University of Chester to host Diversity Festival

Feb 6 2009 Chester Chronicle

A MEMBER of David Cameron’s Shadow Cabinet who travelled to Sudan to help secure the release of a British school teacher will deliver the keynote address at the University of Chester’s annual Diversity Festival.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Social Action, will discuss her party’s vision and work toward an inclusive Britain during the address, which will take place in the Binks Building at the university’s Chester campus on Thursday, February 26, at 6.30pm.

Baroness Warsi was one of two peers who participated in the successful mission to the Sudan in 2007 to secure the release of teacher Gillian Gibbons, who was jailed in 2007 for allowing a teddy bear to be named Mohammad.

Her address is part of a packed programme of events that have been lined up for Diversity Festival 2009, which is being held from February 16-27.

Darren Mooney, diversity/student experience officer and festival organiser, said: “Race, religion, sexuality, discrimination and many other topics will all come under the spotlight, under the general theme of Questioning Equality.”

All festival events are open to the public.

For the full programme, visit www. chester.ac.uk or become a fan of the festival on Facebook. For further information, call 01244 511138.