When professor of multicultural education Bernardo Gallegos was hired in August, one of his objectives at WSU was to promote diversity. Gallegos hopes to do just that at the Globalization and Diversity conference starting today through Saturday in the CUB.

More than 100 scholars and writers from around the world will examine the issues of diversity and how it affects the world and future, economically and socially. Discussion panels, speakers, and symposiums will highlight the conference including sessions on multiculturalism, religious identities and race wars. The conference kicks off at 5:30 p.m. today in the CUB Ballroom with a film screening of "My Town," about the Moscow, Idaho controversy over a publication of a book about southern slavery. WSU alumna Cynthia Dillard is one of four keynote speakers and will talk about her experience in Ghana, West Africa where she helped fund a school. She will speak at 4:30 p.m. on Friday in the CUB Auditorium. "The idea of diversity isn't talked about, isn't taken apart," Gallegos said. "These speakers are going to examine diversity from different vantage points and much more in depth than people generally do." Gallegos said diversity is framed different by everyone and the purpose is to have these issues out on the table and talk about them. "Everybody here studies diversity in different ways whether through gender, sexuality, disabilities, whiteness or critical race theory," Gallegos said. "Diversity is a complex issue. It's an ongoing conversation. It's not something that can be simple and can be solved now."

Tara Perry, one of the conference organizers hopes everyone will come. "Given the recent happenings here on campus, it shows that ignorance is still here," Perry said. "It's important to learn the value of knowing where people come from. And at this conference, there will be people who have researched this and tell us about it."

Registration is from 2 to 5:15 p.m. today in the CUB Ballroom. The cost is $50 for students and $100 for the general public. For more information, call 335-8846.