After a quick glance at a bulletin board in Cabell Hall, you could have your schedule for next week filled with concerts, lectures, plays and symposia.
The abundance of colored flyers and posters, stapled over each other in efforts to be in the foreground, illustrates the sheer number of organizations at the University that regularly host events.
But in spite of these opportunities, many people might feel shy or anxious about attending events that address cultures or opinions that differ from their own.
For this reason the Office of the Dean of Students, with the help of devoted students, is introducing the Passport Program next spring.
Participants in the program are asked to attend five academic, social or cultural events during the course of the semester. The events must incorporate a "border" crossing for that individual, into a realm that is uncomfortable or unfamiliar, whether it traverses lines of gender, ethnicity or religion.
There's an "emphasis to encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, to broaden their horizons," said LaTasha Levy, assistant dean of African-American Affairs.
"The inspiration for the program really stemmed from the need for students to have more cross-cultural interactions with each other," Levy said.
Participants also will be required to attend at least one "passport conversation," where students can reflect on their border crossing experiences in a discussion-like setting.
"We're not expecting that all experiences will be great and peachy," Levy said. "Some might have some negative results, but we just want students to have those experiences." She stressed the importance for students to work through their feelings and reactions to cultural experiences.
"It's essential to have these experiences first, good or bad. We want the students to take a risk," Levy said.
Program participants also will write brief responses on the events they attended. Two of each person's responses will be posted on the Passport Program Web page for others to read.
Information sessions for the Passport Program will be held Wednesday, 5 to 6 p.m. in the Newcomb Commonwealth Room and next Thursday in Cabell Hall, room 332.
"I think the Passport Program seems to be really timely," Levy said. "We have so many cultural organizations
it's a great opportunity for people to actually live diversity rather than just talking about it."
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