= opnewseditor@gmail.com Call for Submissions: Susan Witter Wants You Millie Strom, OP Contributor Douglas College president Susan Witter wants to know what students think and feel about diversity, and the sixth annual President’s Writing Contest on Diversity deadline is just around the corner—February 20, 2006. Like the subject, the contest is diverse: the genre is not restricted. Students can submit essays or academic papers, poetry, plays, narratives, creative non-fiction, or short fic- tion. Groups ‘Can also submit, and each student or group can submit three times. The submissions can be classroom work or new creations. The length is also not restricted, but in the past narratives ran about 1,000 words, and aca- demic work ran a bit longer. Susan Witter explains why the topic of diversity was chosen for the annual college contest: “We chose Diversity as the theme for the President’s Writing Contest because we wanted to do something that would stimulate a broader view—to get people to look around them and try to understand others a little better. We wanted to encourage students to listen to and appreciate people who are differ- ent. “We live in such a pluralistic country—the College is a microcosm of the Canadian society. We are extremely lucky to live in a place with such a rich mix of races, cul- tures, religions, sexual orientations and abilities. Sometimes there are issues raised by situations involving diversity in gender, age, or income level. There are many categories for identifying how Canadians may be different from each other, but when we tead people’s stories we also come to understand how we all share so many traits. Each of us yearns to be understood, we each want to have friends, to share ideas, have fun, be stimulated by the educational experience. “Simply put, we wanted to do something to foster understanding among students and the entire College com- munity. I hope that mutual understanding can lead to toler- ance, acceptance and appreciation of others.” Contest open to students of all disciplines The President’s Writing Contest on Diversity is not only for writing students. All disciplines would have narratives on diversity. Nursing is one. For example, what is the impact of the cultural concept of health; what is healthy food, for example, in a culture? Or, what about the way the family handles death? Do you tell patients they are dying when some cultures do not tell family members death is near? Business is another discipline with diversity narratives; business ethics may vary from a cultural perspective, or business communications may vary from a man or woman’s perspective. Get a friend to give feedback It helps to have another classmate or instructor read your essay before submission. Barb Adamski, a contest winner in 2003, says that feedback is important in the writing process. Feedback is an integral part of classroom activity in the Print Futures program and in Creative Writing class- es. Creative Writing instructor Calvin Wharton agrees. He says that feedback provides an opportunity to find out what works, and what someone else—the reader—thinks. For ideas, students can explore diversity issues on film. Douglas College library has several video titles available including Love, Culture and the Kitchen Sink (2002), a Vancouver film that looks at the lives of four cross-cultural Canadian couples. Adjust your Set: The Static is Real (1995) addresses the issues of power dynamics between men and women in a university setting. Blve Eyeds (1996) director conducts a workshop where an arbitrarily selected group of individuals are targeted to experience prejudice and bigotry. The President’s Writing Contest on Diversity booklets are available at the reserve desk in the library at both cam- puses, for a two-hour loan. Contest winners receive gifts and recognition Approximately 15 winners will be chosen and the entries published in a booklet. Each winner will receive books, book gift certificates, and five copies of the booklet. Winners will be announced on March 21, 2006, the International Day to Eliminate Racism, 12—1pm in the Theatre Foyer. Get your fingers flying on the keyboard—Monday, February 20, 2006, is the deadline. Application forms are available in the library. Celebrate Black History Month! Nicole Burton, News Editor Black History Month is celebrated across North America each February. This week's issue of the Other Press features news and facts reflecting on the history and struggle of Blacks in North America, and how this struggle is reflected today. Each OP “News section” this month will have a different feature article on this topic-so stay tuned! And if you feel you have something to contribute on this topic-be it in history, politics, culture, or your own personal experience-submit to the next issue of the Other Press News and get your voice heard! -News Editor Quote of the week: “The common goal of, 22- million Afro-Americans is respect as human beings, the God-given right to be a human being. Our common goal is to obtain the human rights that America has been denying us. We can never get civil rights in America until our human rights are first restored. We will never be recognized as citi- zens there until we are first recognized as humans.” _Malcolm X (1925-65), US Muslim leader _Excerpted from Racism: the Cancer that is Destroying America, an article written for the Egyptian Gazette (25 August 1964). February 16, 1791 Black History Month Datehne February 1, 1902: Langston Hughes is born. Hughes will become known as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century and as a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. He paved the way for new styles of poetry, using the rhythms of jazz and everyday speech, and reflecting the oppression and struggle of African Americans through his writing. February 11, 1969: Black students in Montreal's Concordia University (formerly Sir George Williams University) protested a professor's discriminatory marking towards students of colour by occupying a computer lab on campus. The event led to the arrest of nearly 50 students and became known as the Sir George Williams Affair, celebrated in the Black community from Montreal and Toronto to the Caribbean as a symbol of oppressed people standing up for their rights. This February 16 marks the beginning of La Carnival (Mardi Gras) in Haiti. In 1791, Haiti became the first black republic in the world after a successful slave revolt against French colonialists on the Caribbean island. February 1, 1902 HOE ME Bg)/! 1925 February 11, 1969