The SGA Diversity Affairs Committee will begin a series of open forum discussions for students who have concerns about diversity issues on campus, according to the committee’s assistant director, Ron Clark.
These meetings, called Coffee Talks, will be held at various campus locations and times.
Each forum will have a different topic, as well as a slogan, concerning some aspect of diversity. The first meeting’s topic is a general discussion of what diversity means and what issues the broad term encompasses.
Flyers with the meeting’s slogan “Got Problems? The Diversity Affairs Committee offers solutions” have been posted around campus as an encouragement for students to come to the forum and address their concerns.
“I think the Coffee Talks will be a good chance for students to come out and have a forum to get some answers for their questions,” committee member Chad Fulton said.
Potential topics for future discussions include affirmative action, religious affiliations, minority participation in classes and minority employment on campus, according to Clark.
The committee encourages students who have concerns to come to these informal meetings and voice their opinions.
“Our goal is to have an open discussion,” Clark said. “This is a student forum for expressing issues concerning diversity on the UT campus.”
Committee member Courtney Hubbard also added, “We’re really excited about these Coffee Talks. We’re hoping to get a fresh perspective on these subjects and bring diversity issues to the surface.”
Another issue the committee is bringing to the surface is the lack of adequate school supplies for less than fortunate children in the Knoxville area.
The Diversity Affairs Committee will be raising money and school supplies to benefit underprivileged elementary school students in Knoxville, Clark said.
The Tools for Schools Campaign, which began Wednesday, will continue for two weeks.
“Our main goal is to supply unfortunate kids will school supplies so that they can have a successful year,” Clark explained.
Decorated boxes featuring the campaign’s flyers will be placed in each residence hall on campus for students to donate school supplies for the drive.
Likewise, money jugs will be placed around campus for students to make monetary donations for the fundraiser.
Clark said that two decorated jugs will be posted on the east side of campus near the University Center, and two will be placed on the west side around the presidential courtyard area.
The Greene Magnet Elementary School and Maynard Elementary School will receive the proceeds from this fundraiser.
“We want to deliver the supplies to the prospective schools before Thanksgiving,” Clark said.
While the committee has not set a specific goal for the drive, all students are encouraged to make donations to the drive.
“We’re trying to give back to the community through the aspect of community service,” Clark said.
The first Coffee Talk is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Hess Hall lobby area.
