The Diversity Branch of The University of Alabama Honors College Assembly is taking a new approach to encourage conversation on campus: desserts.

Diverse Desserts is open to all students and includes a variety of activities alongside a spread of desserts, all for the purpose of showing what diversity truly is.

Rebecca Moss, assistant director of the Diversity Branch, said she believes Diverse Desserts provides students an opportunity to have full discussion on different topics.

“The purpose of Diverse Desserts is to create a forum for discussion on diversity,” Moss, a sophomore majoring in political science, said. “Because people like different desserts, it’s a tangible example of how diversity includes everyone.”

Moss said people often assume diversity only touches on race or gender, but the diversity branch is out prove diversity is all about the little things that also differentiate everyone. “A great thing about college is that so many bright minds come together to have discussions on inclusivity, respect and community,” Moss said. “These are things that in everyday life don’t always come up, so to talk about the role of affirmative action, gender identity, mental health, etc., is refreshing.”

Maura Bochte, a current member of the HCA Diversity committee, said the main goal of the branch is to make people think about what diversity means.

“One of our main purposes is to redefine people’s idea of what diversity is,” Bochte, a sophomore majoring in restaurant and hotel management, said. “Diversity is a very intangible and broad concept, so we want people to discover for themselves what diversity means to them.”

The event incorporates activities to encourage attendees to get to know each other and further the ideas of the branch.

“At the last Diverse Desserts, everyone had a partner, and each person put the toppings on their partners’ ice cream,” Bochte said. “So in this simple ice breaker activity, the different ice cream toppings symbolized everyone’s unique diversity. Each Diverse Desserts will be a little bit different, but they will all have a similar message.”

Amber Marks, a member of the Diversity Branch committee said the activities also include speakers from different clubs and organizations to lead discussions about a monthly topic.

Marks said she is excited to see attendees’ responses on the Diverse Desserts poster, one of the activities at the event.

The committee members said they are ready for this week’s upcoming Desserts and have high hopes for the event, which will include a different type of dessert.

“Without giving too much away, I can say that this one will be a little bit more involved,” Botche said.