United Council of UW Students, Inc. - 5

This years Building Unity conference theme is "Defining Diversity through Re-Defining Ourselves." There comes a time in all of our lives where we have to figure out who we are. We are not the myriad labels heaped on us from birth such as sister, or brother. We develop a sense of power when we aim to outwardly and openly define ourselves. It is because we are all unique that not only when we develop an authentic sense of self, we simultaneously build a sense of true diversity. Not the misconstrued diversity manufactured through tokenism or quotas but the belief we all have something to share and learn from each of our experiences.



Oppression still lives and breaths in our society. The commoditization of our existence, especially on campuses, drives the need for a Building Unity that not only speaks to this experience but allows us to develop strategies for progress and systems of accountability. But it has to be US who define not only self, but progress and accountability.



It is the essence of Audre Lourde's quote, "If I didn't define myself for myself, I would be crunched into other peoples' fantasies for me and be eaten alive."



With our world becoming more global by the day it is of utmost importance that we have a deep and meaningful understanding of ourselves and each other. It is through this understanding we can foster peaceful, productive, and long lasting alliances.

But we must start in our own campus mall, quad, and yard.



The main goal of Building Unity is to help cultivate student leaders to run direct action campaigns on their campuses and win concrete victories for all students on issues of higher education. Using the tools we learn in the classrooms and beyond, we must therefore not only define our battles and goals, but define ourselves.



So it is with this I invite you to participate in this years Building Unity conference.



For more information email Treese at multicultural@unitedcouncil.net or call her at 608-263-3422.