- In Campus news , Student Tales
- 14/02/2025 14:00
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Diversity Week, previously known as International Week, is one of the most anticipated yearly events at AUBG.
Maha Afif, Secretary of the Board of Phi Beta Delta Honor Society, Epsilon Alpha Chapter, said:
“This year we are trying to transcend the idea that diversity is all about where you come from, just your country. There are many other things: your hobbies, languages, etc.”
“A key benefit of changing the name is separating the ideas of national and cultural identity,” added Lyubomir Yanchev, President of the Board of Phi Beta Delta Honor Society.
Phi Beta Delta does not plan on making any significant changes in the program for the time being, but is open to ideas.
Alterations will be made regarding the culmination point of Diversity Week - Dance and Taste Fest (February 16, 2025). Traditionally, every booth for Taste Fest is marked by the national flag of the country it represents, but this year things may look different. The AUBG community is speculating that the booths will feature only colors or certain elements of the flags.
The debate around the national flags and their significance is still a central topic of Diversity Week in 2025. Two years ago, AUBG students from Russia and Ukraine successfully reached a consensus not to display the Russian national flag during Diversity Week out of respect for their fellow students. This year, five days into Diversity Week no final decision was being made.
“The Board of Phi Beta Delta has left it to AUBG students and Administration to figure out the details regarding the Russian flag,” said Maha.
“We figured that if the AUBG Administration gave us all the freedom to decide for ourselves two years ago, we would be able to talk it out this year as well. We wanted to avoid all the drama and the waste of time,” said Anton Perederii, a representative from Ukraine.
After a one-hour informal meeting between two Russian and two Ukrainian students, the students decided to use the 1991-1993 Russian flag which is associated with peace between Ukraine and Russia during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin. As Anton explained, such a compromise was initiated by the Russian side. The conversation also included anti-war mottos.
“It went naturally unsmoothly, but I was happy with the conversation we had two on two,” said Anton.
However, the idea was turned down by the Administration. The reason behind it is the possible inquiries from outsiders and the endangerment of the families of the Russian students.
“I felt very misunderstood by the Administration. I would say they may have gotten the picture that Russians are being suppressed, which is really not the case,” said Anton.
“I still have trust in my Russian peers. To my best knowledge, there is not going to be a proper state flag, and thank God. That would have been a source of major conflict, not just with Ukrainians,” added Anton.
Both Maha and Lyubo highlighted that Diversity Week is not a club event, but an institutional event, and the Administration needs to be informed on all possible issues.
Aleksandra Krasnova, a Russian student, takes a different approach.
“The Ukrainian side is the one challenging the Administration and I completely understand. I am very close to the people from that group. (...) It goes down the ladder to the students where the opinions are clashing,” said Aleksandra.
“This year, we just have quite a few very active freshmen who are not agreeing with the terms we agreed two years ago,” she added.
“I advise people to listen to each other. I do feel offended that I was not heard. At the end, those representatives are going through almost the same spiral that we went through two years ago. (...) I just want there to be respect for the people who have been through what you have not been through,” said Aleksandra.
Nadine Alsaud, a Syrian student at AUBG, also opened up about her concerns regarding the flags for Dance and Taste Fest.
“I am used to AUBG not speaking about let’s just say the Middle East,” said Nadine.
After the oppressive regime of Bashar Assad had fallen in her native country, she was determined to change the regime flag in AUBG.
“Even though all Syrian embassies around the world changed the flag from the red one to the green one, that still wasn’t enough for AUBG. They wanted international recognition that is not out yet,” said Nadine.
“No one offered help or comfort, for anything,” she added.
Nadine decided to do a petition for putting up the new flag which was supported by around 120 students. However, this resulted in taking down the old flag without it being replaced by the new one.
“Here I started freaking out because in my mind that meant that they are just going to act like Syria never existed, which is crazy,” said Nadine.
“She (Sabina) likes us to be politically active, so why when the university has to be politically involved with us, they want to take a step back?” said Nadine.
The following was added on 25.02.2025
After the successful completion of the Diversity Week, Sabina Wien, Dean of Students and Staff Support of Phi Beta Delta, shared her feelings about these conversations.
“I think I had confirmation from these groups (Russian and Ukrainian students) that they were heard, I hope. Each one of them was ready to give up a little of their initial position (...) and take into consideration the institutional point of view,” said Sabina.
She refused to give specific information about those conversations because of the Dean of Students’ confidential policy.
“There will always be different opinions about what Dance and Taste Fest and representation should be about. If there would be no debate about this, we would not be an institution that educates young people and critical thinking,” added Sabina.
Editors: Eka Iakobadze and Vasil Paskov