Cultural Diversity on Campus

"MOSAICS": CULTURAL DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS

"Mosaics" examines diversity issues on campus, combining comedic/dramatic scenes with factual information to illustrate how diversity was dealt with in the past, how institutions are embracing diversity today, and how we can improve our individual relationships with others. Problems such as stereotyping, garbled communication, and culture clash are discussed, and a five-step process of managing our personal prejudices is outlined.

Vignette Topics Include:

THE SAME

Life would be easy if we were all alike, but it would be BORING! A montage alluding to a homogenous world illustrates why celebrating diversity is a far more attractive route.

COKE ADDS LIFE

This humorous vignette provides an example of how we inadvertently prevent ourselves from experiencing all the flavors life has to offer. The character tells about his "Coke" drinking family, and how taking the Pepsi Challenge reveals the satisfaction he could have had if he had given other brands a chance.

IMPOSTOR

A young woman recounts her family's move from a large city to "small-town-USA". She is socially successful until she begins to feel that her Jewish heritage must be kept a secret in order to maintain that acceptance. The resulting low self-esteem prevents her from celebrating accomplishments. Instead, she feels like an impostor.

NOT ONE OF US

The absurdity of some commonly held stereotypes regarding race, culture and physical ability becomes obvious in this humorous diatribe. Some double standards between men and women are examined as well.

*THE BASHER

Bias, hatred, and violence born from anger backfires when a man participates in a violent act with his peers, only to discover later that his sister was one of the victims. This no-holds-barred look at racism emphasizes that we must move beyond intolerance to insure our mutual survival.

TEACH

When a class rebels against analyzing the poetry of Walt Whitman on the grounds that he is gay, a young lesbian conveys the inspiration she felt when the teacher explained the importance of studying good literature, regardless of the author's sexual preference.

FOREST FOR THE TREES AND WENDALL GREENE

One man's uplifting story tells how his heart and mind were opened after working with someone of a different culture. Now, as a supervisor, the lessons he has learned help to maximize the potential of each individual.

*Denotes possible scene substitution

*INGREDIENTS

Dietary restrictions and a need for detailed information regarding his product send this employee reeling from increased responsibility. Flexibility and willingness to change alleviate his stress and create a renewed enthusiasm for the job.

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