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The Chocolate Trail

Amy making some chocolate art.
What is the Chocolate Trail? A trail of chocolate, right? Yes and no, the important factor is where the chocolate trail takes you. The Chocolate Trail is an open house invitation to all Pacific Lutheran University students, staff, and faculty to be a part of a new and different space, not normally in the average PLU person's schedule. As in, if you did not know about the space you obviously wouldn't be in the space. I am being a bit vague about space, but I am referring to a physical room/space. As I said earlier, the Chocolate Trail will lead you to the Diversity Center and Scandinavian Center located in the lower AUC building, the Women's Center across the street from Stuen Hall, and the Wang Center on PLU's upper-campus. I like to refer to these spaces as hidden gems and treasures, waiting to be found. So what better way to find these gems than to have a chocolate trail?

As you make your way through the Chocolate Trail, you are greeted by warm hellos, an overly excited, 30 second speech about the beauty of the center (dCenter), and perhaps a chocolate fountain... free for YOU to enjoy and eat at your heart's content. So what does this all mean? What is the purpose of the Chocolate Trail? Besides eating chocolate and listening to what the space is..... The purpose is to build community, to be a resource, an ally, and to make you want to be a part of an awesome community that serves a specific purpose. Whether it is advocating for social justice and diversity (Diversity Center), fighting for gender equality (Women's Center), being globally aware (Wang Center), or reliving a bit of history (Scandinavian Center). These centers serve the purpose of giving you the tools needed to be an active individual in and out of the PLU community, with chocolate on the side. Funny how a little bit of chocolate can go a long way?
My love for chocolate is real.

On a micro-level, what does the Chocolate Trail mean to me, Jazmyn Carroll (I am stuffing my face in that picture)? The Chocolate Trail is that time of the school year when I get to eat FREE chocolate. I emphasize free because most everything comes with a price tag. It is a designated time for me to enjoy chocolate and share my love for this space, the Diversity Center.It is a time for me to show the world, the PLU world, how much the Diversity Center means to me and the many opportunities that come with it. It is a time to make new friends. And a time to eat as much chocolate as I want.

So, have I convinced you to partake in the Chocolate Trail? It happens at the beginning of every school year, is opened to all, and free of charge. In addition to finding these centers, you are greeted and surrounded by wonderful people. If you're afraid, you can take my hand as we travel on the chocolate trail together.

-Jazmyn Carroll, '15
Diversity Advocate
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