This week marks the first Unity Week for Mississippi State University.Many MSU campus organizations are responsible for sponsoring the event, which ranges from the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center to the Bagley College of Engineering.
Alyssa Walz, vice president of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, said planning and accomplishing Unity Week has taken years of thought and work.
Walz, who also serves as treasurer for the Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, said her sorority had initially wanted to start a diversity banquet for the campus. That plan helped lead to this year’s Unity Week.
The main purpose for the week is to teach and educate others about different cultures, Walz said.
“We hope to get different traditions out there,” she said. “We want people to learn.”
Walz said she hopes the week will become an annual event with additional programs.
“We want to raise food, money and cultural awareness, as well as awareness of our international student association here on campus,” Walz said.
The projects for Unity Week began Monday with the construction of the Writing on the Wall project, which presents a physical representation to barriers that exist among people.
RHA president Autumn Nourse said other universities, such as the University of Florida, have done this project for several years. Nourse said the idea for MSU’s project came from a student conference for residence hall leaders.
A wall built from cement blocks was erected for the project Monday in between the front entrance of the Colvard Student Union and the post office. The opening ceremony was Monday evening.
Residence director James Orr said the wall’s purpose is to express and release barriers that students, faculty and staff have experienced.
“The purpose of this project is to confront the barriers of oppression and inhumanity that sometimes exist among us,” Orr said.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to write on the wall throughout the week, area coordinator for housing and residence life Stephanie Lynch said.
“We urge people to express personal, experienced feelings of marginalization, oppression, hate, sadness, discrimination, hurt and discontent on this wall,” Lynch said.
The wall will be torn down Thursday at 12:15 p.m. Campus and community members are invited to attend, Lynch said.
“On the final day, as a campus, we will come together and pull the wall down, [which is] symbolic of bringing down these barriers,” Orr said.
Nourse said participants are welcome to take a piece of the wall with them as a memento.
SA President Braxton Coombs said he plans to attend the program’s closing ceremony.
“I’m really looking forward to the Writing on the Wall,” he said. “I believe the project will be a great success.”
Walz said there would be a silent auction Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Drill Field.
There are items from Ghana, India, Venezuela and Thailand. Proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Club, Walz said.
Monday served as the “how-to” day, Walz said. Participants learned how to properly use chopsticks, tie an African headdress. They also learned about Henna tattoos.
Tuesday is the “fun day,” Walz said. Pizza, drinks, popcorn and a dunking booth will be provided for students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. between the post office and the main entrance to the Union.
A canned food stacking competition will be held Wednesday on the Drill Field from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Walz said there will be a competition among student organizations for the amount of cans brought as well as the most creative design and stacking of the cans. The food will go to the Food Pantry of Starkville, she said.
There will be a lunchtime barbeque and the Native American Student Association will host a Native American pow wow Friday evening.
The pow wow will continue Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Indian Student Association will present Maroon Vibes at the Humphrey Coliseum from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Unity Week concludes Sunday with the “Maroon Meets Red” program, focusing on International Children’s Day. The program will be hosted by the Turkish Student Association from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Drill Field.
Shaz Akram, program coordinator for the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, could not be reached for comment.