In June 1997, President Bill Clinton announced the creation of the President’s Initiative on One America, an effort to help motivate people to embrace diversity and the values that unite them. In support of the initiative, Western’s Office of Student Activities (OSA) sponsored its annual Campus Dialogue on Multicultural Issues Week through Friday, Oct. 15. This campuswide event focuses on fostering an understanding and appreciation of the many cultures that exist in the WIU community and across the nation, as well as bridging cultural and racial divides.

Activities for Friday, Oct. 15 include: “Theatre as Civic Engagement: How Race Influences Characterization” from noon to 1 p.m. in the Union Algonquin Room. This event will discuss theatre, race and casting. The presentation will also include performances of scenes and monologues followed by discussion. Presenters include the WIU theatre workshop committee in the College of Fine Arts and Communication. Also on display at the University Art Gallery are selections from the permanent collection: “The Fine Art of Civic Engagement,” sponsored by Casa Latina and the University Art Gallery.

These activities are open free to the public. For more information, contact OSA at 309/298-3232.