Colors of the World Celebration brings MU students of all cultures and religions together.
KAREN FLORES / THE QUADRANGLE
By Karen Flores, Staff Writer
Flags, cultural music, festive attire and artifacts filled Kelly Commons as students and clubs came together to celebrate each other’s heritage and cultures during Colors of the World: International Night.
Jubilee Aguilar, campus minister, believes that celebrating the different cultures and ethnicities on campus is important to ensure that students feel seen and explained to The Quadrangle how it connects to Lasallian values.
“Events such as this one are very important to support and have because one of the pillars of Lasallian faith are inclusivity and respect for all persons,” Aguilar said. “I think having clubs with different backgrounds and religions and ethnicities is very crucial, especially since the Multicultural Center hasn’t been very active. It’s good to let the students know that there is an office on campus like the Campus Ministry and Social Action where we encourage them to express their diversity.”
Araceli Cayetano Ambrocio, a junior marketing major, spearheaded this event and expressed that seeing celebrations of cultures is something that gave her a sense of belonging, which is what she wished to see on campus when planning this event.
“I went to the Mexican Day Parade on 34th Street on Sept. 5, and I loved it, there were Mexican flags everywhere, I felt a sense of pride and belonging and thought ‘I want that on campus’,” Cayetano Ambrocio said. “I want people to come in with their flags, dance their music and share and celebrate it with everybody. I have been part of CMSA for a few years now, I talked to [Aguilar] and told her I wanted to host an international night party. She fully supported me and since the CMSA has its own events, it was up to me to make this event happen. I wanted it to make it a community based event.”
Various cultural clubs and organizations, such as the Mexican student association, Muslim student association, the Albanian club, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and many more had tables set up. Students browsed and representatives asked questions as music played in the background.
One of the highlights of the event was the various performances held by members of the clubs.
Kristina Camaj, secretary of the Albanian club, was dressed in Tropoja traditional clothing in which she performed a traditional Albanian dance for everyone.
“It’s really important to connect with all kinds of cultures at the school, because we all have a similar experience where we might be in an environment that makes us feel disconnected from our culture,” Camaj said. “These clubs promote pride in culture and allow us the space to share that feeling with others. I am performing tonight and while I am nervous, I am very excited to share it with everyone and I hope they enjoy it!”
Students were walking around with flags draped around their necks, groups were taking pictures and activities such as bingo and flag Kahoot encouraged students to come together and get to know each other.
Matheo Villada, a junior computer science major, brought his Colombian flag and said he enjoyed playing the flag Kahoot with all his peers.
“My friends invited me, I had a Colombian flag so I figured I could be here to represent,” Villada said. “My favorite part was playing the flag Kahoot. It was very fun. I also liked seeing the different clubs and cultures. It’s important to have those on campus to learn more.”
Gabrielle Blair, a senior philosophy major, expressed that one of her favorite things about the event was seeing the cultural dances and interacting with new people through the various activities.
“My favorite thing about the event was the cultural dances and the ability for a lot of different cultural groups at this campus to showcase their own heritage,” Blair said. “I was also able to meet a lot of new people with everything that event offered and learn through them as well.”
Francisco Galvan, a student in the MU Camino program, expressed that the event was fun and that it helped students see the world in a different way.
“Estoy en el Camino Program y decidí venir a este evento porque me invitaron unos amigos,” Galvan said. “Estamos aquí con diferentes culturas y personas. Eventos como estos cambian las formas de ver al mundo con las diferentes comidas y las canciones y realmente ha sido muy divertido.”
Translation: “I am part of the Camino Program and I decided to come to this event because I was invited by some friends,” Galvan said. “We are here with different cultures and people. Events like these change the ways in which we view the world by [showing us] different foods and songs and it’s really been very fun.”
Cayetano Ambrocio hopes that these kinds of events continue to happen but on a greater scale and says that taking the first step and making your experience what you wish it to be is what makes the difference.
“I think it’s all about whatever you make it,” Cayetano Ambrocio said. “If you want to feel represented, reach out to people who can help you or guide you through it. I did that and they provided me with the sources I needed and regardless of how large or small, any help is good. I hope to be able to do this kind of event again but at a larger scale where more people can come, but celebration and expression are needed. That’s what matters.”