Date: Oct 31, 2007

Hofstra Celebrates Diversity Awareness Month

Art Exhibits, Lecture Series, Films and Panel Discussions

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – True Life: I’m Gay, a Judaism lecture series, the Latin America Leftist Movement and the crisis in Darfur are just a few of the topics that will be explored as part of Hofstra’s celebration of Diversity Awareness Month, a month devoted to recognizing the beauty of human differences and the way it affects all relationships.

“Diversity Awareness Month is a time for the Hofstra community to examine the wide-variety of individual cultures and identities that shape our collective ethos as an institution of higher education,” said Director for Multicultural & International Student Programs Ryan Greene. “Every single member of the Hofstra community contributes to the great diversity of our campus, and they do because each of us has multiple identities based on our race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, ability, sexual orientation, religion, geographic affiliation and citizenship.”

Some of the Diversity Awareness events are listed below. These events are open only to members of the Hofstra Community.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

8 p.m. Leo A. Guthart Culture Center Theater, South Campus
Italian-American Experience Lecture Series
The Hofstra University Cultural Center presents the fall 2007 Italian-American Lecture Series, “Giuseppe Garibaldi: Hero of Two Worlds,” a bicentennial celebration. Mario Fratti will read from his one-act play “Garibaldi”.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Plaza Room East, Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center
True Life: I’m Gay at Hofstra
It’s about real students and real experiences; it’s about true life. Join us for an insightful panel discussion during common hour about what it’s like to be a gay, lesbian or bisexual student at Hofstra. Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs, Office of Residential Programs, and the Gay/Straight Alliance.


Wednesday, November 7, 2007

9 p.m. 142 Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center
The Rise of the Leftist Movement in Latin America
What do you think about Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez? Join the members of the oldest Latino fraternity, Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity INC. as they facilitate a discussion about recent socialist movements in Latin American countries. For more information, email Danny Alvarado at dalvar3@pride.hofstra.edu.

Thursday, November 14, 2007

8 p.m. Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center Theater  
The Issues in Judaism Lecture Series: The Unknown Jewish Heroes of the Orient
This program will explore the unknown Jewish heroes of Japan; the Jewish people that pioneered the free press in Japan, the Holocaust refugees that trained Japanese musicians, conductors, and professors in classical music, and the major Zionist leader who was a prisoner of war in Osaka during the Russo-Japanese War who dies with a samurai proverb on his lips. This program is supported in part by the Dorothy and Elmer Kirsch Endowment Fund for the Hofstra University Cultural Center as well as Hofstra Hillel in cooperation with the Conference of Jewish Organizations of Nassau County.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

6 – 9 p.m. Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center Theater  
“The Lost Boys of Sudan”: An International Education Week Presentation
This award winning documentary explored the complex issues that revolve around the United Nations Refugee Program and the relocations of young Sudanese men from the crisis in Darfur to the streets of the United States. Come see what their life is like once they arrive in the United States seeking the “American dream”.  This film documents their journey to the U.S. and the trials and tribulations of being a foreign national in the United States. Sponsored collaboratively by the Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs, the Hofstra chapter of the NAACP, and H*INT.

“This Month symbolizes how Hofstra can come together to plan a series of events of this caliber, as nineteen campus sponsors and four off-campus sponsors came together to ensure this Month will be a great success,” said Ryan Greene.

Diversity Awareness Month is sponsored by Hofstra’s Division of Student Affairs and The Office of Multicultural and International Student Programs with the help of various departments, schools, and student groups on campus.

For a full calendar of Diversity Awareness Month events please visit the website at www.hofstra.edu/mispo or call 516-463-6796.