Campus News

UK Hosts 2010 Cultural Diversity Festival

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2010) – The 26th annual University of Kentucky Cultural Diversity Festival (CDF) features culturally diverse events throughout campus and the community today through April 10. 

“The Cultural Diversity Festival is designed to promote cultural awareness on the UK campus and in the Lexington community. Through the seven weeks of activities and educational programs that make up the format of the festival, we strive to celebrate the wealth of diversity represented throughout the campus community,” said Larry Crouch, assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs and co-chair of the campus-wide CDF Committee, who has been active with the festival for many years.

The Martin Luther King Center kicks off the festival with the explosive play, “Emergency," written and performed by awarding-winning actor Daniel Beaty at 7 p.m.  today in Worsham Theatre at the Student Center. Admission is free. Co-sponsors include the Black Student Union and Sigma Delta Sorority.

Beaty portrays a cast of 40 characters in a 90-minute performance featuring poetry, character transformations and song. Each character’s identity and sense of personal freedom contributes to the way the audience feels about their history their potential and themselves.

Beaty won the 2007 Obie Award for Excellence in Off-Theatre Performing in Writing and Performing for his work in acting, poetry, songs, composing and playwriting. He has preformed all over the world.

"Emergency" is brilliant. Daniel Beaty is a genius!,” raved legendary actress Ruby Dee about his work. Suzie Brozman of The Jewish Times said, “Did I say the monologue was seamless? It was brilliant."

Later this first week of the festival, UK students have organized several events for Islamic Awareness Week, including:

Perspectives on American Islam, Monday, 7 p.m., Main Building, Lexmark Room

Taste of the Muslim World, Tuesday-Thursday, all day, Blazer Cafe

Islamonomics: Muslim Global Finance and Fixing Market Failures, Tuesday, 5 p.m., White Hall Classroom Building, Room 102

Interfaith Panel Discussion: Religion and Violence Wednesday, 7 p.m., Student Center, Worsham Theater

The Qur'an in Christian Thought: Historical Perspectives, Thursday, 7:30 pm, Young Library, Auditorium

The UK Student Activities Board hosts the first Diversity Dialogue of the spring semester featuring Appalachian culture with Robert Salyer of Appalshop as he screens his film, "Sludge," at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Center for Student Involvement, smart classroom.

Student colloquium and symposiums scheduled this week include:

UK Asian Studies Colloquium seeking student feedback on the new Asian-focused courses at UK, Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. Fine Arts Library, Niles Gallery

Graduate Student Symposium: Research in Latin America with keynote speaker Ariene Diaz of Indiana University, Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Student Center, Room 230

Graduate Student Symposium Research in Latin America, Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Student Center, Room 230

The One World Film Festival features "Departures” at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday at The Kentucky Theatre and “Sita Sings the Blues” 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Lexington Public Library, Central Branch.

In the coming weeks, the UK and Lexington communities will have the opportunity to experience lectures, films, concerts and other entertaining and educational events showcasing diversity.

A perennial favorite, Taste of Our World, slated March 3, will present a diverse menu of culture-rich cuisine from around the world. Tickets are sold at the door for $1. Attendees will have the opportunity to donate to a relief fund for Haiti.

JJ Kent, an award-winning musician, speaker and educator of the Native American Lakota Tribe, visits campus March 24. for a cultural presentation titled "Diversity of Native American Tribes" at noon and then a Native American flute concert at 5 p.m. in the Worsham Theatre of the Student Center. Kent was recently named Flutist of the Year by the Native American Music Awards.

Some other exciting events include International Talent Night, which will highlight several exciting performances by students from a variety of continents; a speech by the owner of Tom’s Shoes, Blake Mycoskie; and a captivating New Orleans exhibit titled “Katrina Submerged” March 22-26.

Party in the Park, held in Woodland Park on April 10, closes the festival with interactive and recreational for everyone to enjoy.

More information and upcoming events are available at www.uky.edu/DiversityFestival.

The 2010 Cultural Diversity Festival, Feb. 22 to April 10, features many cultures with events including concerts, performance theatre, interactive workshops and scholarly lectures. The festival promotes cultural awareness, highlights the wealth of diversity represented at UK and strives to engage all students, faculty and staff as well as the Lexington community, by fostering dialogue, encouraging new experiences and promoting unity. Both UK and Lexington communities are invited to experience these cultural and educational programs. All festival activities are open to the public, and most are free. For details, visit the Cultural Diversity’s website at http://www.uky.edu/DiversityFestival/ or follow the CDF on Twitter at UKCDF.