By: Rylie Birdwell
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education partnered with International Students and Scholars, and other student organizations to host the 18th annual human library in Holcomb Hall.
The UARK Human Library aims to enrich campus diversity and inclusion through conversations. They plan to implement these conversations through interactive storytelling to help students learn about the experiences and perspectives of unique individuals with compelling life experiences.
Forty-five minute sessions allowed students to converse with those from the background of AHDH, immigrant, homeless, etc.
“The motto of the human library is un judge someone, so the whole point is to talk to someone you wouldn’t normally talk to and be able to put yourself if someone else’s shoes and see life through their eyes,” said Myra Olaya, Graduate Assistant for the Multicultural Center- Oficina Latina.
According to the university’s website, human libraries began in Denmark in 2000 and still happen all over the world today. The UARK human library began on campus in 2009.