WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2 - DIXIESUNNEWS.COM 2(11 vK i. IDU wittn food, music, dance BY EMILY FISHER emilyfishernews A hint of danger and excitement filled the Eccles Fine Arts Center main stage auditorium as a fire knife dancer began his routine Friday as part of Diversity Week at Dixie State University. The celebration kicked Follow dixiesunnews off March 28 with treats in front of the Gardner Stuon Snapchat for dent Center. Members of exclusive coverage the Multicultural Diversity Center gave away of campus popcorn, and played a game from Mexico called happenings and Loteria. For the remainder of the week, the MCDC news. hosted several events on that helped cele - -9 ' campus 4 World, including cuisine brate diversity on campus. Vika Havili, a senior integrated studies major from Salt Lake City, said she loves when people approach her to learn more about her culture. People think Diversity Week is about the MCDC, but its actually about the students, Havili said. Some of the students favorite events were Open Mic Night and Taste Around the World, Havili from Nigeria, Korea, Vietnam and Peru. Students cooked dishes from the countries they represented. Beatriz Giron, a freshman biology major from Simi Valley, California, said Diversity Week is a good opportunity for the rest of the university to know how diverse the student body has grown. Other activities included a screening of the documentary Prop. 8 hosted by the Gay Straight Alliance March 28. Open Mic Night March 29 attracted a crowd of about 65 people sY to watch over 10 perform- - said. For Taste Around the World, Havili made a drink from Tonga called Otai, which is made with mango, pineapple and coconut. Dishes from about 35 different countries were served at Taste Around the U ' i v ' N C - V ; i ; - J 'T tr f I M xA traditional Mexican dress get ready to performsDiversity Week Cultural Celebration Friday Many different cultures at the celebration. Dancers see DIVERSITY page 3 in g performe-representin- 3 foL 7 f t- - V ! i M C v , 4 r : 7 is DIXIE SUN NEWS p I ! Emily Havens, v a V tl Editor-in-Chi- ef c v Spencer Ricks, News Editor Drayson Ball, Sports Editor Markee Heckenliable, Features Editor Diana Fossett, Opinion Editor Jalen Jones, Photo Editor Parker Mayberry, Multimedia Editor Emily Fisher, Social Media Editor Nijat Aliyev, Copy Editor Dallin Spackman, Ad Manager c Members of the Dixie State University Gay Straight Alliance set up the Diversity Board for Diversity Week and meet in the Gardner Student Center March 28 New programs like an LGBT center on campus are in the works for DSU. dancer performs with fire at the Diversity Week Cultural Ce ebration Friday. Diversity Week featured a variety of events or campus promoting diversity at Dixie State University A a e j A LGBT Jess r; Arruda si inclusion rising at DS d b Justin Badger T Austin Clark Katelynn Disney Alannah Hall BY SPENCER RICKS SpencerRicks Hunter Porter Larsen Parker Mayberry Ally Kelby Morrison Bre Opdahl Alexis Winward ; A; i a - -- U. Rhiannon Bent, Adviser HOW TO REACH US Corrections Dixie State University Jennings Bldg 225 S 700 The judge in the Varlo Davenport case is named Ronald Read, not Donald Read, as it was printed in the March 30 issue. E St George, UT 84770 . Phone (435)652-781- 8 Fax (435)656-401- 9 dixiesundixie edu www dixiesunnews com Ads dixiesunadsdixie edu or (435) 41 il the story "One type not enough: Different types of birth control available, Susan Ertel is independently organizing a Students for Choice Club without the help of UWHEN, as it was noted in the March 30 issue. In The Dixie Sun News is distributed each Wednesday during fall and spring semesters as a publication of Dixie State University the communication department and Dixie State University Student Activities DSU administrators do not approve or censor content The student editorial staff alone determines its news coverage The unsigned editorial on the opinion page represents the position of Dixie Sun News as determined by its editorial board Otherwise the views and opinions expressed in Dixie Sun News are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Dixie Sun News or any entity of the university j r addition, in Since Kris Johnson arrived at Dixie State University and joined the Gay Straight Alliance four years ago, he said the attitude toward students who identify as LGBT has changed. Johnson said, for the most part, inclusion at DSU for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender has improved, but its the ingrained homophobia he said he still experiences regularly at DSU. You might not see anyone at DSU outright saying they hate gay people, but there is almost an underhanded homophobia here, Johnson said. Johnson said, for exam ple, many students would steer clear of the GSA table at Club Rush and avoid making eye contact with its members. The GSA table has even been placed behind a tree at Club Rush by organizers, Johnson said. Ive heard stories of how much discrimination there was at DSU before, and it has definitely gotten a lot better, Johnson said. There used to be a lot of barriers to do anything as a club. But now, DSU administration wouldnt overtly do anything against us because we know how to call the American Civil Liberties Union. Eli Aguirre, a freshman general education major from St. George and a member of the GSA, said its hard for students w'ho identify as LGBT at DSU because St. George is F such a Mormon city. Some of the things I' like to see are closed-minde- d. B Cl transg-inclusiv- bathrooms at DSU and for the GSAi; not be grouped with tL multicultural diversit) center, Aguirre said Right now, the GSA a subset of a subset. need to be our own eni Christina Duncan, DSUs new inclusion equity fellow, said the are new programs and initiatives on the way1' LGBT students to fce more included at DSL A major part of DSL strategic plan is to ca diversity on a pus among students faculty, w'hich include' students who identity LGBT, Duncan saidT ing previously w'od 3 CC th th sb w lie gc D: to an fo as L( ert on oft to ani pe LC a see INCLUSION Pa9e' f