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November 15, 2007

Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day to be hosted by the ULM Diversity Committee Nov. 19

In keeping with tradition, the ULM Diversity Committee will host another Mix-It-Up at Lunch event Monday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. in Schulze Dining Hall.

During Mix-It-Up at Lunch, students, staff, and faculty will be encouraged to interact with persons whom they might not otherwise meet or talk with during their typical daily routine. Robert Hanser, chair of the ULM Diversity Committee and an assistant professor of criminal justice, said “the intent is to foster communication and understanding between persons of different backgrounds.”

Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day is part of a larger program that occurs in a variety of educational settings across the nation. At the heart of the program is a desire to support tolerance and acceptance. In doing so, people attending the Mix-It-Up event at ULM will be asked to change seating arrangements and to sit with people that may be different from themselves, the goal being to share a variety of perspectives.

During the event, a series of talking points will be placed on various tables at Schulze Dining Hall, and those attending the event will discuss the talking points. “The idea being that these questions will stimulate open thought and inquiry among participants,” said Hanser.

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance Program sponsors Mix-It-Up at Lunch Day. It is specifically designed to cross social boundaries in the educational setting. “Because of this, the event is an ideal springboard for discussion among students, staff, and faculty here on campus,” Hanser added.

The Mix-It-Up program was first implemented in 2002. Since then, its message has been widely disseminated, leading to a recurring and refreshing social event that has been positively received by numerous people at ULM, according to Hanser.

There is a $5 cost. For more information, contact Hanser at: (318) 342-1443 or at hanser@ulm.edu

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