Upcoming campus events promote cultural diversity

Cultural diversity will be on the menu this weekend with a Diversity Day Defined festival Friday and a Mexican-American fiesta Sunday at Boise State University. Diversity Day Defined will feature booths from nine campus cultural organizations and three Boise State speakers. The event will be held on the Student Union Building patio from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, put together by the Organization de Estudiantes Latino-Americanos (OELA) will run from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

“This event is to show the importance of diversity on our campus and our lives,” Cultural Center Director Ro Parker said. The Cultural Center supports the idea that what makes our country great is the celebration of all types of diversity, including ethnic, cultural, religious, gender and sexual orientation.

Vice President of Student Affairs Michael Laliberte, Associated Students of BSU former Sen. Evan Meriwether and Women’s Center Program Coordinator Petya Stoyanova will speak at the event. BSU student organizations BGLAD, Model United Nations, Amnesty International, Teacher Education Association, Black Student Alliance, Japan Club, International Student Association and the Vietnamese Student Association will be setting up booths. Booth awards for the following categories will be given out: most colorful, most original, best diversity display and friendliest staff. Sunday afternoon the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta will feature a Mexican dance by the Boise Folkloric Cultural Organization, a regional car show, live Spanish language radio broadcasts and the crowning of Miss Cinco de Mayo.

“The Miss Cinco de Mayo portion is not a beauty pageant, it is a chance for girls to get recognized for their outstanding achievements, performance and talent,” OELA member Fabiola Chavez said.

The organizers of the event wish to keep alive the cultural traditions of Mexico and tie traditions into the fabric of American life.

“Cinco de Mayo will expose the Mexican culture to the community and to remind us about our vibrant culture,” OELA member Araceli Munguie said.

CLAUDIO BEAGARIE
News Writer

Related Posts:

1. Students dance, sing, in celebration of diversity requirement
2. Cultural Diversity
3. BSU organizations celebrate Cinco de Mayo
4. Diversity Week offers LGBT awareness events
5. Cultural awareness is delicious