The Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center hosted another successful Cultural Jam this past Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Quad.

The Cultural Jam is an annual event that occurs during Welcome Week at ETSU, which informs students of the various cultural organizations and interest groups available on campus, along with promoting upcoming programs and events presented by the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center.

Outside of opportunities for student involvement, the Cultural Jam also boasts culturally diverse entertainment, food and activities for attendees.

Laura Terry, the director of Programming and Outreach at ETSU, believes that hosting the annual Cultural Jam is essential for promoting the diversification of ETSU and is proud that the event always has a large turnout. 

“We do believe in diversity and inclusion here on the campus,” Terry said. “We want [students] to come and get engaged and we want them to be a part of these cultural organizations.”

Among the student organizations present on Thursday was the Hispanic American Student Community Alliance, which was represented by Milady Jadalis-Maldonado and Christian Morgan. 

“I feel like this is a great time for us to really branch out and get some students to join our organization,” Jadalis-Maldonado said. 

In addition to networking, the Cultural Jam provided an opportunity to showcase the individuality present within the HASCA.

“[We want to] show everybody on campus our culture, our food, our music, just us,” Morgan said. 

For HASCA and other organizations at ETSU, participating in the Cultural Jam is their way of opening up and accepting new members into what is more so considered a family.

“We’re very close,” Morgan said. “It’s a beautiful thing that we have; it’s kind of like a big, happy family.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority participating at annual ETSU Cultural Jam. (Photograph by Emma Kate Montag/East Tennessean)