Defining Diversity

Sponsored by the International Beliefs and Values Institute in collaboration with the Office of International Programs, the Orientation Office, the Madison Art Collection, and the Office of the Special Assistant for Diversity

Diversity as a concept is ripe for critical reflection. For many of us, the term “diversity” evokes complex and powerful reactions to notions of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and more. But diversity may also imply new ways of living, of interacting with one another and the environment, of taking action in the world at local and global scales, that both amplify and go beyond these familiar categories of difference.

As such, we want to know: what does “diversity” mean to you?  Is it a meaningful concept to you, and why?  How do you see diversity represented in your daily life?  How is diversity experienced in the JMU community? How is it experienced in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County? How should diversity be experienced?  Should we alter our own lives to accommodate and enrich diversity?  Why or why not?   

If you would like to join this dialogue, we ask you to share your understanding and experience of diversity with the regional community in ways that reflect your own unique skills, views, and life experience.  Submissions may be of two general types:

1) Exploring the general concept of diversity.  Share your knowledge and experience of diversity, interpreted and conveyed through a range of artistic, literary, visual, and other media. What sorts of diversity are there; in what ways do people define and experience diversity in their lives; and how have people confronted and negotiated issues involving diversity at work, home, school, and beyond? We especially encourage you to submit representations of diversity informed by your personal experiences as well as missions, goals, or priorities of your jobs, academic majors, professional positions, and/or any other institutional contexts. 

and/or

2) Showcasing specific examples of diversity at JMU, in Harrisonburg and/or in Rockingham County.  We hope specifically to illuminate and juxtapose the beliefs, values, backgrounds and relationships characterizing life in our shared and unique communities, highlighting aspects of diversity that may be little known or understood.  We want to know how our varied perspectives and experiences of diversity impact each of us and our larger community?  How does such impact manifest locally, and in what ways is it comprehended or misunderstood, embraced or rejected?

You may submit your “Defining Diversity” project in one of the following categories.  Please click on each one for more information:

Each category will have its own panel of judges who will independently review and rank the entries.  After the initial ranking, judges will meet to discuss the results and announce the top entries.  Each category will have first, second, and third place winners with cash prizes of $150, $100, and $50 respectively.  Further, the winning submissions, along with select other entries, will be showcased on a website, featured in a film to be shown during JMU’s Orientation in fall 2008, and also featured in an exhibition at the Madison Art Collection’s Prism Gallery from August – September 2008.

This contest is open to any resident of Harrisonburg or Rockingham County, as well as JMU students, staff and faculty.  You may enter the competition as an individual or as a team, but only one entry per person or per team will be accepted. 

For more information, please contact Dr. Jennifer Coffman (coffmaje@jmu.edu; 540-568-5202) or Matthew Chamberlin (chambema@jmu.edu; 540-568-6983).

DEADLINE: all submissions must be turned in at the International Beliefs and Values Institute (IBAVI) by 4:30 PM on Monday, 31st March.  Each submission must include the entry and release form

IBAVI is located in Eastover House at 1241 Paul Street (please see http://www.jmu.edu/map/buildings/eastover.shtml).

All submissions may be exhibited publicly; reused or republished in print, in film or on the web.  All essay, photograph, and video entries become property of James Madison University’s International Beliefs and Values Institute (IBAVI).  Any other submission (painting, sculpture, etc.) will be retained by the IBAVI until the end of the fall exhibition in September 2008, and may then be picked up by the owner, although images of such entries will also become the property of the IBAVI.