers and the OISVS and OMA are working to ensure the campus is involved in celebrating diversity on campus beyond this week as well. Creating environments and spaces for people to develop a deeper understanding of each other and the backgrounds they come from is a key goal for the two offices as they plan events throughout the year to celebrate diversity.

“We hope that this will encourage people to engage with our multicultural and international communities and to get involved in other opportunities that exist on our campus to further their learning and growth,” Summers said.

Learn more about the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of International Students and Visiting Scholars.

— Connor Mullins

Nov. 13, 2023