Celebrations expose ULV diversity
Campus Times
March 19, 1999
BIBAK member, Aron Bumakil leads a dance for the Multicultural Fair
held Tuesday. BIBAK, a Filipino Igorot "people of the mountains,"
organization in the United States, is a nonprofit public corporation. BIBAK
is an acronym for Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao and the Kalinga tribes
of the Grand Cordilleria Central Mountains.
Society of Leaders (SOL) and International Student Organization (ISO)
in conjunction with other social groups on campus, hosted a "Multicultural
week" this week, for cultural awareness.
The week was comprised of several daily events that allowed the campus
as well as the community to experience and learn social and cultural differences.
Courtney Dade, sophomore, and president of SOL, came up with the idea
for an event on campus to promote multicultural awareness. With the help
of ISO, who has had experience in the past with similar events. Dade was
able to make a proposal. Once the proposal was accepted, a grant donated
by ASF for $1,500 helped pay for the presentation and preparation of the
events.
"One of our objectives in SOL is to embrace the different genders
and backgrounds," Dade said.
It was following these objectives that inspired Dade to propose a multicultural
event on campus, which, with time, became a full week event.
"I wanted to set it up like a Homecoming format. That is what got
the most people.
"I contacted different groups on campus and it just grew from there,"
Dade said.
In Dade's plans, diverse dancers and performers would entertain the
audience, while simultaneously educate them.
"I personally had never seen an Egyptian dance before. We wanted
to get new things out to people that would be from different cultures while
at the same time educate them too."
Every day, events like dancers, speakers, vendors and booth displays
were presented throughout various areas on campus.
"The first two days were set up with SOL and ISO for club participation.
It wasn't until the next days that we had Harvel [Lewis, coordinator for
multicultural affairs] and campus ministries involved," said Dade.
In addition, workshop formatted sessions dealt with social issues like
stereotyping and racism. These workshops were generated to promote acceptance
of diversity.
Lewis helped set up these programs with participation from classes.
"Deborah Burris-Kitchen's [assistant professor of sociology] class
presented a panel that presented what it was like to be stereotyped,"
she said.
The week, which was planned since November, was "so much work,"
according to Dade.
Tuesday's luncheon and booth display was a successful event in the eyes
of some students.
"It's a good thing because it makes everyone aware of all the cultures
that exist," said Andee Gomez, freshman English major.
La Velle Wilson, senior, theater arts major, helped in the African-American
Student Alliance (AASA) and the Brothers Forum booth.
Dressed in authentic African attire, Wilson and others offered homemade
food. The event, with its food and decor, added to the goal of the week.
However, the events were not well received in attendance.
Those who attended Tuesday's luncheon were not aware of other sessions
throughout the week.
"Whenever I would ask students if they were attending the day's
event, they would say, 'What event?'" said Lewis.
Even with the poor attendance, those who attended received a good experience.
"It's a good thing to recognize our diversity and background on
campus. We don't do it as often, it is a good thing to do," said Teriy
Castro, a junior diversified major.
Event coordinators will meet soon after the event to discuss next year's
plans of improvement and preparation.
"We hope to make this a yearly event," said Dade.
