Cultural Programs and Resources
Celebration of Diversity
Butler University's Celebration of Diversity is a comprehensive
analysis and recognition of the contributions of African-Americans
and other ethnic cultures to American history and society.
Promoting ethnic diversity is an integral goal stated in the Butler
University Mission Statement. The celebration of diversity, through
multicultural interaction and awareness, facilitates a greater
appreciation of the inherent complexities and commonalities of our
global community.
Celebration of Diversity has become one of the largest
multicultural collegiate observances in the Midwest. Programmatic
highlights include:
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon Symposium
- Celebration of Diversity Distinguished
Lecture Series
- African-American Music Heritage Festival
- Fall Study Tour
- Women's History Month programming
- Annual student sponsored service projects, educational
programs, and events. Popular student events include the Black
Student Union's, "Showtime on Sunset" Midwest Collegiate Talent
Competition, GospelFest, Unity Ball, and the Campus Style Fashion
Show and Cultural Fair
Celebration of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series
Butler's Celebration of Diversity Distinguished
Lecture Series was implemented in 1988 to provide Butler
University and the greater Indianapolis community. The Celebration
of Diversity Distinguished Lecture Series promotes ethnic diversity
and multicultural awareness through increased interaction with high
profile multicultural scholars, dignitaries and personalities.
Past lecturers have included:
- Dr. Maya Angelou, Inaugural Poet, Author, Actress and
Director
- Carole Simpson, Journalist and Weekend Anchor, ABC Evening
News
- Dr. Joseph Lowery, Civil Rights Activist
- Spike Lee, Actor and Director
- Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Surgeon General of the United States
- Kimberly Aiken, Miss America 1994
- Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Civil Rights Activist
- Dr. Makiziwe (Maki) Mandela, Educator and daughter of Nelson
Mandela, President of the Republic of South Africa
- Robert Townsend, Actor, Director and Comedian
- Dr. Phakamile Gongo, first Black Secretary General of the
Embassy of South Africa
- Dr. Bertice Berry, Award-winning Lecturer, Comedienne, and talk
show host
- Morris Dees, Co-founder and Chief Attorney, Southern Poverty
Law Center
- Myrlie Evers-Williams, Civil Rights Activist and Chairperson of
the National Board of Directors of the NAACP