The Diversity Rally was held in the Student Life Center at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10. as part of the First Annual Diversity Week.

Students had the opportunity to visit booths that campus organizations set up as well as see the presentations and performances of many groups and individual speakers.

The Diversity Rally was sponsored by the Student Government Association, Student Activities Council and the International Students Association.

The rally provided the opportunity for various student organizations and individuals to get together to support diversity on campus and promote multicultural education, discovery and awareness.

“The SGA Minority Affairs committee, SAC and many other student organizations worked very hard to make the Diversity Rally and UTM’s First Annual Diversity Week a successful one,” said SGA President Dusty Dean.

“I’m sure that everyone involved took good notes and that this event will continue to improve in semesters to come. I’m proud of everyone who participated.”

A wide variety of student organizations participated by setting up booths at the rally.

Among the student organizations that participated were the Photography club, the Equestrian club, the Spanish club, Alpha Phi Omega, SABER and Rotaract.

The sisters of Gamma Kappa Pi and the brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon were among the greek organizations that also set up booths.

“It’s good to know that so many organizations support diversity,” said Joseph Allen, a freshman Electrical Engineering major from San Diego, Calif.

Holy Young People Empowerment, H.Y.P.E., began the performance portion of the rally.

Their presentation included singing, stepping, a skit and quoting scriptures.

Dr. Dawood Sultan gave a short lecture on the importance of languages and his trip to Tanzania.

He emphasized the importance of students learning a foreign language and the increasing demand in the work force for bilingual individuals and translators.

He also kept students entertained by illustrating his point about the usefulness of knowing foreign languages by telling a story about the trip he took to Egypt and a man in Cairo trying to buy Dr. Sultan’s wife with camels.

There were also musical performances throughout the rally.
The sisters of Sigma Alpha Iota sang four songs about the organization. There was also a performance by guest rappers from Corinth, MS, who came specifically for the event. The UTM Gospel Choir also performed at the Diversity Rally.

The rally also included a martial arts demonstration. The demonstration included elements of Judo, Tae Kwon Do and basic breaking techniques.

The demonstrators broke boards, cement blocks and a baseball bat.

“I’m glad that I was able to be a part of this wonderful experience,” said Brad Hadley, a junior Communications major from Fairview.

“We were here for one thing, and one thing only, to show and spread diversity at UTM.”