By Adam Roberts

Senior Reporter

Diversity can be defined differently by just about every

person. Nowhere was that more apparent than, at the tenth annual Diverse Voices

Conference, held Saturday March 22.

“Diversity is not about skin color, but about having a

diverse set of minds,” said Norina D’Agostini, a junior human resources development

major who served as a student presenter.

Differences of thoughts and experience were a common

denominator among the participants in this year’s event.

“Change occurs when new ideas or thoughts are brought to the

table,” added Serena Ringle, 22, senior HRD major and this year’s student

ambassador.

Dr. Chaunda Scott, who has organized this event for the past

ten years, says the point of the conference is bridging gaps between

individuals.

“Its purpose is to promote unity and understanding between

races and cultures,” Scott said. “Diversity gets too little attention, as we

live in a diverse world.”

Inclusion of people of all ages was also a hot topic of

discussion.

“I believe we should encourage adult learners currently

attending school to graduate, and we should make it easier for adults to go

back to school. We need a workforce that is prepared for the 21^st century,”

said Stephanie Johnson, a senior from Detroit Mercy who returned to school full-time

after being laid off from her job.

All of the presenters came from drastically different points

in their life and with differing experiences. This made for a wide range of

topics that were discussed including age, gender, race, physical handicaps and

cultural differences.

“That’s what is so great about diversity, the visible and

sometimes invisible differences that make up all of us,” said Dr. Garbette

Garaway, an assistant professor of counseling at OU.

This year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Elisabeth Tisdale,

associate professor of adult education at Penn

State University,

talked about a different kind of diversity, diversity of the spirit.

“We should recognize spiritual diversity as it relates to

cultural diversity,” Tisdale said.

She also noted the historic circumstance of the current

presidential race, and says that we are living in a time of change.

“We must get up and we must do good, because we are at a

very important point in history as it relates to diversity.”

A good example of modern diversity at the conference came

from the performance of a local dance troupe, called Duane Wrenn and the

Energetic Soul Dancers.

The group featured members with heritage ranging from Israel,

India, Mexico,

China, Germany,

New Orleans and Detroit.

The movement of this group as one was symbolic of the progress of society as a

whole.

Dr. Robert Wiggins, associate dean for the School

of Education and Human Services,

who has provided the closing remarks for the conference for several years,

summed up this year’s event nicely.

“Diversity is not about the differences we have,

but it is about the experiences that shape our world view,” said Wiggins.