KINGSTON, R.I. — September 19, 2008 — The University of Rhode Island will hold its 12th Annual Diversity Week at the Kingston Campus to celebrate the importance of diversity and identity in higher education, the workplace, the community and the world.To be held Monday through Friday, Sept. 22 through 26, Diversity Week will feature more than 60 events – workshops, lectures, art exhibitions, video screenings, book discussions, musical performances, group meditations, and an open mic session – over the five days.

The program will include a keynote address by University of California‐Berkley Professor Tyrone Hayes. Hayes’ lecture, ‘Silent Spring’ to Silent Night: The Silent Attack of Pesticides on the Human Immune System,” will focus on his controversial research exposing the effects of a widely used pesticide. The lecture will be presented on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. in URI’s Memorial Union.

On Friday, Sept. 26, the Pangaea Roots Music Festival will end the week with Dhafer Youssef, the acclaimed Tunisian-born singer, composer, and Arabic lute player. The concert, also free and open to the public, will be held at 8 p.m. in Edwards Auditorium. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Plan to arrive early for best seating at this event, which is sponsored by URI ‘s Department of Housing and Residential Life.

For a complete schedule of the week’s activities, visit the URI Multicultural Center website, www.uri.edu/mcc or download the full schedule of events.