The Multicultural Expo taking place this Tuesday, Sept. 12, promises a diverse atmosphere of fun, food, and entertainment. The Expo will be held at 7 p.m. in the Culp Center Ballroom and is open to the entire campus community.
The goal of the Expo is to embrace the different cultures and ethnicities on campus, to welcome all students and to show them the different organizations and resources available to them.
There will be free food and entertainment. Along with the typical American fare, such as hamburgers, there will also be food available from India, Mexico, France, the Mediterranean, China and Japan.
The activities are just as culturally diverse, with performances by the Gospel Choir and the Bluegrass Band. There is also bellydancing, henna painting, origami, calligraphy and much more.
Along with food and entertainment 18 student organizations will be giving out information, letting students know what is available to them and showcasing many resources students may not be aware of.
Some of the organizations featured at the Expo will be the Student Government Association, Volunteer

ETSU, the Black Affairs Association, International Living and Learning Community, the Women’s Resource Center, Women’s Studies, the RHA, the SORC, the ARC, the MCA, the Japanese Culture Society and the Rainbow Society.
ETSU is a diverse community, with a population of 5-6 percent black, 1-2 percent Asian American and less then 1 percent Native American. Campus diversity expands every year. The Multicultural Expo stresses the importance of celebrating diversity and educating students about other cultures.
The Multicultural Affairs Web Site states that “The expo provides students the opportunity to acquire more information about services and campus resources through displays and interactions from various departments and student organizations.”
“The purpose of it is to get all the students of color, and any student, to know of the organizations we have on campus . There are all types of services available to them.” States Laura Terry, Head of Multicultural Affairs. Terry stressed the importance of “experiential learning for everyone,” getting to know different cultures in college, so that when students enter the workforce they are well prepared to embrace other cultures.
Freshman Jordan Williams heard about the Expo through a flyer in the mail. “I’m excited about the free food and bellydancing. It is important to see the different cultural groups and student organizations and what they have to offer.”
Whatever a student’s background or ethnicity might be, the Multicultural Expo is a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and to have a lot of fun.
“Everyone needs to understand that we are different, but we are similar,” says Terry, “We want everyone to know that we do celebrate and appreciate everyone’s culture and ethnicity.”
Along with the Multicultural Expo, the office of Multicultural Affairs also sponsors National Hispanic Heritage Month, going on this month, as well as Gay and Lesbian History Month and National Disabilities Awareness Month in October. For more information visit the Multicultural Affairs website at http://www.etsu.edu/students/central/multcult/mult.htm or contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs, located in the SORC.

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