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UM-Dearborn School of Management Hosts Free, Public Seminar to Explore Diversity in the Workplace

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 February 2007, 15:00 CST

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn School of Management will host a seminar entitled "Agents of Social Change?: Exploring the Business Case for Diversity" on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6:15 p.m. at the Fairlane Center. The free seminar will focus on diversity in the workplace, how the legal and social environments are influencing policies and practices, and practical implications of new laws addressing affirmative action.

The three-speaker panel includes: Dennis Archer, president of Dickinson Wright PLLC and former mayor of the City of Detroit; Ron Gettelfinger, president of the United Auto Workers union (UAW); and Stephen Moore, senior economics writer for the Wall Street Journal editorial page.

The event is free and open to the public and there will be an opportunity for questions from the audience. The event opens with a reception at 5:15 p.m. and the discussion begins at 6:15 p.m. at the Fairlane Center South Dining Rooms B&C, 19000 Hubbard Avenue in Dearborn.

"Businesses today place a high value on diversity, and, as educators, we have a responsibility to introduce our students to this important, but often sensitive, issue," said Bruce Bublitz, dean of the School of Management. "This event brings academia and businesses together for an open and inclusive dialogue."

This event is part of the Difficult Dialogues initiative sponsored by a $100,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to promote campus environments where sensitive subjects can be discussed in a spirit of open scholarly inquiry, academic freedom and with respect for different viewpoints. The grant was originally created in response to reports of growing intolerance and efforts to curb academic freedom at colleges and universities.

UM-Dearborn was awarded the grant in 2005 to develop a series of courses, public lectures and related activities addressing the racial divide; religious diversity and intolerance; and issues of Middle Eastern identity, politics and culture relevant to our campus and regional community.

The Ford Foundation launched Difficult Dialogues in April 2005 as part of a broader, $12 million effort to understand and combat anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other forms of bigotry in the United States and Europe. It builds on the foundation's other forms of supporting colleges and universities to foster more inclusive campus environments and to engage effectively with the growing racial, religious and ethnic diversity of their student bodies.

The university is committed to preparing its students for the issues that exist in today's business environment. "I applaud the School of Management for hosting this forum and bringing different viewpoints into an academic setting," said Chancellor Daniel Little. "This is one of a series of events that the university will hold to engage the entire community in open dialogues."

Those interested in attending are asked to contact Beverly Turowski to RSVP at bturowsk@umich.edu or 313-593-5248.

For more information, contact Terry Gallagher at tgallagh@umd.umich.edu or 313-593-5518.

University of Michigan-Dearborn School of Management

CONTACT: Colleen Kmiecik, for University of Michigan-Dearborn School ofManagement +1-248-855-6777, or ckmiecik@marxlayne.com

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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