Festival celebrated Caribbean backgrounds – Archive
Written by Crow's Nest Staff, Oct 19, 2010, 0 Comments
Lauren Martin
Staff Writer
The Black Student Association, Latin American Student Association, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs sponsored the Caribbean heritage event on Oct. 5, to celebrate students’ cultures.
“There are a lot of people on campus that were born in the islands or have a Caribbean background,” said Roshaun Reno, a member of Multicultural Affairs, who is of Jamaican descent.
As part of the homecoming week events, the campus multicultural groups gathered to party like they were in the Caribbean.
The festival included music with an island feel. “The steel drum band performed on the stage and two students played their own music,” said BSA member Shardee McBride.
Students munched on empanadas as the festivities continued through the day. The sound of the steel drums played in the air, and the line for the smoothies got longer.
The islands of the Caribbean can also be reflected by the colors that make it up. Students who attended the event had the opportunity to create their own art to represent the nation they are from or their favorite island of the Caribbean.
At the arts and crafts table, Demerrio Tobler made a vibrant colored headdress. “We made masks and flags that represent what country we’re from,” Tobler said.
The festival not only drew attention to Caribbean heritage and culture, but also brought awareness to the student organizations.
“This event was very successful and it got people interested in knowing more about the Black Student Association as well,” McBride said. “We have more people who want to join the club.”
The multicultural organizations on campus are going to be continuing the celebration of culture by putting on a heritage festival every semester.
“Last spring, we put on an Indian and Spanish festival for the students. We haven’t decided what culture were going to focus on next, but there is going to be a multicultural event every semester,” Tobler said.
