On Friday, Feb. 20, guest speaker Matt Glowacki enlightened students in Keene State College’s Mabel Brown Room on how diversity both drives and motivates choices and decisions made every day.
Presented by the Student Activity Council [SAC] and Common Ground, Glowacki spoke on behalf of his program “Diversity According to Family Guy & South Park.” He used hidden messages behind the two television shows to illustrate diversity issues in our culture in an effort to break down stereotypical behavior and attitudes toward people’s differences.
Philip Bergeron / Graphic Design Editor
“Diversity is not just noticing differences in people,” Glowacki said, “Diversity actually involves getting involved with another person.”
In fact, Glowacki can personally relate, having been born without legs.
With a positive attitude, he has not let it get in his way of being happy.
Actually, his positivity over the past 43 years of his life has led him to great success, between earning a position on the U.S.A. Paralympic Team for Sit-Volleyball, as well as in three of his own businesses: MOGO Wheelchairs, Glow Music and Myriad Communications.
His program happens to be the most-booked diversity program in the nation, separating itself apart by addressing three separate diversity topics all in one program.
“I loved Matt’s talk. It was about things people need to open their eyes up to more. He talked not only about racism and sexism, but also the distorted image of beauty that society has created,” Alicia Berry, a junior involved with SAC, said.
She continued, “By using clips from ‘Family Guy’ and ‘South Park,’ he was able to make the program lighthearted while also getting his message across.”
The Event Coordinator of SAC, Connor Turmelle, agreed.
“He definitely did intrigue me. It opened my eyes to ‘Family Guy’ and ‘South Park’ and how people perceive it,” Turmelle said.
“Never judge a book by its cover. Don’t judge others from what you see. People come from different backgrounds. In reality, you have no idea what they’ve been through,” Turmelle concluded.
Jordan Crowley can be contacted at jcrowley@kscequinox.com
