A series of forums, discussions and movies is planned at St. Bonaventure this fall to spark open dialogue among faculty, staff, students and area community members to learn more about the differences among us.

“We want to encompass all facets of diversity in a continued commitment to engage people in conversations on difference, such as ability, class, gender, race, culture, sexual orientation and gender identity,” said Parker Suddeth, coordinator of the Damietta Center for Multicultural Student Affairs at the university.

The series of programs, called IDEAL, begins Thursday, Sept. 8, with the showing of the film “Lives Worth Living” at 4 p.m. in The Loft of The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. IDEAL stands for Inclusion, Dignity, Equity, Action and Love.

Last year, St. Bonaventure hosted the RaceMatters series on race and ethnicity. The programs spurred positive communication about race issues, but students expressed their interest in expanding dialogue beyond race when they were surveyed last spring.

Like “Lives Worth Living,” some of the IDEAL topics have a direct tie-in with the campus common read for 2016-17, “The Boys in the Bunkhouse: Servitude and Salvation in the Heartland.” This All Bonaventure Reads selection explores how and why 32 men with mental disabilities came to live in an Iowa schoolhouse, woefully underpaid, physically and emotionally abused, and nearly forgotten for many years.

Other subjects that will be explored include America’s approach to crime and punishment, the impact of Matthew Shepard’s death, and the working conditions of farm workers.

Returning this year will be the Civil Dialogue Series hosted by the university’s Residence Life staff in The Loft of The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The discussions are designed to bring together different points of view about contemporary topics, engage in meaningful and open dialogue, and allow those present to learn from each other in a safe and respectful environment. Complementing the series will be Café IDEAL, a gathering designed to help the university community continue conversations brought up during the Civil Dialogue Series in the smaller, more intimate setting of Damietta Center. SBU faculty members Dr. Danette Brickman and Dr. Anne-Claire Fisher will be available to assist the conversation. There is no speaker and no set agenda.

All of the IDEAL programs are free and open to the public. For the most up to date schedule of IDEAL events, visit www.sbu.edu/IDEAL.

Schedule of Events

“Lives Worth Living” film sponsored by FYE (First-Year Experience)
September 8, 4 p.m., QCA Loft
People with disabilities are one of the largest minorities in the United States. But for most of American history, they occupied a sub-class of millions without access to everyday things most citizens take for granted. “Lives Worth Living” traces the development of consciousness of pioneers who realized that in order to change the world they needed to work together. Through demonstrations and inside legislative battles, the disability rights community secured equal civil rights for all people with disabilities.

“Matthew Shepard Was A Friend of Mine” film sponsored by SGA (Student Government Association)
September 14, 8-10 p.m., QCA Loft
On Oct. 6, 1998, college student Matthew Shepard became the victim of one of the most notorious hate crimes in American history when he was brutally beaten and left chained to a fence to die, all because he was gay. 

Res Life Civil Dialogue: Are We Too P.C.?
September 19, 4 p.m., Quick Center for the Arts Loft

Café IDEAL: Are We Too P.C.?
September 20, 6 p.m., Damietta Center for Multicultural Student Affairs (Reilly Center Room 208)

The Impact of Special Olympics
September 22, time and location TBA
Neal Johnson, an SBU alumnus and CEO of Special Olympics – New York, will discuss the impact of Special Olympics.

All Bonaventure Reads Keynote
September 26, 7 p.m., Richter Center
All Bonaventure Reads keynote address by Dan Barry, ’80, author of the 2016-17 ABR book “The Boys in the Bunkhouse”

Res Life Civil Dialogue: A Conversation About Privilege
October 6, 4 p.m., QCA Loft

“VICE Special Report: Fixing the System” sponsored by SGA
October 19, 8-10 p.m., QCA Loft
HBO’s “VICE” takes an in-depth look at the pervasive impacts of America’s approach to crime and punishment, chronicling the many interlocking pieces of the sprawling system, from prisoners and their families to the judiciary and community reformers.

“Understanding & Combating Structural Inequality” led by Dr. Ben Gross
October 21, 2:30 p.m., Walsh Auditorium

Disability Awareness Training
October 23, 4 p.m., Swan Business Center Room 209
This training presents disability awareness as a form of diversity training and will discuss proper language, etiquette and interaction skills, and inclusive initiatives for individuals with disabilities.

Res Life Civil Dialogue: Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter
October 25, 4 p.m., QCA Loft

Café IDEAL: Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter
October 26, 4 p.m., Damietta Center for Multicultural Student Affairs (RC 208)

“Food Chains” film sponsored by FYE
November 1, 4 p.m., QCA Loft
In this exposé, an intrepid group of Florida farmworkers battle to defeat the $4 trillion global supermarket industry through their ingenious Fair Food program, which partners with growers and retailers to improve working conditions for farm laborers in the United States.

“The Color of Sex: A Student Discussion on Race and Sexuality” sponsored by SGA
November 9, 8-9:30 p.m., QCA Loft

Thinking & Talking about Intersectionality led by Dr. Ben Gross
November 11, 2:30 p.m., Walsh Auditorium

“Best Kept Secret” film sponsored by FYE
November 14, 4 p.m., QCA Loft
A Newark, N.J., teacher struggles to prepare her students with autism to survive in the brutal world that awaits them once they graduate.

Res Life Civil Dialogue: The Controversies and Complexities of St. Junipero Serra
November 16, 4 p.m., QCA Loft

Café IDEAL: The Controversies and Complexities of St. Junipero Serra
November 29, 4 p.m., Damietta Center for Multicultural Student Affairs (RC 208)   

“How to Survive a Plague” film screening and discussion
November 29, 5-8 p.m., Walsh Auditorium
Dr. Kaplan Harris and Dr. Rachel Ann Walsh of the Department of English will host a film screening of David France’s acclaimed documentary “How to Survive a Plague” (2012). France’s documentary chronicles ACT UP’s (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) successful fight to obtain medical care for those living with HIV and their protest against the widespread neglect and silence that surrounded the AIDS epidemic. This event is co-sponsored by IDEAL and the Department of English. View a trailer of France’s film here: http://surviveaplague.com/

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, we believe in the goodness of every person and in the ability of every person to do extraordinary things.  St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. Named the #5 best college value in the North by U.S. News and World Report, we are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition. Our students are becoming extraordinary.