A multicultural festival this week will expose University ofMemphis students to customs from European, African, Hispanic, Asianand Native American regions.
"Respecting Our Differences" will bring the music, art, food anddance of various cultures to The U of M Friday on the UniversityCenter Student Plaza.
"This is the first time The University has had a festival likethis," said Lonnie Latham, associate dean of Minority Affairs. "Weare trying to enhance cultural awareness through social interactionin a diverse setting."
Such events are important for the social development ofstudents, said Tarsha Keskessa, organizing committee member.
"For students to evolve into worldly citizens, they must beexposed to different mentalities and cultures," she said. "Thiscity is becoming so diverse, and I think students are showing anobvious interest in other cultures, which we should encourage."
A number of student organizations are expected to participate,including the Benjamin Hooks Institute, the International StudentAssociation, the Muslim Student Association and the StudentGovernment Association.
Dance performances will include shows by music majors and bellydancers.
"The way an ethnic group dances is such a huge reflection oftheir culture," said Shadiyah Al-Maleeki, sophomore dance major."You can understand so much about a people just by watching themdance."
Food will be provided by the Hispanic Student Association, theKorean Association of Memphis, the African Student Association andthe Office of Minority Affairs.
"We will have traditional American hot dogs, but we'll also havefood from all over the world," Latham said. "We want to combine thefood we're used to with something new and different."
The festival, part of the SGA-funded Project Unite, will alsoinclude student poetry and informative display tables.
"The SGA is involved in this project to raise awareness amongststudents," said Sally Gates, SGA president. "Students havementioned that diversity is an issue on campus so we decided topush for an event like this."
Bashar Sakkan, a student from Syria, said the festival is agreat idea because students of different nationalities do notintermingle enough.
"This is the first time they've done something like this on aFriday afternoon in front of the UC," he said. "It is a fun andpleasant way to learn about each other."
