Camarillo, Calif., April 10, 2007 - Students, faculty, and staff members of 91³Ô¹Ï are invited to voluntarily participate in the Day of Silence on Wednesday, April 18.
The Day of Silence was founded in 1996 at the University of Virginia as a way to call attention to the silence created by the oppression of individuals because of their sexual orientation. While this event specifically relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, a zero-tolerance policy for hate is the universal message being expressed.
This is the first year CSUCI students, faculty, and staff will participate in the Day of Silence. The Day of Silence begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. This event is sponsored by CSUCI's Multicultural and Women's & Gender Student Center.
From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. several of the University's administrators will participate in a display of silence at the Islands Café on the campus of 91³Ô¹ÏCI. The following administrators will participate to express their support of zero-tolerance for oppression on the CSUCI campus: Vice President Joanne Coville, Vice President Marty De Los Cobos, The President's Special Assistant Therese Eyermann, Interim Dean Trae Cotton, Dean Ashish Vaidya, and Dean Jane Sweetland. University President Richard R. Rush, Vice President Wm. Gregory Sawyer, Provost and Vice President Ted Lucas will be off campus on April 18 attending a Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation meeting and will be unable to participate.
Students are encouraged to participate by wearing t-shirts and passing out 'speaking cards' that explain the Day of Silence. Day of Silence shirts can be picked up for free between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. in the Bell Tower Breezeway.
Students, faculty and staff may make donations to acknowledge the hour of silence made by the administrators. All donations will be sent to the AIDS Research Alliance. Donations can be made at the event or with Deanne Ellison in the Student Leadership and Community office.
Following the Day of Silence, there will be an assembly to break the silence beginning at 5 p.m. at the Free Speech area of The Hub on the campus of CSUCI. Participants are invited to express themselves during the open microphone portion of the assembly.
For more information please contact Brian McAleney, CSUCI student, at 805-437-2730; Deanne Ellison, ASI and Student Leadership and Community support assistant, 805-437-3151; or the Multicultural and Women's & Gender Student Center, 805-437-8407.
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About 91³Ô¹Ï
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.