In the days after many of the clubs and organizations gathered together to celebrate involvement and leadership at the Activities Fair, several of these clubs took part in a separate fair that was all their own. The Cultural Activities Fair took place on Thursday, Sept. 13 in the Lower Level of the  John A. Barone Campus Center. The event was hosted by the students and faculty of the Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs to show the level of diversity that the Fairfield University student body has to offer. During the fair, music from different cultures brought students to their feet and participants enjoyed a multitude of international foods such as vegetable samosas, egg rolls and beef patties. Cupcakes in the form of the LGBTQ+ flag were also available for all club members and guests.

Eighteen clubs and organizations were present at the fair as well as over 50 students – according to program coordinator for Student Diversity, and Fairfield alumna, Asha Perry ‘18 – including many first-years eager to see what the University has to offer. There was a check-in table where each student who signed in was given a ‘passport’ which allowed them to go to each table and sign up for whichever clubs were to their liking.

Perry spoke on how hosting the Cultural Activities Fair impacts these clubs and organizations at the University. “It [Cultural Activities Fair] gives them a customized platform to showcase what their clubs have to offer, as well as showing that they are important to the institution,” Perry said. “Most of these groups can be overshadowed during the general Activities Fair, but having this Cultural Activities Fair centers them and gives them their own spotlight to showcase their value to the University.”

While many of the clubs present at the fair were cultural awareness groups, clubs such as the Commuter Student Association, Performing For Change and Be a Humanitarian had their own tables to show the student body how their clubs promote diversity and raise awareness for social justice issues.

Junior Priscilla Roman, fellow of Be a Humanitarian, went into detail regarding human suffering in the world and how students at the University work to prevent it.

“There really is no explanation why people have to be suffering nowadays because we definitely have the resources that we need to feed and to accommodate all of the population that is suffering right now in the world,” Roman explained, “So as a humanitarian action club we try to do what we can here on campus and fundraise as much as we can for different situations that occur around the world.”

Several tables presented information about how their club impacts the University while allowing students to participate in fun activities specific to that culture. For example, the Asian Student Association let guests play a Japanese fishing game in which the player must scoop up as many rubber fish as possible using a very sheer fishing net. If the net broke, the board would then count up how many fish you scooped out of the water and into the jar.

“The goal of the Asian Student Association is to spread Asian awareness and culture,” says Sarah Popolizio ‘20, co-president of ASA. The club also wishes to bring awareness to the background behind various activities and art forms that originated in Asia such as anime.

 

The Cultural Activities Fair also brought attention to international students and students who have studied abroad. One club in particular that did this was Our Global Table, a group which wishes to bring together students who have had any cultural experiences.

“Our Global Table is an opportunity for students on campus who have any kind of international experience to mingle on campus. It’s just an opportunity to share your experiences in other countries and things about your own culture and your own country,” says Clare French ‘20, member of the executive board for the club. “We’re hoping to do one event a month, and the goal is that people share stuff about their culture and stuff about their country just so people are educated about more places. It’s an opportunity for international students to maybe meet more Americans too.”

Overall, the Cultural Activities Fair was a great success. The fair brought together many students of different cultures and backgrounds and gave the clubs present a place to shine. The event highlighted the importance of inclusive excellence and showed how the Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs is represented on campus.

 

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