Week of events to celebrate diversity, cultures, faith

Members of the University of Maine community are invited to celebrate the differences that contribute to the campus and surrounding areas during Diversity Week and Islamic Awareness Week, March 27–31.

Highlights of Diversity Week, which is put on by the Office of Multicultural Student Life, include a panel discussion and book talk.

“Can We Really Coexist: A Multifaith Panel Discussion” will be held from 7–9 p.m. March 29 in Nutting Hall auditorium. Seven panelists will speak about Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Catholicism, Wabanaki spirituality, humanism/atheism and Buddhism. The free public event is organized by the Wilson Center. More information about the panel discussion is online.

Paul Kunoni, author of “The Breaking Spears: A culture at crossroads with modernity,” will discuss his journey from his native African Maasai community to UMaine 2–3 p.m. March 30 in the Coe Room of the Memorial Union.

For more information about Diversity Week, contact Silvestre Guzmán at 581.1437, silvestre.guzman@maine.edu.

Islamic Awareness Week activities will include henna tattoos, Arabic name writing and hijab wrapping at the UMaine Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) table in the Memorial Union Monday through Friday.

The “Reasoning With Beauty: Using Reason in an Age of Rage” themed week will end with two keynote presentations 6–9 p.m. March 31 in 100 D.P. Corbett Business Building.

AbdelRahman Murphy, of the Qalam Institute, will discuss “Islam and the ‘American Dream’: Courage, Service and Sacrifice.” Ubaydullah Evans, the first scholar-in-residence of the American Learning Institute for Muslims, will present “Citizen Islam: Embracing Faith and Country.”

The keynotes are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Refreshments featuring tastes from around the world will be served.

Islamic Awareness Week is organized by the MSA, Islamic Center of Maine and the Honors College, with support from several UMaine programs.

For more about Islamic Awareness Week, email Shiraz Mahmoud, shiraz.mahmoud@maine.edu.