by Julia Carachure
Staff Writer
International Student Services, along with various organizations, held its annual Multicultural Fair from April 25-27, entitled “Many Voices, One World.”
Among the groups that organized the event included the Associated Students Federation (ASF) Forum, the Institute for Multicultural Research and Campus Diversity, the Coalition for Diversity, Campus Ministry, Peace Studies and Undergraduate Admissions.
Marcy Garcia, administrative assistant at the International Student Center, said the purpose for the fair is “for students and faculty to become more aware of what is going on around the world.
“Here in the United States we are so centralized with just what happens here that there’s so much in the world that our students need to become aware of,” said Garcia.
“I wish more people would get involved and, during the event, take advantage of knowing the history and the causes of other countries. It’s fun and interesting,” said Garcia.
On Tuesday, lunch was served at the University Mall where students got a chance to eat different kinds of foods from Davenport Dining Hall as well as check out the different booths that represented different countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Hawaii, Japan, India, Mexico, Ecuador, Thailand, France and China.
The International Student Organization also had its own booth.
These booths had a variety of ways to express their own cultures, including food, clothes, posters and artifacts.
The Reed Gratz Band performed during lunch. Also, students got the opportunity to watch other students perform. Sophomore Christina Suan performed a Hawaiian dance. Two students from the Brethren Colleges Abroad program from Ecuador performed an Ecuadorian salsa dance and a girl from India sang a traditional Indian song.
On Wednesday, faculty members gathered in the Miller Hall faculty lounge to put on a workshop called “The Joy of Diversity: Celebrating Uniqueness, Accepting Challenges.”
Students and faculty discussed some of the aspects of diversity, which range from voicing opinions and thoughts about one’s culture to accepting the differences in other cultures.
On Thursday, the rededication of the peace pole took place at the University Mall. A large crowd was in attendance as they gathered near the peace pole.
Debbie Roberts, Protestant minister, told the audience that the peace pole originated from Japan as a way of encouraging harmony after the nuclear bombings that occurred during World War II and that the peace pole will act as a reminder of peace as well as tolerance for all people.
After Roberts spoke, President Stephen Morgan spoke about the history of the peace pole at the University of La Verne, when three years ago the ULV community had activist Eldridge Cleaver help dedicate the pole.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú also spoke at the rededication by saying that people should respect each other and all the lives of the planet, raise better children and “make better lives, respect their families and people.”
Sophomore Chris Arbizu and junior Will Martin on the guitar sang “Peace Train” by Cat Stevens. Upon the end of the song, the audience read the responsive reading and had nine students recite the phrase, “May peace prevail earth” in nine different language which include English, recited by freshman Kim Reed, the Mayan dialect, recited by Nancy Morales; Spanish, recited by Nancy Mendez; Chumash, recited by junior Maria Munoz; the African dialect Yurube, recited by Mubo Owonsekun; Japanese, recited by Madoka Kasara; Hebrew, recited by Professor of Religion Jonathan Reed; German, recited by Shane Haldeman; and Serbo Croatian, recited by sophomore Anna Roy. Following the rededication, a book signing was held afterwards where Menchú signed copies of her book, “I, Rigoberta Menchú.”
Finally, the Fair concluded in the evening with the International Dinner and Peace Fair in the Quad. There, students got a chance to see the Peace Fair, entitled, “What in the World Are You Concerned About?”
The Peace Fair featured different tables, which included pictures of the Mexico trip taken in last January, Voices of Independent Educated Women and International Activism.
The ULV Chorus also performed songs from South Africa and the Peruvian group, Canta America, also performed songs from around the world, including Peru. Finally, Menchú gave another lecture at 7 p.m. at Founders Auditorium, this time addressing the community of La Verne.
Garcia also hopes that people “come out and enjoy it, learn from it [the fair], ask questions, students are willing to answer questions to students that ask them. Become globally aware of what’s around them.”
Julia Carachure
