101 Ways to Celebrate Diversity @ IU

Check out an Interfaith Exploration Group

The Interfaith Community Bloomington is a study group that meets weekly in Bloomington to promote mutual respect and understanding of the importance of all belief systems. They study a different faith each week and follow with a question and discussion period. Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Zoroasteranism, Wicca, Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism, Native American, Spiritualism, and Jainism are religions explored by the ICB. Email them at casample@indiana.edu, or visit them at php.indiana.edu/~casample/ for more information.

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Learn about Native American History

IUB offers many exciting classes on Native American culture and history. Sign-up for Native American Folklore through the IUB Folklore Department, or Native American Literature through the IUB English Department. Also, read a passionate recounting of Native American history in the western United States titled Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown.

Visit the American Indian Student Association, or AISA. They are comprised of students with a variety of tribal affiliations from various regions of the country including the southwest, southeast, Midwest, southern and northern regions of the United States. They Sponsor events each year for current and prospective students, including social activities and prominent guest speakers and lecturers. Visit them at 803 E. 8^th Street, Bloomington IN 47408, (812) 855-4005, or also try www.indiana.edu/~aisa.

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Visit La Casa and explore Hispanic culture

The Latino Cultural Center is located at 715 E. 7th Street, (812) 855-0174. The Office of Latino Affairs oversees the staffing and day-to-day running of La Casa, the Latino Cultural Center. The center is located across the street from the Indiana Memorial Union. A full-time assistant programming advisor is on staff to carry out programs, receptions and workshops which are presented through the Center. La Casa has a T.V. viewing room, a basement recreation room equipped with a ping-pong table, a large living room lounge area, a stereo sound system, study rooms, a student organizations office and a computer room which houses several computers hooked into the University networking system. Tutoring services are offered free to any student. Email them at lataff@indiana.edu.

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Educate yourself about the Holocaust

Enroll in Professor Efrons course through the history department, The Holocaust. This course will survey the historical events and intellectual developments leading up to, and surrounding the destruction of European Jewry during World War II. The class will examine the Shoah (the Hebrew word for the holocaust) against the backdrop of modern Jewish and modern German history. Some of the topics covered are: race science, anti-Semitism, Germany in the 19th and 20th centuries, World War I, Weimar Germany, ghetto life, and the extermination camps, Jewish resistance, the attitude of the Allies and the Churches. Look up the course number at www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/class.html.

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Support National Coming Out Day

The National Coming Out Project is an ongoing campaign to encourage and empower every lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gendered person to make a difference. We educate America by letting others know who we are. Every October 11, National Coming Out Day serves as the day to commemorate the importance of this single act of courage. Check out this websites for more information: www.hrc.org/ncop/index.asp.

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Go to a Roman Catholic Mass

St. Pauls Catholic Center is located at 1413 E. 17^th Street, (812) 339-5561. Their Mass times are: Saturday at 5:30pm, Sunday at 8:30am, 10:30am, 5:30 pm and 9:00pm. Visit their website for more information, www.st-pauls.org/.

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Try Sushi

Sushi is a Japanese culinary tradition of cold rice molded into cakes, garnished with raw or cooked seafood and vegetables. Bloomington has a wealth of ethnic restaurants! Try Taiko at 110 N. Walnut, 333-3122, or DoMo Japanese Restaurant at 1500 E 3^rd Street, 339-7868.

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Enjoy the African American Dance Company

Take a class through the Afro-American Studies Department, (Afro-American Dance Company A102 | 0372 | Prof. Iris Rosa) and learn cultural perspectives and traditions while learning to dance!

The course covers jazz dance technique with an African American historical perspective. Instruction includes basic dance technique vocabulary and movements with syncopated rhythm patterns.

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Investigate voodoo

Voodooism started in Haiti by slaves. It was developed by mixing Christian (and especially Catholic) aspects with many different slave religions. Today in Haiti, more than 90% of the population still practice voodooism. Try IUCAT for more information at www.indiana.edu/~libfind/.

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Learn about the Civil Rights movement

The United States Civil Rights are those rights guaranteed to all individuals by the 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, and 19^th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, as the right to vote and the right to equal treatment under the law. The post WWII African American civil rights movement (1954-1968) provided the paradigm for the civil rights movements of numerous traditionally disempowered groups in America. Chief among them are women, gays, the handicapped, and the elderly. As we experience the turn of the century and approach the beginning of a new millennium, we have diverse sectors of American culture demanding civil rights. Thus, we have the diversity movement. This course will seek to provide a descriptive and critical analysis of the efforts of those various groups to procure positive public policy.

Look for classes on the Civil Rights movements at www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/.

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 Attend a Foster International program

Foster International is a living/learning environment intended to provide valuable interaction between international students and American students interested in international topics and other cultures. Foster International is housed in Foster Shea, one of the five residence halls in Foster Quadrangle. Students don't need to be foreign or speak a foreign language to live in FIN, but they must possess an understanding and respect of different cultures. Because FIN has it's own student government, E-Board, there are greater opportunities for the programming of building-wide activities. In addition to occasional international speakers, coffee hours, and evenings spent together by the television, many other road trips, retreats, and picnics are scheduled to build community within FIN. Check out their website at php.indiana.edu/~fin/.

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Dig into womens suffrage

Women won the right to vote in the United States in 1920 with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, only after decades of struggle. Seventy years prior, womens rights were beginning to gain recognition. At an 1851 womens convention in Seneca Falls, Sojourner Truth, an African-American women who had been born a slave in New York, spoke on behalf of womens rights;

"That man over there says that women needs to be helped into carriages and lifted over ditchesNobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles or gives me any best place. And ant I a woman? Look at my arm! I have ploughed, and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ant I a woman? I would work as much and eat as much as a man, when I could get it, and bear the lashes as well. And ant I a woman? I have borne thirteen children and seen most all sold off to slavery, and cried out with my mothers grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ant I a woman? (Howard Zinn, A Peoples History of the United States, 1492- Present. HarperCollins: New York, 1995)

To find more literature on women's suffrage, check IUCAT at www.indiana.edu/~libfind/.

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Research your ancestors homeland

Genealogy-Geneology.com has links to selected genealogy web sites. Look them up at www.genealogy-geneology.com/.

GoIreland.com Genealogy Search Service has answers for anyone interested in Irish family history, with links to national & international genealogical resources.

Douglas E. Goldman Jewish Genealogy Center; Visitors can search a computerized database containing thousands of genealogies of Jewish families from all over the world and can also register their own family trees at www.bh.org.il/Geneology/index.asp.

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Visit the Mathers Museum

Want to take a trip around world? Then check out the Mathers Museum of World Cultures, at Indiana University. The Museum has exhibits, events, and educational programs that give you a chance to find out learn more about objects from Australia to Zanzibar...Museum Hours: Tuesdays through Friday - 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays - 1 to 4:30 p.m. Check out their great website at www.indiana.edu/~mathers/.

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Learn to cook a cultural dish

The fastest way to a persons heart is through their stomach- Learning the culinary traditions of a culture is fun and tasty way to learn about another culture. Here are some recipe compilations to sample;

Shirley Tong Parola, Remembering Diamond Head, Remembering Hawaii; Her family recipes for the favorite foods of Hawaii.

Charles Gordon Sinclair, International Dictionary of Food & Cooking; Ingredients, additives, techniques, equipment, menu terms, catering terms, food science, and outline domestic and production recipes.

Cooper, Terry Touff Cooper, Many Hands Cooking: An International Cookbook for Girls and Boys; Recipes from forty different lands including menu ideas, a list of terms, and other reference material.

Purdy, Susan Gold Purdy, Christmas Cooking Around the World; Thirty-two traditional recipes for holiday dishes from the British Isles, France, Italy, Scandinavia, and elsewhere. Includes an introduction to basic cooking skills, descriptions of international Christmas customs, and seven decorative craft projects.

All these books are available through IUCAT, www.indiana.edu/~libfind/.

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Listen to a jazz CD

Jazz is Americas nationalistic music; Bebop, Swing, and Rhythm and Blues are milestones in American culture and African-American heritage. Beginning in New Orleans, where French Colonists allowed slaves to own drums, a cross-cultural interplay of musical styles emerged drawing from African, Jamaican, and European musical traditions. The first recording of jazz dates back to 1918. Listen to the grandfathers of jazz: Miles Davis, Louis (Sachmo) Armstrong, John Coltrane, and Charlie Parker. For a real treat, look for The Eiffel Tower with Miles Davis; recorded live in a Parisian caf for the 1920s film of the same name.

Listen to an original recording of jazz at the Archives of Traditional Music located in Morrison Hall, or visit their website, www.indiana.edu/~libarchm/.

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Attend a Headspace meeting

HEADSPACE seeks to provide a forum for discussion and education for adults who share an interest in safe, sane and consensual exploration of Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission and Sado-Masochism (referred to as BDSM). HEADSPACE is a community-building, non-political, education and discussion group in Bloomington, open to all people regardless of race, religion, ethnic group, sexual orientation, gender and sexual identities, BDSM roles, affiliation, ability, or fetish. HEADSPACE is dedicated to the full exploration of BDSM, both in its sexual and spiritual aspects, and demand acceptance and communication between members. HEAD SPACE urges members to learn from each other's play styles and experiences and to set aside any assumptions they may have about who people are and what they do. Check out their calendar of events at php.indiana.edu/~bdsmers/.

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Watch a Ryder Film Fest movie

The Ryder film series is Bloomington's very own "arts film series." Offering the best in foreign and domestic films since 1979, the films in the series can be seen at different venues around town on different nights. For a theatre-like setting, catch the films at the IU School of Fine Arts Building; for those who would like to eat and drink, catch the films at Bear's Place. For listings, dates, and times, browse through their web page, www.theryder.com.

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Enjoy a meal at an ethnic restaurant

Bloomington has a wealth of culturally diverse culinary destinations. If you think thats a mouth-full, try these restaurants out:

• The Princess Restaurant - Moroccan and Mediterranean; 206 N. Walnut, 336-8821.
• Taiko Sushi, sashimi, and traditional Japanese cuisine; 110 N. Walnut 333-3122.
• Trojan Horse Greek; 100 E. Kirkwood, 332-1101.
• Little Zagreb Yugoslavian dishes; 223. W. 6^th, 332-0694.
• The Irish Lion Traditional Irish fare, banquet seating; 212 W. Kirkwood, 336-9076.
• Le Petit Caf French Provincial; 308 W. 6^th, 334-9747.

Visit the Tibetan Culture Center

The Tibetan Cultural Center, located on a 90-acre site in Bloomington, Indiana, grew out of an active university and community involvement with Tibetan culture. It was established not only to acquaint people with the history and culture of Tibet, but also to support Tibetans everywhere, both in Tibet and in exile, and to preserve Tibetan culture through educational and philosophical endeavors. Throughout the year, the Tibetan Cultural Center provides a place for workshops, teachings, seminars, initiations, retreats, and ceremonies relating to Tibetan religious practices. Meditation sessions are held every Sunday at 1:00p.m., followed by informal discussion. Visitors can view a permanent sand mandala of the Medicine Buddha as well as many other works of art on display. The grounds are open daily from 1-4 p.m., and the building is open on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. Special tours may be arranged by e-mailing ( tcc@tibetancc.com), calling at (812-334-7046), or visit www.tibetancc.com/.

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Relax to some traditional African music

You can listen to traditional African music at one of the nations most extensive sound recording archives, the ATM. The Archives of Traditional Music at Indiana University is the largest university-based ethnographic sound archives in the United States. Its holdings cover a wide range of cultural and geographical areas, and include commercial and field recordings of vocal and instrumental music, folktales, interviews, and oral history, as well as videotapes, photographs, and manuscripts. As a research and teaching facility, the Archives serves a wide community of scholars, students, musicians and teachers---on campus and throughout the world. The Archives listening library provides audio and video workstations for public use. Access to the collection is available through (IUCAT) at www.indiana.edu/~libfind/. The ATM is located in Morrison Hall, Room 177 & 120, Monday through Friday, 10-12 and 1-5. Phone them at (812) 855-4679, and surf them at www.indiana.edu/~libarchm/.

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Navigate the campus in a wheelchair

To learn more about support for students with disabilities, investigate these resources:

Disability Support Group - Disability Support Group discusses personal experiences in wheel chairs, accessibility issues, the Americans with Disabilities Act and advocacy issues. The support group also offers counseling and support for those recently handicapped. Contact Person: Bill Edwards, PO Box 728 Bloomington, IN 47402. Link to the Diversity Education Resource Guide at www.indiana.edu/~comu/diversity/.

Handbook for Students with Disabilities - The Office of Disabled Student Services (DSS) at Indiana University coordinates support services and equipment for IU students with temporary or permanent disabilities. The goals of the office are to provide services, accommodations, and equipment to enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all University programs and activities, to promote an environment at IU that is barrier free from both physical barriers and barriers of attitude, and to encourage students to become independent and self-reliant as possible. Link to the student handbook for disabled students through the Campus Life Division website at campuslife.indiana.edu/DSS/Handbook/.

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Sip coffee at the International Center

The Leo R. Dowling International Center is located at 111 S. Jordan Ave, (Across from the MAC). Their services include weekly coffee hours, room rentals, tax advising for foreign nationals, health insurance advising, weekly orientation, and Visa assistance sessions.

International Center coffee hours, on Fridays from 4 to 6 pm, provide a way to celebrate the variety of cultures in the Indiana University community and to bring individuals from diverse backgrounds together in an informal setting. International Student Groups organize coffee hour events highlighting their culture, arts, interests, tastes, and peoples. During the beginning and end of semester periods, we often have open house for casual social gatherings. Student groups interested in doing a coffee hour should consult the Coffee Hour Planning page, www.indiana.edu/~intlcent/events/coffee/coffee.html.

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Visit the mosque

The Islamic Center (Mosque) at 1925 East Atwater, on the corner of the campus is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Bloomington. They are open 11 am - 7 pm daily. Come take this opportunity to learn more about the role that the mosque plays in Islamic life and see how Muslims pray. The MSA, or Muslim Student Association, uses the International Center and other places to perform Friday prayers. Visit their website at www.indiana.edu/~msaweb/home.html.

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Take a yoga class

Yoga was developed in India approximately 5,000 years ago. The word itself means "union." The traditional goal of yoga was union with the true self. Today, it is recognized for what is seen as more "practical" benefits - improved health and fitness, increased self-confidence, improved postural habits, mental clarity and stress relief. It can also be used as supplementary therapy for conditions as diverse as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and migraines. Movements in yoga are slow and sustained, also including some bending, stretching and balancing. Yoga is a versatile practice, allowing for focus on the physical, psychological, spiritual or any combination of the three. Take a class through the IU Recreational Sports Program, www.indiana.edu/~recsport/fitwell/active/mbody/yogainfo.html.

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Munch on a vegan lunch at Collins

Collins Living-Learning Center provides an alternative living environment for motivated undergraduates. It combines the advantages of a small college community with the rich resources of a large university. It emphasizes a close, fruitful relationship between formal academic learning and the day-to-day residential experience.

The Edmondson Dining Hall at Collins specializes in vegetarian & vegan entrees. Vegetarian dishes exclude red meat, fish, and poultry, and Vegan cuisine excludes all meat, as well as all dairy products. Their hours of operation for the All you can eat Cafeteria are Sunday Thursday: Brunch 11:00am 2:00pm, and Dinner 5:00pm 7:00pm. E-Mail: edmdinrm@exchange.ucs.indiana.edu.

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Learn American Sign Language

Take a class through the Speech & Hearing Sciences Program at IUB. (American Sign Language, Level One -A100 | 1598 | Cornwell) The class offers an introductory sign language course for students with no previous experience with sign language, and builds a good basic vocabulary of signs, teaches finger-spelling, introduces basic aspects of the grammar, and the proper use of facial expression in sign language conversation. Students can also learn about deafness and communicating with the deaf. Get more info at www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/blsu199/sphs/sphs_a100_1598.html.

Attend an InterVarsity meeting

InterVarsity-USA is part of a much larger family which includes the British and Canadian movements as well as other student groups in more than 100 countries. We call this larger association The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) and students from Singapore to Norway to the Ivory Coast are partners in this movement. InterVarsity on the IUB campus holds chapter meetings, called ``Large Group Meetings,'' that are typically marked by warm fellowship, worship, and biblical teaching from local ministers, faculty, InterVarsity staff, and community people. For listings of current events and meetings, click on www.indiana.edu/~ivcf/about.html.

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Check out the Asian Culture Center

The Asian Culture Center aims to promote awareness and understanding of Asian cultures at Indiana University and in the Bloomington community. It provides institutional resources, educational support, and community outreach activities to students, faculty, staff, and the Bloomington community. The Asian Culture Center is open during weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with the exception of Fridays when it closes at 5:00 p.m. The ACC is located at 807 E. Tenth Street, Bloomington, IN 47408.

For more information call (812) 856-5361, or visit www.indiana.edu/~acc/contact.html.

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Educate yourself about GLBT rights

OUT, Indiana University's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Student Union on the Bloomington campus exists to promote the welfare of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) students, faculty, staff, and administrators at Indiana University - Bloomington (IUB), and of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community at large. This is accomplished by providing information and education for the GLBT community as well as the larger community, by providing support and referral, particularly for GLBT students, by engaging in political action and social reform for GLBT causes, and by existing as a social organization for the GLBT community. In the past, OUT has taken the lead on many controversial campus topics, such as the inclusion of sexual orientation in the University's non-discrimination clause, the creation of the GLBT Support Services Office, and advocating for domestic partnerships' health insurance/benefits and living arrangements in campus housing. For more information, see their website at www.indiana.edu/~out/main/.

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Rent the movie Kids

Kids, directed by Gus Van Sant (1995), presents a stark look at urban teens involved in a culture of drugs, alcohol, and sexual promiscuity. The film addresses issues of date rape, AIDS, and socio-economic status through the unfiltered lens of documentary-style cinematography. Warning- this film is extremely graphic and deals with difficult subject matter. Check your local video store for rentals.

Support B-town minority businesses

By shopping Bloomingtons small businesses, you can support our communitys rich cultural diversity and wealth of creativity.

The Small Business Development Center, located in Bloomington, Indiana, is hosted by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce and is co-sponsored by the US Small Business Administration, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and the State of Indiana. The Center serves clients in Brown, Greene, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, and Owen counties. The Bloomington SCDC provides one-on-one violence, sexual assault, and rape, 24 hour counseling, information, advocacy, and assistance. (Crisis Line: 336-0846)

For volunteer information in at IUB, contact Community Outreach and Partnership in Service-Learning at www.indiana.edu/~copsl/.

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Sit in on a Black Student Union meeting

The Black Student Union is an active organization created to offer support to the minority students at Indiana University. Black Student Union have sponsored the following activities: Unity March, Soul Food Dinner, Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets to the less fortunate, Black History Month Programs, Black Student Union Week, Comedy Show, Ice Cream Social, Homecoming Tailgate, and various social activities. Refer to their calendar of events at php.indiana.edu/~blbsu/.

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Take an ethnomusicology course

With a distinguished history of nearly half a century at Indiana University, the internationally recognized Ethnomusicology Program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of music and culture throughout the world. Take a class on rap, Mariachi performance, music in politics, or a survey course of world music and culture. The Ethnomusicology Program at IU is an interdepartmental program comprised of faculty members, courses, and resources in several departments and schools on the Bloomington campus. . Surf their website at www.indiana.edu/~ethnomu/.

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Read a book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Gabriel Garca Mrquez, born Mar. 6, 1928, is a major Colombian novelist and short-story writer who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982. His masterpiece, One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967;Eng. trans., 1970), is a family saga that mirrors the history of Colombia. Like many of his works, it is set in the fictional town of Macondo, a place much like Garca Mrquez's native Aracataca. Mixing realism and fantasy, the novel is both the story of the decay of the town and an ironic epic of human experience.

Garca Mrquez began his career as a reporter for El Espectador, for which he wrote (1955) a series of articles exposing the facts behind a Colombian naval disaster. These articles won him fame and were published in book form as Relato de un naufrago (The Account of a Shipwrecked Person, 1970).

Garca Mrquez's novel The Autumn of the Patriarch (1975; Eng. trans., 1976) again explores the theme of decay, this time by depicting with typical exaggeration and ironic humor the barbarism, squalor, corruption that prevail during the reign of a Latin American military dictator. Other works include three collections of short stories (No One Writes to the Colonel, Eng. trans., 1968; Leaf Storm, Eng. trans., 1972; and Innocent Erendira, Eng. trans., 1978), the novel In Evil Hour (1968; Eng. trans., 1979), the novella Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1981; Eng. trans., 1983), and the novel Love in the Time of Cholera (Eng. trans. 1988).

Search IUCAT at www.indiana.edu/~libfind/ to find one of these literary treasures.

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Meet a faculty fellow, friend or ally

Allies, Fellows and Friends (A/F/F) Program pairs faculty, professional staff and community members with residence hall floors or living units through the Residential Programs and Services at IUB. The A/F/F acts as a role model, resource and friend for the residents of the community while working closely with the staff to help support the needs of the residents. For more information call (812) 855-1764 or visit www.rps.indiana.edu/acadservices/affprograms.html.

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Lend a hand at the soup kitchen

Hear are two places to volunteer your time to serve the Bloomington community:

The Community Kitchen of Monroe County needs volunteers for meal preparation and service at the South Rogers Street location. Those interested in volunteering should call 332-0999 between 9a.m. -4p.m.

Mother's Cupboard in Brown County needs volunteers for meal preparation from 12:30- 3:30p.m.and service from 3:30-6 p.m., especially Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It also is encouraging gardeners to plant an extra row in their garden to benefit the soup kitchen. For more information, or to volunteer, call Kim Herner at 988-8038.

For more volunteer opportunities, contact IUBs Community Outreach and Partnership in Service Learning at www.indiana.edu/~copsl/.

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Go to a CommUNITY Education event

The CommUNITY Education Program is dedicated to providing quality learning opportunities to students in our residence hall communities for the purpose of creating an environment that seeks, welcomes, and values all people. CommUNITY Educators (CUEs) strive to create innovative programs that build community, create dialogue, challenge assumptions, and foster acceptance and understanding among our student populations. In the pursuit of our vision, we recognize the importance of collaborating with others and leading by example. Visit their website for a calendar of events at Events page.

Be a Big Brother or Big Sister

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the nation's oldest and largest youth mentoring organization. Since 1904, caring adult volunteers have been helping millions of children reach their full potential and fulfill their dreams. Our programs in all 50 states match kids with mentors who provide meaningful friendships and share fun experiences. Learn more about how you can make a Big difference by contacting the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monroe County, Inc, located at 418 S. Walnut St., Bloomington IN 47403. Contact them by Phone: (812) 334-2828, Fax: (812) 334-1718, and website www.bloomington.in.us/~bbbs/ for more information.

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Try country line dancing

Join BARRY & DARI ANNE AMATO along with the Wild West Country Express staff for a fun-filled days of Line Dance and Couples dance workshops in Bloomington. For more information, contact the Wild West at (309) 827-0222, or Randy & Diana Randall at (309) 367-4308or visit their website at www.countryexpress.com/barryamato.htm.

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Master a foreign language

Learning a foreign language reveals many details about another culture and region. Check out IUBs foreign language departments:

Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures Devoted to the study of East Asia: the countries of China, Japan, and North & South Korea, and issues concerning the entire East Asian region. EALC offers courses in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean language, and in the cultural history and modern societies of the East Asian region. For more information, click on www.indiana.edu/~ealc/home.html.

Department of French and Italian 12.0pt'>: Offerings reflect the far-reaching areas of specialization of faculty touching on France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec, the Caribbean, French-speaking regions of north and central Africa, and the Italian-speaking world. For more info, click on www.indiana.edu/~frithome/.

Department of Germanic Studies 12.0pt'>: courses in the language, literature, and civilization of several countries, with emphasis on Germany and on its neighbors to the south, Austria and Switzerland. Study Dutch, Yiddish, and Scandinavian languages as well, with courses on the Netherlands, Yiddish culture, and medieval Scandinavia. For more info, click on www.indiana.edu/~germanic/.

For more departments, click on www.iub.edu/academic/schools.html.

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Watch Black Entertainment Television

If youve never watched, you should. There are some wonderful news programs, including BET Tonight with Travis Smiley, and lots of other entertain and informative programs. You can check them out on the Campus Cable channel 21. Check out their programming at www.bet.com .

Read a book by Amy Tan

Amy Tan (1952- ), American author, whose novels depict the tension between mothers and daughters and the conflicts experienced by Chinese immigrants to the United States. Tan's work has become emblematic of American works of fiction that give particular attention to ethnicity, family history, and the articulation of female voices. Her first novel, The Joy Luck Club (1989), examines the relationships between four Chinese-born women and their American-born daughters. It was made into a motion picture in 1993. Tan's second novel, The Kitchen God's Wife (1991), focuses on a single mother-daughter relationship, describing the mother's efforts to survive in China before and during World War II (1939-1945). Search IUCAT at www.indiana.edu/~libfind/ to find more on Amy Tan.

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Surf the Web for electronic diversity

What did we ever do before the web? There are no limits to information you can find on the web about issues of diversity that influence each and every one of us on a daily basis. If you know a particular issues you are interested in, simply do a web search. Otherwise checkout some of the resource links on the CommUNITY Education web page www.cue.indiana.edu/ , the IU Diversity Resources page www.iub.edu/~asd/diversity/resources.html, or the DiversityWeb at www.diversityweb.org. The internet is an excellent source of instant information on cultures and communities across the globe and in the most remote places on earth or in your back yard. Check out electronic journals, chat rooms, and web pages that offer a new voice to the worlds communities and individuals.

Get involved with student activism

Fight for something you believe in, and learn about the worlds communities in the process. Here are groups and resources that might spark a new passion;

Call the IU Student Activities Office at 855-4311 or check their web database at www.indiana.edu/~sao/orgs.html. Youll find more than 400 organizations there but if you have some other concern that is not addressed talk to someone in the Student Activities Office, an IU Student Association officer or representative (www.indiana.edu/~iusa/), the Dean of Students office (campuslife.indiana.edu), or start your own organization.

The Bloomington Rainforest Action Group is a chapter of the Rainforest Action Network at Indiana University. We are a local group working to raise awareness about rainforest issues. BRAG strives to educate consumers on how our purchasing habits support corporate devastation of tropical forests. We educate by sponsoring lectures, showing videos, passing out pamphlets, and talking with the Bloomington community. We also support groups working in the tropics to preserve rainforest and alleviate poverty, such as People Allied for Nature. We raise money for this purpose through selling t-shirts, holding bake sales, and soliciting contributions. For more info, e-mail them at lhulvers@iupui.edu.

Gay/Lesbian Politics and Law: WWW and Internet Resources A selective guide to the most useful and authoritative resources for scholars, students, teachers, journalists, activists, and citizens. Located at www.indiana.edu/~glbtpol/online.htm.

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Attend a Womens Student Association meeting

The Women's Student Association at Indiana University is dedicated to supporting women through activism, raising consciousness, and education within the IU community. In addition, WSA provides an atmosphere for personal growth and social networking for women. WSA recognizes, and works to eliminate, the multiple levels of oppression that are acting in society. These include racism, sexism, heterosexism, ageism, and ableism. In addition, WSA understands their fundamental relationship to the unequal distribution of power. Located at www.indiana.edu/~wsa/info.html

Discover Indianas history in IUs Benton murals

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975), now recognized as one of America's greatest mural painters, described his creation of The Cultural and Industrial History of Indiana as a "dream fulfilled." For years he had imagined a vast, panoramic cycle of paintings expressing the "people's" American history. The invitation to paint such a mural for the Indiana display at the Chicago World's Fair of 1933 gave Benton the opportunity to turn his ideas into reality. 

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Volunteer at the Bloomington Hospital

Bloomington Hospital is located at 601 W. 2^nd Street (only a couple of blocks from Seminary Square and the site of the original IU campus). To find out about volunteer opportunities call 336-6821 or the volunteer services direct line at 353-9468. You can also checkout the IU student volunteer opportunities web page www.indiana.edu/~sao/volunteer/home.html or the Bloomington Volunteer Network www.city.bloomington.in.us/volunteer.

Bloomington Volunteer Network: The Volunteer Center for Bloomington and Monroe County

The Bloomington Volunteer Network serves the volunteers, businesses and community agencies of the Bloomington. Find information about the services they provide as well as listings of ongoing volunteer opportunities, special events requiring volunteer assistance, and volunteer training and orientation programs at www.city.bloomington.in.us/volunteer/. For additional information, call (812) 349-3472 or 1-800-VOLUNTEER, [Fax: (812) 349-3483] or e-mail volunteer@city.bloomington.in.us.

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Go to the African-American Culture Center

The mission of the African American Cultural Center (AACC) is to provide services to the African American community and to Indiana University through effective support services and programming. The AACC will assist with the recruitment and retention of African American students, faculty, and staff through educational and social programming. The AACC programming will assist in enhancing students' intellectual, academic, social, cultural, and personal development. The AACC shall assist with the mission of the Division of Academic Support and Diversity to be an effective advocate for students, faculty, and staff of color and be a provider of programs and services that promote diversity. The AACC is located at Ashton Center, Coulter Hall (Corner of 7^th and Union), open Monday and Tuesday 9-6, Wednesday and Thursday 9-10, and Friday 9-5. Check the AACC calendar of events at www.indiana.edu/~aacc/.

Learn about the Kinsey Institute

The mission of The Kinsey Institute is to promote interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the fields of human sexuality, gender, and reproduction. The aspects of sexuality that are the primary focus of the Institute are biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and behavioral, as expressed through sexual interests, preferences, physiological responses, behaviors, communication and relationships, emotions and attitudes, beliefs, mores, and artistic/erotic depictions of the above. Gender is emphasized as it relates to sexual behavior and is expressed in variations or disorders of gender development. The psychological, behavioral, social and cultural aspects of reproduction in relationship to sexuality also are of interest. Look them up at www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/abtki.html.

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Get information on eating disorders

In the past few years, eating disorders have received widespread attention in the national media. There are two primary categories: ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND BULIMIA. Both involve preoccupation with weight gain and both predominantly affect adolescent or young females. The origins of these disorders are complex. One contributing factor has been shown to be the emphasis today's society places on appearance and being thin. Slender people tend to be viewed as being more attractive and desirable. Other factors contributing to this disorder may include family problems, issues of control and autonomy, conflicts about femininity, and ambivalence about growing up. While the syndromes are similar, they can be differentiated. Some individuals find they experience symptoms that include a combination of the two disorders. For more information, visit www.indiana.edu/~caps/flyers/brochures.htm.

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Wear ethnic clothing

Okay, it sounds a little strange. But likely many of us have little understanding of our own cultures. Learning about the clothing, food, and customs is a good place to start. It may be a little darning to wear ethnic clothing but it could be a great conversation starter or a way to developing a more positive and well-rounded identity. If you dont find what youre looking for at the College Mall take a shopping excursion to Indianapolis or check out a local vintage clothing store.

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Here at IU we look at Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as not a day off but rather as a day on. A day that includes both remember the life and times of a great national leader and perhaps, more importantly, a day to take account of where we are today and how we -- each of us can make a difference in advancing the dream of a better world. While King Day is officially the third Monday of January programs in Bloomington and around campus take place over several days leading up to and including King Day. Get involved in planning activities, participating in discussions, volunteering for a King Day service project, or enter the annual essay contest. Many different offices and organizations sponsor events. To find out more about whats planned for this year, contact any one of the following: African American Culture Center (www.indiana.edu/~aacc), Office of Multicultural Affairs, Student Activities Office (www.indiana.edu/~sao), CommUNITY Education Program (www.cue.indiana.edu/), or watch the IU Events calendar (events.iu.edu/iub.html).

Take Back the Night with friends

Take Back the Night is a nation-wide annual march protesting violence against women. Why is it called Take Back the Night? Although the exact place and time when the tradition began is not known, Take Back the Night is an international event with a history spanning at least 25 years. The most common misconception about the meaning of Take Back the Night is that the focus is on womens safety outdoors (in public) at night. If you look at the statistics (below) you will see that crimes against women are most often committed by someone they know, and in their own home. Therefore, it is important to consider the night / darkness (and what it means to take it back) metaphorically. To many, the darkness of night represents the isolation of silence for women who are victims of violence. Both the criminal justice system and society in general contribute to this expectation of silence for women. Women are taught that they are somehow to blame for the actions of their perpetrator. As a society, it is easy for us to view violence against women as a private matter as a conflict between two people who know each other. But it is a public problem as the social ramifications of an act of violence affect each and every one of us. Women believe it cant happen to them. Men believe that it wont happen to someone they love. And women are taught to be afraid to go out in public alone. No matter what women say, no matter what they wear, no matter where they go, they have the right to be safe.

The march is organized on campuses nation-wide, and take place in the early fall here at IU. Keep your eyes pealed for opportunities to volunteer and participate.

Cheer on a WNBA game

The WNBA, Womens National Basketball Association, is exciting and fun to watch. Indianas own WNBA team, the Indiana Fever, will compete for the Eastern Conference Title this season. For players, stats, and game times, click on www.wnba.com.

Learn about Wiccan culture

Wicca is the modern religion of Witchcraft. Read these books for more information:

"To Ride a Silver Broomstick: New Generation Witchcraft" by Silver Ravenwolf, Llewellyn Publications, ISBN 0-87542-791-X. An excellent book with a highly individual centered approach, intended for 'new generation' Wicca it covers a lot about solitary work and issues dealing with people. (300p, 7"x10" paperback)

"The Spiral Dance" by Starhawk, published by Harper & Row. A good book despite it's strong feminism (written during the height of the feminist movement) the book spends much time discussing the goddess/god and her personal experiences in the craft (mostly Dianic and faery traditions.)

"Wicca: a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner" by Scott Cunningham, Llewellyn Publications, ISBN 0-87542-118-0. A great 'first' book and one I usually recommend to people wanting to get to know a little about the craft. It's oriented towards solitaries in a non-tradition specific manner with a loose friendly style. The book never digs deeply into matters but covers the basics of Wicca in a relatively short book. (218p, 6"x9" paperback). Visit www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5066/wicca.html.

Attend a Lascivious Exhibitions event

It may be a little kinky for some but nevertheless this community group serves a unique purpose and does it in a way that can be entertaining for all. Those involved in Lascivious Exhibitions support and advocate sex-positive entertainment in Bloomington, Indiana through two annual events: The Erotic Arts Masquerade Ball and the EROTICON Ball. These multi-media shows cater to the wide continuum of sexual desire while encouraging safe and responsible sexual decisions. Proceeds from these events are donated to local sexuality organizations or programs. Some beneficiaries include: Project Find (an HIV /AIDS testing and support organization), STOP AIDS Indiana, The GLBT Bloomington Switchboard and a grant to the local county library to purchase sexuality related materials. To find the dates for their events or to find out about the groups goals visit their web page at http://home.bluemarble.net/~safersex/index.html.

Rent the Native-American film Smoke Signals

A truly original film directed by Chris Eyre (of Cheyenne-Arapaho Native American descent) and written by Sherman Alexie (a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian). It is a comedy/drama about two young Native Americans, their community, and their journey to workout some identity issues. The movie includes Elaine Miles of Northern Exposure fame as a supporting cast member. You can rent the movie at a local shop or find it in the Main Library Media Reserve (PN1997 .S6115 1999) or check it out from a Residence Hall Library.

Celebrate a pagan holiday

Many religions have used the term pagan to describe the religious practices of the indigenous people they sought to tame or save. Yet many of religious and cultural holidays we celebrate draw from a pagan history. For example All Saints Day in the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church was set to be celebrated on November 1 by Pope Gregory IV to supplant one of the four great pagan festivals. Even the day Sunday is comes from the Latin dies solis which was the name of a Roman pagan holiday. Paganism is literally a group of religious that are associated with the worship of nature. These may take many forms including pantheism (belief that the whole of reality is divine), polytheism (belief in many gods), animism (belief that natural figures of the world hold divine power).

Talk to the residents of an area nursing home

Hey, talking to folks in a nursing home or a retirement community not only does your heart good but youll be surprised at how much you can learn about life and world around you. There are several such facilities in the area but the one that is perhaps most closely associated with IU is Meadowood Retirement Community. If you visit youll find many retired IU faculty and staff members. Enrich your life and the life of a community member by visiting Meadowood located at 2455 Tamarack Trail (336-7060). Check them out on the web at www.retiretoiu.com.

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Vent at Counseling and Psychological Services

Counseling and Psychological Services, known by most students as CaPS, is located in the IU Health Center. You dont have to feel like you are signing up for years of therapy. Its okay just to make an appointment (855-5711) to talk to someone once or twice about something going on in your life. Walk-in are also welcomed. Better yet, your student fees cover up to two visits so its like they are free. CaPS offers individual counseling, group counseling, couples counseling, and psychiatric consultation. Any kind of concern can be discussed confidentially with a counselor or enhance psychological growth and increase problem solving skills. Depression, anxiety, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, feelings of inadequacy, sexual issues, substance abuse and problems of academic functioning are some of the concerns students often address through counseling. Find out more at http://www.indiana.edu/~caps/.

Visit the Latter Day Saints Institute

The LDS Institute of Religion is located at 333 S. Highland (the corner of Atwater and Highland) just a block from TIS bookstore. Here you can find out more about the Church of the Latter Day Saints and the activities of the IU Latter Day Saints Student Association. Find them on the web at www.ldsces.org/.

Check out the Commission on Multicultural Understanding

If you are looking for a place to get involved, you enjoy interacting with other students, faculty, and administrator, and you are passionate about fostering an IU community that is inclusive, welcoming and multicultural, then this is it. COMU (as it is known by most IU regulars) uses committees to accomplish its major goals. These committees include the Diversity Task Force, Retreats and Recognition, Student Policy Issues, and Teachable Moments just to name a few. If you want to find out more about COMU visit there web page at www.indiana.edu/~comu , call their office (855-4463), or sign up for the COMU email list at comu@indiana.edu.