More alike than we think

Using Disney’s "Lilo & Stitch," CultureFest keynote speaker Kevin Wanzer opened the festivities with a theme of diversity and acceptance of differences.\nDespite the humid 98-degree weather, more than 4,000 students crowded into the IU Auditorium and around Showalter Fountain for the Eighth Annual CultureFest, taking the first step toward following the message of the day: meeting new people.\n“The way we treat others is a reflection of the way we see ourselves,” said Wanzer, a professional public speaker and Indianapolis native. “... In ‘Lilo & Stitch’, ‘ohana’ means ‘family’ and that nobody is left behind. And that’s what we have to do: we have to erase forgetting people and realize that we’re more alike than we’d like to think.” \nAssociate Director of Orientation Programs Melanie Payne, who has helped coordinate CultureFest since its beginning, stated that CultureFest originally began as a “gift to the campus,” to celebrate and educate the differences. \n“We wanted to challenge the freshmen to meet different people because not everyone comes from a diverse community,” Payne said. “We wanted to be able to celebrate who is here.” \nAfter Wanzer’s welcome, guests were able to experience ethnic foods from Siam House, Grazie! Italian Eatery, Bombay House and Anatolia Restaurant, in addition to fast food places like Chick-Fil-A and Qdoba Mexican Grill. \nAt a booth represented by La Casa, the Latino Culture Center, senior Brenda Cruz said she came to IU because of its diversity and La Casa. \n“It’s important to become involved and to know what’s out there,” said Cruz, a Latino sorority sister in Gamma Phi Omega. “You won’t ever meet new people if you’re always locked up in your dorm.” \nCultureFest volunteers and sophomores Katherine Akey and Emilee Schwartz agreed with Cruz. \n“CultureFest is a good way to meet new people,” Akey said. “Not many people are used to having, like, GLBT centers, so it’s important to be able to see what’s available at IU.” \nWhile students enjoyed the variety of ethnic food, performers entertained the crowd with dancing and music. \nOne particular dancer was 69-year-old LeRoy Malaterre, a Turtle Mountain Chippewa member, who performed several tribal dances for the audience, including a “sneak up” dance depicting Native American hunters and warriors. \nMalaterre discussed how growing up Native American was challenging for his people. \n“In North Dakota as a kid, we never had Native American teachers or medical personnel,” Malaterre said. “In the 1950s, things got better, but there is still much prejudice toward Indians.” \nFreshman Alec Doane said he enjoyed CultureFest and appreciated the exhibition of cultures and diversity since the community he came from isn’t as ethnically diverse as IU. \n“I really look forward now to hearing the stories of other people, and where they came from and what experiences they have,” Doane said. “CultureFest is a great experience to meet those people.”