Collegiate Times

The Asian and Asian American community at Virginia Tech will be the focus of today’s 13th Annual Diversity Summit.

The event will be held from 2-5 p.m. in Squires Commonwealth Ballroom and is intended to open conversations about diversity on campus.

“Essentially, it is an educational tool that is put on by the university annually,” said Ross Edmonds, a member of the University Libraries Diversity Committee.  “It is a way for the university community to come together to talk about diversity.”

Sponsored by the Commission for Equal Opportunity and Diversity, with help from the Division of Student Affairs, SGA and the Office for Equity and Inclusion, the summit is titled, “Insight and Perspective into the Asian/Asian American Community at Virginia Tech.”

The day will consist of discussions, as well as polling and identity items that highlight different perspectives of the Asian and Asian American community at Tech.

The summit will come to a close with “a panel of undergraduates, graduates, and faculty discussing their experience as Asians at Virginia Tech,” Edmonds said.

According to Edmonds, the summit will focus on the Asian-American community because though it is one of the largest minority groups on campus, issues relating to Asian Americans are often overlooked.

“We want people to understand that they are actually a very diverse group from many different countries and experiences,” Edmonds said.

The event is open to all students, faculty and staff at Tech as well as residents of the local community.