Students and faculty will have the opportunity to discuss the media, diversity and issues impacting the TCU community today. The seventh annual TCU Inclusiveness Conference will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

“The purpose of the conference is to engage TCU faculty, staff and students in conversations dealing with issues of diversity in the U.S. and in the international community,” said Darron Turner, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs.

The task force is one of the hosts of the conference, said Emily Dunn, a junior communication studies major and president of the Inclusiveness Task Force.

“The issue is that we really want students to think outside of TCU, outside of our little bubble,” she said.

The Office of the Chancellor is also hosting the conference.

Chancellor Victor Boschini said he hopes the conference will promote unity in the minds of those who participate in the discussions.

“I’d say the best reason for any student to attend the inclusiveness conference is that it deals with a topic that will affect each and every student for the rest of life: The ability to understand and work with people who are each uniquely different than we are,” Boschini said via e-mail.

Dunn said the focus of the conference will be educating students on issues affecting the United States and the world and how the media portray those issues.

“This year is different because we’re not necessarily talking about TCU,” Dunn said.

She said she hopes students will become more aware about what is going on in the world around them.

“Students think that if it’s out of the media, or we don’t talk about it, then they shouldn’t know,” Dunn said.

Turner said various topics of diversity will be addressed through speakers and discussions between faculty and students.

“Everything from religion, to gender issues, to how the media promotes the issues, and how Americans view media in the world, to genocide,” Turner said.

Professors will be leading interactive sessions to encourage discussion of opinions from those in attendance.

Four TCU professors will be leading discussions in areas in which they have personal experience, Dunn said.

“Students, faculty and staff have more options to discuss issues they feel are important,” Turner said.

Those attending the conference will have the opportunity to attend three of the four discussion sessions hosted by the faculty.

Dunn said registration is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until 10 a.m., followed by guest speaker Anthony Walker, a TCU graduate student.

Turner said he is expecting between 125 and 200 students, faculty and staff to attend.