COLUMBIA, Mo.—On Monday, November 7, Stephens College’s Diversity Coalition kicks off a week of events designed to celebrate diversity. The “Celebrate Stephens: The Difference is You” diversity effort will begin with a range of events from a Cultural Café to a fashion display and performances by Stephens alumna Karith Foster, a comedian, television and radio personality and inspiration speaker.  

The first events planned by the newly created Diversity Coalition, co-chaired by Stephens President Dianne Lynch and Yvonne Chamberlain, director of Leadership and Diversity, represent the group’s mission: to create an environment at Stephens that protects, encourages and celebrates diversity through educational outreach, campus wide programming and institutional policies.

Stephens Theatre Department and the Diversity Coalition are co-sponsoring a free performance of Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays on November 7. Stephens College is the only college in Missouri participating (along with 35 other theatres and university across 22 states) in this nation-wide event.

Dan Schultz, a faculty member at Stephens College, directs the local production, which is open to the public and begins at 7:00 p.m. in Windsor Auditorium, 1400 E. Broadway. Audience members will watch a live streaming introduction before the play, as well as a post-performance Q&A from the Minetta Lane Theatre in NYC where the play began previews on November 7.  Attendees here will be able to participate by submitting questions via Twitter in real time. 

The Diversity Coalition, in conjunction with the Dance and Fashion Departments and Fresh Ideas will also sponsor a Cultural Festival in Stamper Commons on Tuesday, November 8. There will be a a variety of dishes from around the globe, along with common dress from these regions.  

CHIEN HUI (DAVID) SHEN, a member of the World Dance Theatre, in Stamper Commons will also perform in the Pit of Stamper Commons. With a degree in Martial Arts with a focus on Tai Chi Chuan, Shen won the gold medal at the National Tai Chi Competition in Taiwan in 1997. Now New York-based, he dances, choreographs and performs around the world.

A special version of Vespers will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Firestone Baars Chapel on Wednesday, November 9. “The Silent Movement” includes an interactive exercise that’s geared to embrace race, gender, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, age, sexual orientation, and ability.

On Thursday, November 10, Stephens welcomes alumna Karith Foster and her fellow comedian, Adam Lehman, to campus. They’ll present “Stereotype 101, “A Jewish Looking Gay Guy and a White Talking Black Girl” from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Firestone Baars Chapel. The interactive show uses humor to address the subject of stereotyping. That night, the duo will be back again to perform a stand-up comedy show at 10:00 p.m. in the Macklanburg Theater.   

Foster, an African American comedian, television and radio personality is an alumna and best known for being Don Imus’ sidekick on his nationally syndicated “Imus in the Morning” radio show.  Lehman, who studied improve with Second City Training Center, is an advocate for marriage rights for LGBT Americans.

Stephens College, established in 1833, is historically committed to meeting the changing needs of women. Stephens prepares students to become leaders and innovators in a rapidly changing world, and engages lifelong learners in an educational experience characterized by intellectual rigor, creative expression and professional practice.

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