By snoadmin
In an effort to get Cal State Long Beach staff, faculty and students to have a dialogue about the different ethnic groups on campus, Associated Students, Inc. sponsored the 2nd Annual Multicultural Festival on March 18 and 19. Tuesday night’s focus is on the Hispanic and Latino cultures.
Tuesday night’s event held a discussion between students about the misconceptions that they have about other cultures and their own.
Despite the low turnout, students were very engaged in various topics that ranged from ethnic stereotypes to the current race issue surrounding the Democratic presidential campaign.
Multicultural Center Director James Manseau Sauceda went from table to table and made sure students were having “deep conversations about the issue.”
At one of the tables, a student of Persian and Latino background explained how hard it was for someone of Middle Eastern descent after 9/11, and that he was tired of the jokes he constantly hears on TV about that part of his culture.
Two students of Mexican-American descent also described the common stereotypes given to their culture.
“People think I must be lazy because I’m Mexican,” said engineering major Juan De La Cruz. “Also that we can’t succeed in this country.”
Among the students present on Tuesday night was ASI President Mark Andrews.
“I know people are very busy and these events may conflict with their schedule,” Andrews said in regards to the low turnout for the event. “But this is only the second year and as long as we stay consistent this is going to grow.”
Christina L. Esparza, the ASI communications coordinator explained that the message they were trying to get across at the events were about the depth of diversity.
Wednesday night focused on the Latino community and the different organizations that CSULB Latino students have created on campus.
Put together by ASI and the Latino Student Union, “Latino Night: Celebrating The Diversity Within” managed to pull a bigger crowd in the Beach Auditorium than the previous day.
“What ASI is trying to do is to focus on one cultural group at a time,” said Juan Rodgriguez, the LSU chair. “If our trial works out then they’ll do this for more cultural groups on campus.”
Students had a chance to see art pieces from Puerto Rico, Peru and Mexico that were on display at the entrance of the Beach Auditorium. There were also performances from Grupo Folkrorico Mexica de CSULB and a student monologue.
Eloina Perez, a mother of a CSULB student, was one of the few parents that attended the event.
“It’s very important to get involved in our children’s education,” Perez said. “I know the sacrifices that they have to make when they’re in college.”
