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Show •.J PAGES Multicultual .C enter acts as a 'home away from home' BY PAIGE HENDRICKSON JOURNAL STAFF WRITER sharing history and traditions of other countries. This year the International Club will host the Culture Studies which is open to all studies who The Multicultural Center on campus calls itself would like to learn more about various cultures. the "home to students of diverse cultures and Shabana said the Culture Studies hosted last year ethnicities,.and all who wish to learn more about turned out to be educational and entertaining. other people.· Mariam Shabana, a sophomore from Cairo, In other words, the center serves as a "home Egypt, majoring in interior design, and one of the away from home· to the students from Ghana, International Club's presidents, said an Colombia, Samoa, Japan, Turkey, Korea, China · International student will demonstrate various and Yemen-just to .name a few of the countries aspects of its culture by presenting native food, which the students come from. language and possibly fashion and dance from It also means that the center supplies Anglotheir respective countries at each study. Ame(ican students with the resources they need to Countries that Shabana is hoping to see learn more about these countries' people, cultures, represented this year include Turkey, Korea, Japan, • customs and Mexico, Syria and norms. Colombia. The center Multicultural provides minority· Center activities students with are facilitated tutoring , class through one of its registration six student assistance, organizations-the 'scholarship Native American information and Student other student Association, Black needs. Student Union, Tina Calamity, Polynesian Club, counselor for the International Multicultural Student Center, works Association, closely with SUU's Hispanic Club and International Students for students, as well Campus Diversity. At the top of the stairs in the Sharwan Smith Center sits the as other minority When asked who Multicultural Center. A place for all students of every ethnicity, students. could join the religion, and background to come and learn about each other. She estimates clubs, Calamity that 6 percent of stressed the SUU's student body are minorities. importance of cultural awareness by SUU students. Calamity said although most minority students "The clubs are for everyone," she said , "not just seem to be well received by other T-Birds, "some that particular race or ethnic group." feel very shunned." Like other SUU organizations, each club meets Believing that this reflects a lack of intercultural regularly and provides service to the community. understanding and not a racist attitude held by Through these service projects, students are able students, the center has planned several activities to share their culture with the community. geared toward increasing multicultural awareness Anyone who wants to get involved in any of the on campus. · clubs sponsored by the Multicultural Center should Students can look forward to the Polynesian contact Calamity in the Multicultural Office, which is Club's Luau, the International Food Fair, Latin located on the second floor of the Sharwan Smith dancing demonstrations, Native American Week, Center in room 205T. Or call 586-7772 for more Black History Month, and other activities aimed at information. UNIVERSITY JOURNAL FOCUS ON: MULTICULTU GET CL Clubs bring a world Members representing various International Clubs gathered together t and traditional attire from countries around the world. The International students the opportunity to learn about other cultures and traditions in SUU campus. Hispanic Club offers food; fun a nd friends for all studer1ts BY MELISSA BILLINGS JOURNAL STAFF WRITER can understand [the cultures} better." Hispanic Club members enjoy numerous activities duririg the school year. To plan The Hispanic Club started off the these meetings, members meet together year with salsa dancing , chips every Thursday at 7 p.m. in the and salsa at its opening social on Multicultural Center to exchange ideas Wednesday as new and returning and plari club activities, including the members met and mingled. international food fair, Festival of Trees. •The purpose of the Hispanic Club merengue dancing and the' is "to educate the non-Hispanic Homecoming parade. students about the Hispanic "Hispanic Club is a great learning countries and cultures," said Club experience, but in a fun way. You can President Ghada Shabana , a meet new people and learn about sophomore from Cairo, Egypt, other cultures and countries,• · majoring in international business. "It Shabana said. "If you are in a is also to make Hispanic students feel Spanish class, you can practice at home and welcome [at school} ." speaking with native speakers." One of the biggest benefits the Students do not need to be of abana . Hispanic Club offers its members and Ghada Sh Latin or Hispanic background to join. SUU students is ·cultural awareness," To request more information or become a member Shabana said. "We are trying to educate the school of the SUU Hispanic Club, contact Shabana at and community about the Hispanic cultures so they shab 1819@student. suu .edu. Kaleo Teriipaia, a senior sociology major fro_ m Hawaii, leads the way in a traditional Polynesian dance at fast year's Luau show held in the Centrum Arena. Ch SU too |