KANSAS CITY, Mo. — University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Libraries and the Division of Diversity, Access and Equity will host “What’s Going On? An Exploration of Global Issues Related to War, Genocide, and Crimes Against Humanity” — a three-part discussion series during the first three weeks of April. To register, visit http://library.umkc.edu/form/events.

To coincide with the program series, UMKC Libraries is hosting a new exhibit — “Genocide: The Triumph of Evil” — on the ground floor, 800 E. 51st St., Kansas City, Mo. The exhibit focuses on the atrocities committed by Germans against people of the Jewish faith during the mid-20th century. It features photographs, definitions of the eight stages of genocide and testimonies from area Holocaust survivors adapted from the LaBudde Special Collections‘ Suzanne Statland Collection.

Session One: “Across the Seas”

• Time: 3 to 5 p.m.
• Date: Wednesday, April 6
• Place: Miller Nichols Library iX Theatre, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
• UMKC School of Law professors Bill Eckhardt and Rana Lehr-Lehnardt will discuss international laws regarding genocide and crimes against humanity, focusing on U.S. role and policies and women and children’s rights.

Session Two: “Life-Defining Leadership”

• Time: Noon to 2 p.m.
• Date: Wednesday, April 13
• Place: Miller Nichols Library iX Theatre, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
• Participants can bring their lunches and discuss how participating in an international service or relief program can lead to personal and global transformation.
• Forum speakers: Jennifer Clair-Toy (moderator), coordinator for advising services at the UMKC International Student Affairs Office; Dr. Carole McArthur, professor at the UMKC School of Dentistry and School of Medicine; Claire McMurray, Ph.D, executive staff assistant at UMKC’s Center for International Academic Programs; Russell Shankland, attorney, Romania Peace Corps volunteer, 2005-2007; and Kate Wozniak, study abroad coordinator at UMKC’s Center for International Academic Programs.

Session Three: “Role of Libraries”

• Time: 3 to 5 p.m.
• Date: Wednesday, April 20
• Place: Miller Nichols Library iX Theatre, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
• Lorraine Haricombe, dean of KU Libraries and Biziwe Tembe, South Africa librarian, will discuss issues of international librarianship. They will emphasize the role U.S. libraries can play in rebuilding libraries and improving educational systems in countries ravaged by conflict.

Light refreshments will be provided at each session.

About UMKC Libraries:

An essential partner in intellectual discovery, knowledge creation and empowerment, UMKC Libraries serves as the hub of learning activities for students, researchers and UMKC’s urban neighbors. Not only the home of books and print materials, the UMKC Libraries also provides access to a wide range of audio-visual media, over 300,000 sound recordings and rare and unique collections of books, photographs, manuscripts and maps. UMKC Libraries also link users to a world of scholarly information available through licensed online databases and journals and a vast network of reciprocal borrowing agreements with libraries around the world.

Miller Nichols Library, located on the Volker campus, is UMKC’s largest library and houses the general collection, Music/Media Library, LaBudde Special Collections and Marr Sound Archives. On the Health Sciences campus, the Dental Library and Health Sciences Library serve students and researchers in those disciplines. Along with its partners, the UMKC School of Law’s Leon E. Bloch Law Library and the Linda Hall Library, University Libraries is the comprehensive public research library for Kansas City and the very heart of UMKC.

About the Division of Diversity, Access and Equity:

As an urban institution, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) has the opportunity to set new standards in higher education by accomplishing what very few institutions can claim – a diverse faculty, staff and student body reflecting the community that it serves. This can only be accomplished by developing and maintaining inclusive recruitment, hiring, admission and retention programs throughout the organization.

The Division of Diversity, Access and Equity, reporting to Office of the Chancellor, combines the efforts of the former Diversity In Action and Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action offices. This merger brought together two major functions which are interdependent and essential to the University reaching its full potential.

About UMKC:

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.