As Rainbow Alliance members are expanding the group’s scope to include people of all sexual identities, they are doing the same with their fifth annual Rainbow Week.

The seven days of programming, designed to promote acceptance of different sexual identities, are a great expansion from previous years, event chairman Victor Limjoco said.

“The amount of programming we have has more than doubled,” said Limjoco, a Medill junior. “If you look at each program, they’re all trying to accomplish different objectives.”

Limjoco said highlights include the week’s keynote speaker, slam poet Stacyann Chin and a date auction Thursday night.

“We don’t care who bids on whom,” he said of the auction. “Guys bid on girls, guys bid on guys, whatever.”

Other events during the week include

Monday

_Ѣ Party at The Rock at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., including a guitar performance by Speech junior Ellen Shapiro.

_Ѣ Slam poet Stacyann Chin performs in the week’s keynote event at 7 p.m. in Harris Hall, room 107. Reception follows in the Harris lobby.

Tuesday

_Ѣ Discussion with University President Henry Bienen at 10 a.m. in the Rebecca Crown Center conference room.

Wednesday

_Ѣ Allied issues workshop at noon in Norris University Center, Wisconsin Room, focusing on available resources for straight people helping gay and lesbian individuals.

_Ѣ Student and professional journalists tackle issues facing gay writers at 4:30 p.m. in Fisk Hall, room 111.

_Ѣ Making condom packs with Better Existence with HIV, an Evanston and Chicago social service group. Students can meet at 7 p.m. in the Rainbow Alliance office in Norris.

Thursday

_Ѣ “Lunch and Learn” on Judaism and homosexuality with Rabbi Michael Mishkin at noon in the Fiedler Hillel Center.

_Ѣ Panel workshop on being out of the closet in the professional workplace at 5 p.m. in the Technological Institute room L160.

_Ѣ Date auction at 8 p.m. in the Gathering Place at Norris. Part of the proceeds benefit BEHIV.

_Ѣ Open Mic Night at 9 p.m. in the Gathering Place.

Friday

_Ѣ Vincent McCoy, founder of the Rainbow Alliance, and history Prof. Lane Fenrich discuss the history of NU gay and lesbian issues at noon in Norris’ Wisconsin Room.

_Ѣ Healthy Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Relationships Workshop. Couples share their stories, moderated by counselors from Counseling and Psychological Services at 2:30 p.m. in the 1835 Hinman lounge.

_Ѣ Barbecue at 5 p.m. at the Women’s Center.