Annual Students’ Diversity Leadership Conference: A Week of Events to Celebrate Diversity

Saint Mary's College is hosting the sixth Annual Diverse Students' Leadership Conference (DSLC) beginning on Tuesday, March 29 to Thursday, March 31, 2011. A committee of Saint Mary's students planned and will lead the entire conference. The purpose of DSLC is to introduce students, faculty, and the South Bend community to individuals and ideas regarding a variety of subjects on social justice, human rights issues, cultural differences and women’s leadership.

Inge Auerbacher, a Holocaust survivor, presented the keynote speech earlier this week.
Inge Auerbacher, a Holocaust survivor,
presented the keynote speech earlier
this week."The students have a great job of organizing thought-provoking subjects and bringing speakers to campus that address various topic targets of prejudice," said Stephanie Steward-Bridges, this year's DSLC advisor. "They transcended the usual discourse on diversity and looked at several different points of view. "I'm very proud of them."

Holocaust survivor Inge Auerbacher presented the keynote speech on Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m. in Stapleton Lounge, LeMans Hall. Auerbacher was born in Germany and as a seven-year old child imprisoned from 1942-1945 in the Terezin concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. After immigrating to America in 1946, she graduated from Queens College with a degree in chemistry and has collaborated with many renowned researchers in the field of medicine. Ms. Auerbacker also is a poet and author of four books published in eight languages.

Retired Staff Sergeant Eric Alva will give the closing keynote address. His speech is entitled, "Ending 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'" and will be held on Thursday, March 31 at 12 p.m. in Little Theatre, Moreau Center for the Arts. Sgt. Alva joined the United States Marine Corps in 1991 and served in Somalia as well as in the Iraq War. He also is a national spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign fight to repeal the military's  "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Among Alva's awards and recognitions for his service, are the 2003 Heroes and Heritage Award and the 2004 Hero's Among Us award from People magazine.

Retired Staff Sergeant Eric Alva will give the closing speech of the DSLC on March 31.
Retired Staff Sergeant Eric Alva will
give the closing speech of the DSLC
on March 31."The DSLC committee elected to focus on issues relating to various forms of prejudices for this year's conference," said Kelly Reidenbach '12, chairperson for the DSLC this year.  "Society is filled with various types of prejudices stemming from differences in gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status just to name a few. We hope that by bringing awareness to these issues and challenges, participants will be encouraged to transform the challenges of diversity into opportunities as well as become leaders and actively promote the advantages of diversity."

The week's events are free and open to the public. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to register at saintmarys.edu/DSLC where you'll find a schedule for the week.