About 1,000 students are expected to participate in a diversity challenge this week in an effort to break cultural barriers.

The ‘Talk2me2knowme’ challenge will run through Thursday this week and is open to everyone. The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), as well as the Multicultural Living and Learning Community (MLLC) are hosting a number of activities, lectures and events to promote conversation across campus.

‘Stereotypes are mental shortages,’ said Tae-Sun Kim, OMA associate director. ‘For one week, we are challenging students to get to know others who are of a different ethnicity and background before judging.’

Syracuse University is more visually diverse each year, but on a social level, interaction between groups is minimal.

‘The campaign teaches people to take the time and not shortcut getting to know a person because of the way they look. It’s our goal to proactively teach others how to get to know a person despite initial stereotypes,’ Kim said.

One of the ways OMA and MLLC are generating dialogue is by giving free T-shirts to students in Schine Student Center.

In order to wear the ‘Talk2me2knowme’ bright yellow T-shirt, the student is agreeing to talk to at least five people who are racially or culturally different, said senior Jen Rios, who is working on the campaign and is a former member of MLLC.

Junior Angela Ma, a social work and policy studies major, said she will be wearing her T-shirt in support of the event.

‘It’s about people asking you questions to get to know you. The T-shirts bring students closer just by asking, ‘Who are you?” she said.

Marshall Street businesses are supporting the event by donating gift certificates and placing shirts in windows to advertise the campaign.

The program has received increased support since its inception in 2002, because SU recognizes the importance of exploring diversity, Kim said.

‘(The event) gets people to talk about different issues of racism or sexism without being judged, and it’s a way of learning about each other. This is a way of integrating diversity,’ said junior Kacy Cheng, a policy studies and strategic management major.

Students in the MLLC have already taken on the challenge of incorporating themselves with people who are ethnically different. The learning community and the OMA are sponsoring events and activities this week to help unite students and foster meaningful relationships.

Freshman Belinda Nyarku, who lives in the MLLC, said she welcomes the opportunity to engage with other students.

‘We are promoting dialogue of different cultures. It is about going up to someone who’s different and hearing what they have to say. This will help to eliminate prejudices because it allows people to learn about others,’ the mathematics and secondary education major said.

Support from the SU community will fuel positive awareness, Kim said. Though it is a challenge for people to step outside of their comfort zone, it is necessary to learn how to communicate with others.

To stimulate communication, a ‘2knowme Challenge’ will be held Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. in Shine. This event provides a welcoming and fun environment for students to participate in face-to-face conversation.

‘Integrating a campus is everyone’s business,’ Kim said.

For more information about this week’s events, contact OMA at 443-9676.

Published on November 5, 2007 at 12:00 pm