Several delegations felt out during the Diversity week in the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). Diversity week called to unite different ethnic group in the university causes conflict situations every year, claim students and experts.

During the recent Diversity week the Turkmen delegation was not given a chance to dance their national dance. “We were waiting for our turn to dance, but other delegations started dance ahead of us not following the turn. When we finally started to dance they just interrupted us and stopped the music. Our delegation members all were offended and disappointed by the behavior of the students of other delegations”, said Shirin Gurdova, Turkmen delegation representative at AUCA.

At the same time Tatar delegation which could not share the tables with other students’ delegations expresses its discontent. “Our delegation came late with the food. But it was unfair that other delegations used this moment and took our second table leaving us only with one table. As Diversity week called for unity I haven’t took this seriously”, said Djalil Gimatdinov, Tatar delegation representative at AUCA.

Such conflict situations appear every year, claimed Shirin Gurdova. “When you are doing something and somebody interrupts you for their own interest it is not respectful. I was the representative of Turkmen delegation last year too, and the same thing happened last year. That is why Turkmens were so discouraged to take part again this year. When such situations repeated it is not good, and it discourages me from being Turkmen leader next year”, Gurdova added.

Conflicts occur because of the competition, the desire to win.
“Lots of delegations try their best to be the best, and this situation of competition leads to conflict. Because of the shortage of time some delegations missed the chance to dance but some did well. I feel sorry for Turkmen delegation that they missed to dance their national dance”, said Khujesta Sadri, Afghan delegation representative at AUCA.


Previously, some arguments happened between Tajik and Uzbek delegations saying Oybek Aitbaev, Uzbek delegation representative at AUCA. “During the concert one guy was wearing the costume the Chapan actually very similar, I don’t know where he got it from. But I had such costume by home. It is pretty the same it is Uzbek not Tajik but actually Tajik delegation they said it is Tajik. I said, probably you guys have the same”, added Aitbaev.

Diversity week unites all delegations in the frame of one diverse family.
Many people think of diversity week a competition. They try to do and show their best, but it is not a competition it is just to show what you have and it’s so interesting that you have got this, you have got that. This is a very sensitive issue which is not to be competed, for sure this will direct to conflict. said Gulnigari Bihroz, Tajik delegation representative at AUCA.

This year there was a conflict or an argument between Turkmen and Tatar delegation. Overall it was nice, all delegations had friendship behavior with each other, at the end they were sitting together and eating cake. said Adele Omuralieva, student coordinator at AUCA.
Diversity week brings division among delegations.
This is a very serious problem that needs attention. It could teach students basically to understand other people; there will be an appreciation for the diversity of the University. This particular event diversity week actually is the event that split people into different ethnic groups, which is socially constructed; instead of uniting, it divides them. That is something needs to be think of, should continue this practice or may be think of other way how to appreciate the diversity. said Mehrigiul Ablezova, sociology department assistant professor.