Friday marks the first President’s Forum on Diversity in a series of monthly conversations on diversity, designed to assist students, faculty and staff address topics of diversity.

Following a speech by President Gregory Geoffroy, attendees will be given the opportunity to generate their own topics for the discussion. The speech is scheduled for 12:20 p.m., following a lunch that begins at 11:30 a.m., in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

“[It’s a venue] for students to get across issues,” said Myron Batsa, director of student diversity for the Government of the Student Body and one of the organizers of the events.

Teresa Branch, associate vice president for Student Affairs, said diversity is one of Geoffroy’s priorities. Geoffroy wants the ISU community to see that diversity is important and efforts to increase diversity at Iowa State should be encouraged, Branch said.

After Geoffroy’s speech, attendees will participate in roundtable discussions.

There is not a specific topic set for Friday’s discussion of diversity. The event will instead focus on what those in attendance choose to discuss, Batsa said.

GSB President T. J. Schneider said this forum will be different than others previously held on campus. He hopes the conversations will bring all three groups — students, faculty and staff — together to address issues. “If we all strive for the same goal with the same mentality, it can be more effective,” Schneider said.

The goal of the forum is to provide a way for students to voice opinions, Batsa said. “It is also a way for students, faculty and staff to see what boundaries they can overcome,” he said.

Speaking about diversity could improve students’ education, he said. “The more diverse we are as a student body, the better quality of education will be,” Batsa said. “Students will be able to bring more to the table.”

It is not only about recruitment, but getting diverse students and staff to stay at Iowa State, Schneider said.

The conversations are open to anyone and Batsa said he encourages everyone to come.

Branch said she believes more than tolerance is important when speaking about diversity.

“It is possible, with the right mindset, to more than just tolerate. We must move development to a point where we can appreciate people for their differences, not just tolerate them,” she said.

Batsa said he also believes the conversations will be useful not only at Iowa State but in a work environment.

Lunch will be served before the conversations at 11:30 a.m. The conversations will then last from 12:20 to 2 p.m. Students may RSVP for the lunch by either by calling 294-1585 or e-mailing Batsa at [email protected].