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Issue 49 I N D E P E N D E N T

PUBLISHED SINCE 1906

S T U D E N T

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Vol. 118

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Event planned to increase diversity awareness Dance demonstration, other activities come to campus to teach about world cultures Deborah Ince Staff Writer This past Sunday, SGA Diversity Affairs finalized its plans for this year’s International Week to be held on UT’s campus. The focus of the week’s events — which will run from Monday, Nov. 14 to Thursday Nov. 17 — is “Internationally Helping to Obtain Progression,” or “IHOP.” During this year’s International Week, SGA hopes to better educate students on different cultures around the world — particularly the many that are already represented on campus. “We’re making extra initiatives to expand the horizon of diversity here at UT,” said Paige Kee, senior in psychology, who is also in charge of public relations for Diversity Affairs. Each day of the four-day International Week has a different theme based upon the information SGA committees would like to share with other UT students. As a whole, the week’s main focus is to better educate students on international issues and different cultural identities so that appreciation for overall diversity can progressively improve. With a better understanding of those around us, Diversity Affairs believes communication will thus be able to improve between different cultures and ethnicities. Monday, Nov. 14 is titled “Dance to Diversity” and will consist of several brief performances of dances from around the world. Following the performances, there will be an interactive “how-to” session for each cultural dance. Food and drink will also be offered to all those in attendance. Though the final location of the event is still pending, “Dance to Diversity” will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 will be “Sports International.” SGA committee members will discuss different international sports and their impacts on national culture and

global diversity. Currently a FIFA tournament is also scheduled for the event, with the winner receiving a prize from Diversity Affairs. The location for “Sports International” is still pending, but will either be held in the BCC or in the UC Down Under between 5:30-7 p.m. “I’m very excited for our day, ‘Sports International’,” said Kerry Green, sophomore in global studies and Spanish. “I think it will have a good turnout and bring more knowledge to our fellow students.” Wednesday, Nov. 16 is titled “Who Knew” and focuses on providing students with a stronger outlook on international issues that today’s media may ignore or overlook. “Who Knew” will be held from 79 p.m. in the UC Hermitage Room. Diversity Affairs feels that this day is especially important to expanding students’ knowledge of the world around them. In an ever-globalizing society, Diversity Affairs feels that students should understand many of the issues that are affecting many of the social, political, economic and cultural actions occurring today. The last day of the week is an educational forum on foreign policies titled “Education Connection ‘0.’” Diversity Affairs committee members will be discussing current foreign policies and how they affect the world’s overall communication and unification. “Education Connection ‘0’” will be held from 6-7 p.m. on Nov. 17 in the UC Hermitage Room. Final decisions on the times and locations of Monday and Tuesday’s will be announced in the next week, and flyers will be handed out and posted around campus closer to the week’s commencement. SGA Diversity Affairs is really looking forward to this year’s International Week, saying that it is very unique from previous years in the events being presented. “Come support SGA Diversity Affairs International Week,” Marcus Jones, assistant director of Diversity Affairs, said. “Our committee has worked really hard to share this with everyone.”

Tara Sripunvoraskul • The Daily Beacon

Shaolin Monks perform on the UC Plaza during the International Festival on Friday, April 15. Monday, Nov. 14 to Thursday, Nov. 17, the SGA Diversity Affairs office will be hosting International Week, which will serve to promote diversity awareness on campus.

Class offers unique perspective on Islamic traditions, beliefs Wade Scoefield Staff Writer This spring, a new anthropology class will tackle how women fare in Islamic society. Krista Billingsley, a Ph.D. student in cultural anthropology, will teach the class on Wednesdays from 5:45-8:45 p.m. for the upcoming spring semester. Billingsley bills the class as “women in Islamic society from an anthropological perspective.” The topics will include Muslim politics, the history of Islam, the history of women in Islam, veiling, marriage, human rights and women’s role in the economy, among others. In addition, the class will feature a speaker series. “I hope to host speakers who are either faculty who have had some specialization in Islam, or Knoxville community members who are willing to come and speak to the class,” Billingsley said. “With a once-a-week class, it should give the students some variety during the three-hour period.” Some of Billingsley’s current students have already demonstrated an interest in the class. Emily Hill, freshman in biochemistry and cellular and molecular biology, said she is interested in taking the class to see how other women in the world live and how they deal with their own issues. “I feel like a majority of the Joy Hill • The Daily Beacon United States is very ignorant Kelsey Robinson prepares to return a ball during a match against Auburn on Sunday, Sept. 18. The about Islam, including myself, and Lady Vols just ended a four-match road trip with wins over Mississippi State, Auburn and Georgia, I would like to be more educated improving to 11-1 in SEC play.

about it than just learning about it through the media or television,” Hill said. “For instance, I know the women veil themselves, but I don’t know the in-depth reasons or the history behind veiling, and that will be one of the topics in the class. Islamic culture is so different from all the cultures I have ever experienced or learned about. I’m just interested in how things work in political systems based in Islam.” “I hope to give the students a broader perspective of women in Islam, because it’s not a lumped category,” Billingsley said. “The class will cover an extensively diverse group with different politics and history. I hope that at the end of the day, people will see Muslim women as a diverse group and the reasons why.” Leslie Davenport, freshman in nutrition, said she is excited to take the class because of Billingsley’s ability as an instructor. “I’m certain her course will be exciting, informative and accurate,” Davenport said. “Being on UT’s campus, I frequently see Islamic female students and I hope Ms. Billingsley’s course will teach me more than I currently know about these women.” Billingsley said one of her goals for the class is to “eliminate Islamaphobia and to help my students understand more about the religious and political structures of Islam.” “The more you understand a culture, the more tolerance and acceptance you learn to have.”


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