Dancing to Michael Jackson, Middle Eastern food and Haitian trivia may not seem related, but these activities joined together during Union Activity Board’s A Taste of N.C. State to share and celebrate the diverse makeup of the University.
Although Pan-Afrikan Week focused on the celebration and awareness of black culture and traditions, its purpose is to promote diversity as a whole. A Taste of N.C. State brought together more than a dozen organizations across campus representing racial diversity and more.
In its sixth year, A Taste of N.C. State fed students ethnic food and awareness of different cultural clubs at the University. According to committee chair of the Diversity Activities Board and junior in psychology, Taylor Elkins, the event’s purpose was to entertain and educate students about the rich cultural aspects of N.C. State.
“We wanted to share different foods from around the world and also showcase what students are doing here at N.C. State,” Elkins said. “The topic of diversity is thrown around a lot, so we wanted to do something that students would find appealing and interactive. It’s just fun too.”
Featured displays and activities included a table run by Origami Wishes Japan Disaster Relief, which instructed origami crafts, and various displays of cultural clubs like the Caribbean Student Association and the Hispanic organization Mi Familia.
“We are definitely enjoying the events of this week and the fact that students are interested in the diverse backgrounds where we all come from,” Terrence Nelson, a junior in mechanical engineering, said.
Nelson, the president of the Caribbean Student Association, said the organization benefits from this week due to close cultural similarities in African American culture and Caribbean culture.
“It is very similar,” Nelson said. “We have a strong African ancestry, due to the slave trade, and we all have a lot in common. We are known for our easy-going attitudes and although each island in the Caribbean is different when it comes to language and history, there is the one similarity of our ancestry. It comes out in the food, music and dancing.”
Similar to the Caribbean Student Association, Mi Familia, an umbrella organization for Latino students, shares many common roots with Pan-African heritage.
Adrianna Cardinal-de Casas of Mi Familia said the organization used the event to branch out in recruiting more members.
“There is a large Hispanic population that we want to tap in to,” Cardinal-de Casas, a sophomore in biological sciences, said. “Also, there are many Black Latinos, from Central America and the Caribbean, so this fits well with Pan-Afrikan week. “
Despite the threat of bad weather, A Taste of N.C. State finished before the rain began. Enjoying the warm spring weather before the brief interruption of cold rain, students danced to entertainment provided by Wii video game Just Dance 2 and ate food native to the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
“This year things have been going well for Pan-Afrikan Week and A Taste of N.C. State, and it’s great to continue this tradition,” Ebonie Williams, a graduate assistant for UAB, said. “This week isn’t just about African American students on campus, but also about bringing various organizations together and embracing the differences and similarities that we all have. The mission is to educate students about Pan-Afrikan culture and to make students feel comfortable and welcome, that there is an environment that will accept them.”
