Fleming College

Peterborough ON – (April 8, 2014) – The Fleming College Diversity Office is encouraging all students and staff to wear pink this Wednesday, April 9 in honour of the International Day of Pink, and to support a campus that is free from bullying and harassment.

The International Day of Pink was started in Nova Scotia when 2 straight high school students saw a gay student wearing a pink shirt being bullied. The 2 students intervened, but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic & transphobic bullying. They decided to purchase pink shirts, and a few days later got everyone at school to arrive wearing pink, standing in solidarity. The result was that an entire school stopped homophobic & transphobic bullying.

The Diversity Office is coordinating International Day of Pink events at the Sutherland Campus:

– 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – All are welcome to stop by the information table in the main foyer. Donations are being collected for PARN, Your Community AIDS Resource Network, and you can enter the contest to win a free pink shirt.

– 10 to 11:30 a.m. – The International Student Club at Fleming will be running an event in the main foyer based on the popular Post Secret initiative, where students and staff have the opportunity to share their thoughts on bullying and building inclusive communities anonymously.

– 11:45 a.m. – There will be a special surprise activity in the foyer.

This year’s sponsors include Follet Book Store, Fleming College Peer Mentoring Program, Student Administrative Council, Fleming International Student Association, Fleming Association of Queer Students (FAQS), and Aramark.

For more information about the event, contact Maryam Monsef at 705-749-5530 ext. 1179 or diversity@flemingcollege.ca; for the Fleming Association of Queer Students, contact faqs@flemingcollege.ca. For more information about International Day of Pink, please go to http://www.dayofpink.org/.

“Fleming College believes that diversity and inclusion are the cornerstones of global citizenship, equity and success for both students and staff. Our actions demonstrate that we are committed on an ongoing basis to removing barriers and to actively evolving a culture of respect, recognition, accommodation and celebration of each others’ unique contributions to Fleming’s learning and working environment.”

 
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Community Development and Health, Continuing Education, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Science, Justice and Business, and Skilled Trades and Technology. Fleming College has more than 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and more than 65,000 alumni.

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For more information:
Maryam Monsef, Diversity Officer, diversity@flemingcollege.ca or 705-749-5530 x 1179

Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca or 705.749.5530 x 1370