Campus Life

Students everywhere can be ‘All In at Penn State’ in person and on social media

All In at Penn State: A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion is bringing students, faculty and staff together to show their commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment. Credit: Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When the University comes together at 7:15 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 6) to officially kick off “All In at Penn State: A Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion,” Penn State students everywhere — at University Park, across the Commonwealth and around the world — will be there.

That’s because the event on the lawn of Old Main at University Park will be shown on livestream (allin.psu.edu/kickoffevent) and shared on social media, including Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat. Community members watching from Old Main lawn can use an official Snapchat geofilter. Students everywhere can participate using the hashtag #WeAre and the graphic images designed for the initiative.

To use and customize these images, simply download them as PNG files, then use Photoshop or other photo editing tools to overlay them on your own images. The entire University community is encouraged to participate and share their support for this yearlong endeavor that kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 6.

The “All In at Penn State” event at 7:15 p.m. Thursday will feature a first-of-its-kind for Penn State. A 3-D multi-media presentation will play across the front of Old Main and highlight Penn State’s history, reflect on ways the University can foster dialogue and respect, and ask individuals “Are you all in?”

The question is meant to inspire action by community members to impact the world in positive and enduring ways through the creation of a welcoming and accepting environment.

The initiative, which will continue throughout the academic year, is bringing students, faculty and staff together to show their commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment — respectful of everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, abilities, background, veteran’s status, political beliefs and all the ways we differ. Penn State has made progress when it comes to building supportive, learning communities but there is always more that can be done, and this event is asking students, faculty and staff to focus on these efforts.

The event will include remarks from President Eric Barron and Vice Provost for Educational Equity Marcus Whitehurst, along with music from the Essence of Joy choir; remarks by faculty member Susan Russell and undergraduate student Jin Brooke; and the announcement of a new “All In” Achievement Award to recognize a Penn State student, faculty or staff member who has made a significant contribution to the yearlong celebration and whose life and work embody diversity, inclusion and equity in all of its forms.

“The upcoming ‘All In’ event is acknowledging that there is work to be done in our community, and that the University is committed to decisive action. There is so much positive student energy around these topics and I think the ‘All In’ launch event will maximize that energy,” said Jaime Kraky, executive director of the Student Programming Association and an undergraduate with a dual major in health policy administration and biobehavioral health. “I'm excited to see the ways in which the University capitalizes on this passion and drives it toward giving new meaning to what it means to be a Penn Stater. I will be getting involved because this is my University and I am responsible for the way my fellow students feel and how they are treated.”

Erik Zavala, a senior and member of the University Park Undergraduate Association, said he thinks it is important for students to know about events like this, so they will think about how well they are doing to include others.

“ ‘All In at Penn State’ is one of those efforts and it is like a tool to help educate and include all the communities at Penn State to come together as one community,” Zavala said. “I am getting involved on Oct. 6 because I want to be part of the event that is catered to bring diverse groups, include all communities and educate everyone about the diversity of Penn State and how important it is to include others different from yourself.”

 

Last Updated April 19, 2017