Affirmative Action Explored at "Our Story" Conference

Gustavus Adolphus College’s seventh annual “Our Story” Conference, focusing on the evolution and future of affirmative action, will take place Saturday, Nov. 4. The conference is free and open to the public. The schedule of events includes:

• 9 a.m. — Registration in the C. Charles Jackson Campus Center
• 10 a.m. — Service by Bishop Wayne Felton, senior pastor of In the Word Church, accompanied by the Gustavus Gospel Choir, in Christ Chapel
• 11 a.m. — “Whither Affirmative Action: A Meditation on Grutter v. Bollinger,” by Harry McKinley Williams, distinguished teaching professor of history and the humanities at Carleton College in Northfield, in Alumni Hall in O.J. Johnson Student Union
• 12 p.m. — Lunch in the Evelyn Young Dining Room in the Campus Center
• 1 p.m. — Workshops in the Campus Center and Johnson Student Union:

• “Encouraging Access: A Holistic Approach to College Admission” by Mark Anderson, vice president for admission and student financial assistance at Gustavus
• “Who Gets In? An Interactive Affirmative Action Exercise” by Gustavus students Laurie Callaway and Shana Clarke
• “Affirmative Action: Its Original Purpose and Its Present Use” by Susan Stevens Chambers, lawyer with the Mankato firm of Chesley, Kroon, Chambers, Harvey & Carpenter
• “What do Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Mean to You?” by Kirk Beyer, director of human resources at Gustavus
• “The Hidden History of Affirmative Action for Whites” by Kate Wittenstein, professor of history at Gustavus

• 2:30 p.m. — Panel discussion in the Board Room in the Campus Center
• 4 p.m. — Workshops — repeat of 1 p.m. sessions
• 5 p.m. — Dinner in the Heritage Room in the Campus Center

This student-led conference, sponsored by the Pan Afrikan Student Organization, seeks to educate through interactive workshops, lectures, and entertainment. The term “Our Story” comes into use as an aid to recognize that documented history has not always been accurate and truthful about the African descendent’s experience in the world. This conference celebrates the rich heritage of the African diaspora by increasing the awareness of the struggles and triumphs of its people.

For more information, contact the Office of Diversity at (507) 933-7449.