The 11th annual Diversity Summit, which took place last Thursday night and all day Friday around campus, focused on taking action to promote tangible steps toward inclusivity.

“Over the past 11 years, the theme for the Diversity Summit has always been about inclusive excellence, but this year we wanted to promote ways to take action,” said Katrina Yoshida, chair of the USG Diversity Committee.

Over 500 people attended the various events, which were hosted by the Center for Multicultural Excellence (CME).

Students were asked to reflect on inclusiveness and question ways to enhance it around campus during the summit.

Twenty-one different DU organizations and departments helped sponsor the event, including the Center for Teaching and Learning, Faculty Senate, Alumni Relations, Department of Psychology and other various departments.

The summit began on Thursday night with a kick-off event called, “What students are DUing: Social Justice in Action.”

Approximately 25 people gathered at the Holocaust Memorial Social Action Site outside of Margery Read Hall and Daniels College of Business to watch the documentary “In Whose Honor.” The documentary was about the controversy of having Native American logos and imagery as Mascots.

Keynote speaker Jeff Johnson, an award-winning investigative journalist, social activist and political commentator, opened the summit on Friday.

Johnson said diversity is not a program, but rather a cultural value.

He said it’s hard to see change, but courage is the first step.

“Student leaders have to be courageous enough to challenge and change things within their institutions,” said Johnson. “Your legacy will be what you build with your hands collectively, not with what you said. What are you going to do when all these events today are done?”

Chancellor Robert Coombe also gave a speech Friday morning, emphasizing the progression of inclusive excellence over the past 11 years at DU.

Coombe said with the recent conflicts amongst various communities on campus, specifically the Cowboy and Indian party that caused conflict between the Native Student Alliance and Greek Life, the DU community needs to continue striving for inclusiveness.

“We’ve accomplished a lot over the past 11 years, but with recent events there is still a lot that can be done by individuals and groups at the university,” said Coombe.

Coombe said ensuring inclusivity on college campuses is something DU strives for, and he will continue to help improve this.

The summit also had various workshops led by professors, which focused on specific issues such as race, gender and ethnicity.

“I want everyone to take little steps to become active,” said Yoshida. “To open their minds and be social activists, they can do little things that can make the world a better place.”