Diversity Day at Leuphana with Diversity Breaks
Why is diversity important?
On June 5, Leuphana University celebrated the 6th German Diversity Day, which was initiated by the Diversity Charter. Numerous organizations and companies throughout Germany participate in this day of action.
The term “diversity” refers to social plurality, heterogeneity, and differences in life situations and lifestyles.
Social and cultural diversity is not something that is simply given, but rather the result of negotiation processes and differentiations, and thus depends on historical, socio-cultural, political, and economic contexts.
The diversity of differentiations and possibilities for belonging is also linked to questions of power and social exclusion.
Social heterogeneity is an everyday reality, but it is not reflected to the same extent at German universities. The low proportion of teachers of color, female professors, students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and first-generation students are just four of many examples that show that the barriers to entry at German universities remain high.
How is diversity taken into account and valued in everyday university life at Leuphana?
Where is there a need for action?
Are there exclusion mechanisms and patterns of discrimination that need to be eliminated?
Where is support and counseling available?
These and other questions are the focus of Diversity Day, which sends a clear message in favor of cosmopolitan, diverse, and respectful coexistence and against discrimination and intolerance.
Programme
Tuesday June 5, 2018
10am to 4pm
Diversity-Breaks
3 - 4.30 pm Lecture Performance „Isn’t it Love?“ with turkish artist Ceren Saner
5 - 7 pm 'Encountering Discrimination' - talk about classism with Andreas Kemper and Katharina Trostorff Veranstaltung anlässlich der Veröffentlichung der Publikation "Diskriminierung begegnen" on occasion of the publication of the ASTA
Wednesday June 6, 2018
4 - 5.30pm lecture: „Trans* - a disorderly feeling?“ with Daniel Masch as part of Queere Ringvorlesung
Members of the Network for Gender and Diversity Research, the Round Table Diversity, and the Office for Gender Equality will held “diversity breaks”. They interrupted classes between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to give creative short presentations lasting five to ten minutes on various diversity topics.
The topics ranged from what Diversity Day is, anti-discriminatory language, heterogeneity, migration, multilingualism, stereotypes in education, the third option, invisible illnesses, to queer, transgender, the gender pay gap, and more.
Not only are the topics diverse, but so are the presentation formats, some of which are interactive: quiz questions, short lectures, videos, music contributions, or small performances. They encourage reflection, questioning, or further discussion in different ways.
The presenters leave the room immediately after the break, and the teaching/learning group concerned decides for itself how to deal with the suggestions and whether or not it would like to take up the topic further.
inter*, trans* and "third option"
The use of the wrong name and form of address due to an incorrect gender entry confronts inter* and trans* persons in particular with discrimination, even in university structures. How could a “third option” be implemented at Leuphana that, in addition to the entries ‘male’ and “female,” also allows for non-binary gender identities or a gender other than that assigned at birth?
Alliance for Universities Without Borders : Welcome and Learning Centers and the No Border Academy.
In the summer semester of 2015, the alliance “Hochschule ohne Grenzen” (University without Borders) was founded with the aim of opening up Leuphana University to people with refugee backgrounds. Since then, the alliance of various student initiatives and stakeholders has developed a range of study, language, and empowerment programs. These include, for example, intercultural language tandems, the Open Lecture Hall, and the bridge study program together with the buddy program; the organization of event series; and the activities of the Welcome and Learning Center and the No Border Academy.
If you have special needs or encounter barriers in our content, please contact genderdiversity@leuphana.de