To all of the Haverford College community, current and past, please save October 19 through 21, 2005 when we will celebrate our first UNITYFEST, a three-day event planned to create positive opportunities for examining together some of the dimensions of diversity. The idea for a campuswide learning experience was one of several recommendations submitted to the president from a committee of students called the Core Group, which proposed an annual event that would provide the community with opportunities to increase its understanding of the issues of diversity inherent in global perspectives. Ethnic meals, music, dancing, receptions, and special student-planned events will be woven around keynote events featuring:

Wednesday, October 19, at 4:00 p.m.
SARAH JONES, Comedian and Performance Artist.
Bryn Mawr College alumna Sarah Jones is an Obie Award-winning playwright, actor, and poet. Called a master of the genre by The New York Times, Jones and her multi-character solo shows have garnered critical acclaim from around the country and the world. Her multicultural cast of characters is a reflection of her diverse audiences and sold-out audiences everywhere.

Thursday, October 20, at 7:30 p.m.
LOU OUTLAW, Academic Keynote Speaker.
Formerly T. Wistar Brown Professor of Philosophy at Haverford College, Lucius Turner Outlaw (Jr.), is Professor of Philosophy and African American Studies, and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education at Vanderbilt University. He teaches, researches, and writes about African philosophy, African American philosophy, Marx, critical social theory, social and political philosophy, and the history of philosophy in the“West.”

Friday, October 21, is the final day of UNITYFEST and the start of Family and Friends Weekend. After two days of examining, laughing, and learning together about diversity, a STUDENT-ORGANIZED MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION will be held in the Dining Center. The whole community, including the new arrivals for Family Weekend, will come together and participate in various cultural activities that will continue the learning and the fun. An international food bazaar along with dancing, dance lessons, music, and crafts will be part of the evening's agenda.

Please mark your calendars now for October 19, 20, and 21 when we will learn and laugh together, admitting our foibles and our ignorance, embracing our insights and our sense of citizenship so that we can all work toward building a vibrant, affirming multicultural community.

Suggestions and questions are welcome and may be directed to UNITYFEST Project Manager, Nancy Merriam, %20nmerriam [at] haverford.edu (), (610) 896-1011, or to any committee member listed below:

UNITYFEST COMMITTEE
Chair: Sunni Green Tolbert, Associate Dean, Director of OMA
Project Manager: Nancy Merriam, Music Department

Emily Cronin, Humanities Center
Doug Davis, Psychology Department
Thao Doan '06, Student
Rebecca Ergas, Psychological Counselor
Amy Ham, Student Activities
Emma Lapsansky, History Department
Lilly Lavner '07, Student
Evelyne Laurent-Perrault, OMA
Maud McInerny, English Department
Issac Schamberg '07, Student
Ty Taylor, Athletics Department
Matha Thornton, Director of Housing
Eva Wilson, Housekeeping
Karina Wadhwani '06, Student
Natalie Wossene '08, Student