Tye-dye shirts symbols of diversity

Diversity is an issue that surrounds people on campus and in society.

Wednesday, Maureen Mulima, resident director of Twin Towers West, spoke about diversity in front of 55 students. While she was speaking, students were making tye-dye shirts.

"Diversity is more than just color," Mulima said. "Color isn't black and white. It's all colors," Mulima said.

"Diversity represents sex, races, sexual preferences, political parties, geographics and so on," Mulima said. To live in a better society people need to respect others' beliefs, music and demographics, Mulima said.

"In life, everyone will face boundaries," Mulima said. A way to break the boundaries is asking questions to expand a person's knowledge on a particular subject, Mulima said.

Once, she attended a Muslim dinner and was not familiar with their customs, so she asked questions to educate herself on the Muslim faith, Mulima said.

By asking questions, she felt comfortable being around a new culture, Mulima said.

"Multicultural Week, Black History Month and Women's History Month are programs that the public should take advantage of or get acquainted with," Mulima said.

Kelli Karlet, senior communication studies major from South Point, Ohio said, "This program is very interesting because it brings awareness on campus."

The tye-dye shirts represent all different colors coming together, as in the community, Karlet said.

Nikole Robie, junior elementary education major from Parkersburg, said, "This program represents everyone coming together, and taking people for who they are. The foreign exchange program really represents the diversity on campus," Robie said.

Nicole Nelson, junior chemistry and biology major from Atlanta, said "The reason why this program is taking place is that this building is full of diversity.

"The blending of color in the tye-dye shirts comes out beautifully, and none of the shirts comes out the same," Nelson said.

Angela Lattimore, freshman undecided major from Hurricane, said "The tye-dye shirts represents the differences in people."