Collegiate 100's Speak Week spurs discussion
Published April 6, 2004
MU Collegiate 100 President Courtney Curtis said he thinks the first Speak Week was a success.
The organization sponsored seven speeches this past week during its first Speak Week. The speeches, on subjects such as educational responsibility, economic development and mentoring, were held in order to open discussions between different groups on campus, Curtis said.
"We discussed different topics every day and noticed a lot of differences between the various groups participating," he said. "We all learned that you need to think outside the box, and that everyone interprets things in different ways."
Collegiate 100's graduate adviser Jere Tobias said he thought the week went well.
"Collegiate 100 would like to incorporate more campus-wide promotion of diversity and get faculty and students to communicate more," he said. "Considering this was the first year's effort, I think they did a great job."
Tobias said the idea for Speak Week originated in 2003.
"Speak Week was an idea to have a week focusing on Collegiate 100 and its initiatives and what it believes in," he said.
Curtis said Collegiate 100 members have been planning the events for about the past month and a half.
"We had two forums earlier in the year," he said. "Rather than just raising those issues and possibly causing problems, it was an attempt to go and try to have discussions about issues that come out of those forums."
Earlier this year, Collegiate 100 held two forums: "Racism: How far have we come?" and "Affirmative Action: Reverse Racism?" The forums were held to raise awareness about race issues, Curtis said.
Curtis said he was pleased with Speak Week attendance, considering it was held the week after spring break.
"Obviously, since it was the first time, there is room for improvement," he said. "Given it was right after spring break and there was not much time for advertising, we had roughly 45 to 50 people at each event."
Tobias said the group plans to sponsor Speak Week again next year.
"We hope to collaborate with other organizations to promote campus unity," Curtis said.