Today: Mar 28, 2024

Multicultural Center Welcomes Back Students

Anisa JibrellGeneral Assignment Reporter 

On Thursday, students and faculty were invited to travel the world with their taste buds,;people lined up and waited anxiously for organizers to divulge the vast array of cultural dishes.

The Office of International Education and Multicultural cultural center kick-started the month of September by joining forces to host its 2nd annual multicultural reception on Thursday, in the Adanti Student Center ballroom, welcoming new and returning students to connect with each other and faculty.

Dr. Erin Heidcamp, left, director of the Office of International Education, stands with Dian Brown-Albert, director of the multicultural center.
Dr. Erin Heidcamp, left, director of the Office of International Education, stands with Dian Brown-Albert, director of the multicultural center.

“On behalf of the multicultural center, and the international education office, we would like to thank you so much for your support,” said Dian Albert-Brown, coordinator for Multicultural student activities. “The reason why we are here today, is because we believe in you.”

Some of the dishes included, sushi, yucca fries, yucca is a plant from the agave family with roots in Mexico, crab ragoon, which are deep fried dumplings, and maduros also known as caramelized plantains, suya, a spicy shish kebab with strong roots in Nigeria.

“It’s been a very special week for us, we are are growing, we have new staff members. We’re so excited that we have the opportunity to work with all these different students, said Dr. Erin Heidikamp, interim director of international education, gave a warm welcome to some short-term  international students by bringing them up on stage to introduce them to the crowd.

The goal of the event was to highlight and celebrate the diversity on Southern’s campus and to celebrate multicultural organization and our international students and also our faculty and staff who are from various parts of the world.”

“We’re welcoming students and allowing them to showcase their diversity with food, and introducing students to the international and multicultural events here at southern,” said Tricia Lin, professor of Women Studies.

_MG_0613Speakers encouraged students and faculty to come on stage and participate in ice breakers as a way of bringing faculty and students together.

“Students are the heart of this institution,” said Lin, who shared a speech on behalf of her faculty.

Both clubs worked alongside many other units of the university, such as SAGE, department of women studies, and the LGBQT organization, Prism.

“The great thing about Southern is the school really makes you feel at home,” said Javier Adams, President of Prism, the LGBQT organization at Southern.

Some of the sponsors of the event included the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President and university affair and institutional advancement.

Among those on the cabinet to attend included President Papazian, Dr. Bette Bergeron, Jim Blake, and Dr. Tracy E. Tyree.

“I’m really really happy to students interacting with each other as well as faculty,” said Albert-Brown. As the president said earlier, ‘diversity enriches our lives,’ and it’s really nice to see on our campus here at Southern.”

Photo Credit: Derek Torrellas

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