By Megan Walsh, Staff Writer
Hofstra University has begun participating in its first ever P.R.I.D.E. Week according to Jayne E. Brown, Assistant Vice President for Hofstra’s Student Affairs.
Daily events include a P.R.I.D.E. Week Canned Food Drive and a daily Atrium Table, according to Brown.
Past events include “Health and Wellness Center HIV Testing,” “Engage Yourself!” “Women in Leadership: A Night of Networking and Communication,” “Time Management Workshop,” “Care Packages and Cards for Soldiers,” “Good Morning Commuters, Fill It Up! Yellow Light You Decide,” “What does Respect mean to you?” and the “C2 Coffee Chat,” according to Hofstra’s website. Future events include the “Women’s ‘Herstory’ Month Opening Reception,” “City Year Information Session Give a Year. Change the World,” an event at the Graduate Residence Hall by “The Integrity Campaign,” “Question the Art,” “Guess Who?” “Hofstra Speaks: Diversity,” “Celebrating ‘Diversity & Community’,” “City of God” (Cidade de Deus), “Global Cookie Monsters,” “What Would You Do?” “Building a Bridge Between Service and Learning,” “Fridays at 4,” “Decorate the Netherlands with Art and Words!” and “Karaoke Fridays and Poetry Slam.”
Special events also include samples of drinks handed out by Honest Tea and a “surprise event” at 11:20 a.m. in the student center that Kerri Griesbeck, the Director of Communications for Student Affairs states was “being kept a secret” for the viewers.
In beginning the process of forming P.R.I.D.E. Week, Brown said, “We had a lot of conversations about what students gain from being involved students at Hofstra. When we put them all together we grouped them according to Pride principles” stated Brown
Brown explained that each department participated in P.R.I.D.E. Week by picking one event to do within the department.
“For example, Student Counseling Services made an appointment card which explains the Pride principles on the back,” Brown said.
As far as what students can gain from the experience of P.R.I.D.E. Week, Brown said that, “It gives students a roadmap for them to follow in terms of graduation.”
Free giveaways are also occurring as students can stop in the Student Center for wristbands or bookmarks. Recently, there was even a contest on Facebook and Twitter where students could win a free t-shirt.
