Multicultural fair offers a variety of performances

Students were exposed to 10 diverse organizations through performances and displays on campus Sunday as part of the multicultural fair in McNutt Residence Center’s Flame Room. \nThe free event, organized by CommUNITY Educators, included performances from Hip Hop ConnXion – the Sequel, an a cappella group from the Helene G. Simon Hillel Center, Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, the IU Tae Kwon Do Club, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, the Filipino Student Association, IU Soul Revue, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, IU Aikido Club and the African Gumboot Dance Group. \nThe event started at about 3:30 p.m. with an introduction by Foster CommUNITY Educator Radley Alcantara explaining why the event was created.\n“To create diversity awareness and show students what different resources (are) here on campus,” Alcantara said. \nThe event then kicked off with a choreographed performance by Hip Hop ConnXion – the Sequel. The 17-member group danced a variation of its routines. Although one member was injured during the performance, the group finished its routine. \nSophomore dancer Wesley Owens said he thought the performance went well despite the injured dancer. \n“Basically we are trying to get our name out there,” Owens said. \nAfter the first performances, attendees served themselves ethnic foods provided by Chow Bar, Mandalay Restaurant, Chipotle Mexican Grill, La Torre and Turkuaz Turkish Café.\nStudents were then able to eat and enjoy the rest of the night’s performances. Along with the performances, each organization had a display with information about its organization. Other organizations that did not perform but had displays were Sigma Lambda Beta, OUT! GLBT Student Union, the Office of Mentoring Services and Leadership Development, Sigma Lambda Upsilon sorority and Theta Nu Xi sorority.\nFirst-year graduate student Chloe Risto said she came to the event to learn about IU culture. \n“Call me a general fan because I love seeing everything and anything,” Risto said. \nWhile the hungry crowd ate free food, four members of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity managed to get the attendees’ attention. They proudly gave their fraternity’s history and stepped-danced four different routines in which they made percussive sounds with their feet and hands. \nThe IU Tae Kwon Do Club also got the crowd’s attention with martial arts defense and board-breaking techniques.\nSenior Edward Pak said he hoped the event would expose him and others to diversity around campus. \n“IU always says IU is such a diverse campus, but if you think about it, they don’t really discuss it,” Pak said. “Hopefully events like this raise awareness and hopefully open some eyes.”