For those looking to immerse themselves in another nation’s culture, traditions and lifestyle, traveling abroad may seem like the only solution. Fortunately, there is a way to experience an explosion of cultural opulence right here on campus. Bringing together people of all cultural descents, relatively new student organization Global Pack “takes ‘One World, One Pack,’ to heart,” according to the group’s Facebook page.   

Since its start in January 2017, the newfound student organization has brought together students of all kinds in celebration of diversity, culture and togetherness. The idea of a group for students of all cultural backgrounds stemmed from a desire to highlight two critical factors — unity and diversity — in order to cultivate a stronger, more cohesive Wolfpack. The group’s co-president Bharat Balagopal, a Ph.D. student studying electrical engineering, has helped the group work toward this all-inclusive goal.

“I think this organization will strengthen the university because it wants to unite people, instead of dividing them, based on their nationalities,” Balagopal said.

With more than 100 registered members and representation from over 30 different countries, Global Pack is off to a steadfast start. For Balagopal, creating such a melting pot of cultures is exactly what he set out to do when starting the organization last semester. In his eyes, meeting and getting to know new people proves the best part. Although there are numerous student organizations that highlight specific nationalities, Balagopal realized something was lacking.

“A significant amount of our student population are from countries that don’t have representation, so we thought it would be nice to have a student organization that’s for everyone,” Balagopal said. “Now students from the U.S. can come and learn about culture from countries around the world.”

The organization works to unite group members with activities like a language exchange night, which has students from different countries teach the fundamentals of their first language to others. In addition to highlighting native languages, the representative group plans on hosting movie nights and a Thanksgiving ball, a “prom for Thanksgiving” featuring music across genres, this semester. After all, as Balagopal said, there are two factors that universally unite people — music and food.

Global Pack co-president Shashank Mathur, a graduate student studying electrical engineering, works alongside Balagopal to help the organization succeed. Mathur’s mission for the organization is to bring together people from all over the world in a sanctuary of sorts for students of all races, cultures and unique backgrounds.

“Everybody who is a part of this group is equal to us, and that’s how you get to make real friends on campus,” Mathur said. “I think that’s the most rewarding part, along with learning new languages and spending time together.”

Since international students commonly endure mild to heavy culture shock after arriving in the U.S., a culturally inclusive unit marks the perfect remedy. Whether it’s simply to relieve exam-related stress, or to provide a dose of home with traditional food and drink, Global Pack is there to help. It is not uncommon for the group members to translate conversations into a new member’s first language in order to cultivate a familiar-yet-thriving atmosphere.

Balagopal said that when international students come to the U.S., it is often to dive into a new culture headfirst. Traveling away from their home country allows international students to embark on a cultural journey, highlighting different nationalities, ways of thinking and the overall aesthetic of what presents itself as a new, seemingly unfamiliar atmosphere. Most importantly, Global Pack acts not only as a way to celebrate diversity, but also as a way to help international students feel at home.

“We’re all human beings in the end,” Balagopal said. “We’re one Pack.”

For more information on Global Pack, visit the organization’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gl0balpack/.