Contact: Brad Duncan

Faculty, staff and students from across campus are encouraged to join in the interactive discussion that will include presentations by Elinor Brown, curriculum and instruction; Bill Burke, biology and the Teaching and Academic Support Center; Michael Crutcher, geography; Stephen Voss, political science; Jennifer Wies, anthropology; Angene Wilson, curriculum and instruction. The moderator will be Deneese Jones, chair, UK President’s Commission on Diversity.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 26, 2004) -- The University of Kentucky will host a luncheon dialogue on “Uses, Misuses and Abuses – Race Ethnicity, Diversity and Related Concepts” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, in the Small Ballroom of the UK Student Center.

“We frequently hear the words race, ethnicity, multiculturalism, diversity used interchangeably across campus and in different contexts,” said Lauretta Byars, associate provost for Multicultural and Academic Affairs. “This leads to confusion and misunderstanding, especially among our students. This interactive dialogue is designed to provide some clarification of these concepts, from a multidisciplinary perspective. Our goal is that each individual will leave with an appreciation of the social construction and complexity in providing clarification of the concepts. One issue to be addressed is how these concepts relate to UK.”

Faculty, staff and students from across campus are encouraged to join in the interactive discussion that will include presentations by Elinor Brown, curriculum and instruction; Bill Burke, biology and the Teaching and Academic Support Center; Michael Crutcher, geography; Stephen Voss, political science; Jennifer Wies, anthropology; Angene Wilson, curriculum and instruction. The moderator will be Deneese Jones, chair, UK President’s Commission on Diversity.

A lunch will be provided free, but pre-registration is required by noon Friday, March 26. To register, call Saunda Coleman at 257-1991 or e-mail.

This event is sponsored by several UK programs, African American Studies and Research, the Asia Center, the Graduate School, the Office for Multicultural and Academic Affairs, the President’s Commission on Diversity, the President’s Commission on Women, and Student Affairs.