Culture events to spice up campus today

Around 7,000 freshmen will walk onto Indiana University's sprawled, wooded campus this week. Many will be nervous, others filled with excitement, and most just plain overwhelmed. All, however come together at IU from several different regions around the U.S. and even across the globe.\nAs an important and fairly new custom, IU will host its third annual CultureFest today for the incoming freshmen. CultureFest is a festival that brings together the various cultural groups from across campus and introduces these cultures to IU's new students.\nFrom 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., the IU auditorium and Fine Arts Plaza will be transformed into a bustling and sizzling area with food tents, dance groups showcasing several different ethnicities, henna tattoo artists and information about many of IU's student groups and culture centers.\nThe program will open at the IU Auditorium with a video on IU history and culture. Chancellor Sharon Brehm and IU Associate Vice Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs Gloria Gibson will speak to the new Hoosiers on the importance of diversity on college campuses.\nEmmy Award-winning producer Ray Blanco will then take the microphone as the night's keynote speaker at CultureFest 2002. Blanco, who has received numerous awards and honors from the National Broadcasters Association, was recently listed among the 100 most influential Hispanics in the country by Hispanic Business magazine.\n"We are very excited to have (Blanco) as our featured speaker, because for the last two years we've had African American speakers -- so we wanted to expand our horizons at this year's CultureFest," Gibson said. "His experiences as a producer will bring a new perspective to CultureFest. So many times the media presents a one dimensional stereotype of all people. He will definitely present the students with a challenge while they are here at IU."\nFollowing the events inside the auditorium, students can make their way out to the Fine Arts Plaza where the event continues with free food, dances and fun activities.\nEach culture center on campus will have a table or tent with ethnic food and flyers for interested students. \nTwo stages will be erected on the Plaza where various cultural dancing groups will be performing. The groups include Holistic Experience, The IU Swing Club, Afro Hoosier International, Miss Gay IU Sugar Bear Blackman, Straight No Chaser, Black Cat & The Bonz, Philippine Bayanihan Dance Troupe, Banat Mara and Orquestra Son.\nMelanie Payne, associate director of orientation programs and director of Welcome Week, said she believes CultureFest is an integral part of the freshman's first week because they can learn about different groups of people that make up IU.\n"The message of CultureFest is that there are people like you and not like you, and that's an exciting thing that gives you the opportunity to learn from others," Payne said. "It's a challenge to reach beyond what you already know, because our campus is really a microcosm of the whole real world. And so one of our goals with welcome week is to give the students a taste of all of the possibilities on campus."\nPayne also emphasized that CultureFest shouldn't have to be a stand alone event, in that many activities on campus should be fused with the ideas presented at CultureFest regarding diversity and tolerance.\nMelanie Castillo-Cullather, director of the Asian Culture Center, said she believes that CultureFest is a good outlet for new students to learn about their new environment, and also allows the various culture centers to inform students of the vast opportunities they offer.\n"Oftentimes, we hear a question on whether the Asian Culture Center and other cultural centers are open to non-minority students," Castillo-Cullather said. "Programs like CultureFest help us send our message that cultural centers are open to all and that all students should take advantage of the cultural experience and educational opportunities that are offered."\nDuring the event, the ACC will host a booth featuring a photo exhibit, food and even a game of roulette.\nIn addition to the ACC, other culture centers on campus will showcase certain activities and tasty treats from the countries they represent including La Casa, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, the Native American student group, the International Center and other centers and groups.\n"We are delighted to have an opportunity to interact with all new freshmen at IU," said Gonzalo Isidro-Bruno, coordinator at the International Center. "We believe that many of them are interested in finding out more about other countries and cultures and that meeting and becoming friends with students from several parts of the world is one of the most enriching experiences here"