Nobody Showcases Cultural Celebrations Better Than Our Students
Student cultural clubs are growing as the diversity of Gonzaga’s student body grows and the University makes a greater effort to provide safe space for underrepresented students.
Cultural clubs help students experience, promote and educate the members they represent. The Unity Alliance of Cultural Clubs (UACC) is an umbrella network of cultural clubs that meets regularly for cross-cultural communication, collaboration and community. UACC advocates for social justice and underrepresented social identity groups at Gonzaga and beyond.
“Providing students with structured opportunities to engage with others who are culturally diverse prepares them to become more effective leaders and global citizens,” explains Joan Iva Fawcett, dean for Social Justice Leadership and Community Empowerment.
UACC has grown dramatically in the past two years.
The increase in international students via Gonzaga Global certainly has contributed to recent expansion.
Thirteen student organizations are part of the UACC: Asian American Union (AAU), Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), Black Student Union (BSU), Filipino American Student Union (FASU), Hawaii/ Pacific Islander Club (HPIC), International Student Union (ISU) and Queer Student Union (QSU). Added last year were Japan Club, Jewish Student Union (JSU) and South Asian Student Union (SASU). New additions this year are Chinese Student Union (CSU), Muslim Student Association (MSA) and Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). Five staff members rotate in facilitating the UACC meetings: Fawcett; Dave Gilbert, director, Center for Student Involvement; Matt Lamsma, dean for Student Development; Jessie Mancilla, director, Unity Multicultural Education Center; and Shawn Washington, assistant chief diversity officer.
Fawcett encourages faculty and staff to introduce themselves to club officers, especially if they share an identity: “They would love to know you exist – make yourself known.” Other ways faculty and staff can get involved is by supporting fundraisers and attending the cultural club signature events.
A Taste of Tet (festival) showcased Vietnamese cuisine, culture and crafts, including a fashion show, a dance performance and an authentic Vietnamese dinner complete with phở bò, a classic beef pho soup, bún thịt nướng, grilled pork served over vermicelli noodles, and chè chuối, a sweet banana dessert.
Gonzaga’s web content strategist Peter Dunau, who attended with his wife, Kathryn, says, “It was a great night out, providing a very cool window into Vietnamese culture. Kathryn remarked that the enthusiasm of the students was contagious. I couldn’t agree more.”
The Black Student Union’s “A Cultural Explosion: Exploring the Black Diaspora,” provided a celebration of song, dance and the spoken word. The evening explored Black identities from around the globe, hence diaspora, or the spread of people from their homelands. The dinner event also showcased the diversity of culture within Black communities.
“In solidarity with student clubs and organizations, we are on a journey of discovery to create events that celebrate food and cultural education,” says Pat Clelland, Sodexo’s regional district manager. He was particularly impressed by GU students working closely with his culinary professionals to craft meals of cultural authenticity.
“Events like these are critical for all of us, especially for our students, who, in this ever- changing robust global environment, thrive in the opportunity to celebrate other lives and cultures that have been shaped by different beliefs, experiences and values,” Clelland says.
Stay tuned for more information on upcoming signature events: the ALAS Festival on March 23 and the HPIC Lu’au on April 20.