Fulfilling its Swahili namesake, students came together Friday at Umoja: Chillin’ & Grillin’ in the Student Union’s Live Oak Lounge to enjoy music, watch Black Greek stepshows and learn about student organizations.
“It’s not all about what you know of your own organization but getting to want to know about each and every other organization,” said kinesiology senior Akaira Cryer and president of the University’s Black Student Union.
Umoja is an annual event sponsored by the African American Cultural Center meant to welcome incoming and returning students while introducing them to a majority of the University’s minority student organizations.
Events like Umoja are important because they allow students the opportunity to gain firsthand experience with different cultures, Katrice A. Albert, vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach, said.
“What better way to learn about diversity than to have the experience of seeing diverse cultures and having the opportunity to join those student organizations,” Albert said.
Matthew Dupre, a chemistry freshman, watched the event from afar while watching the World Series with his friends and said it was so interesting that he wanted to join the event, but he was hesitant for two main reasons.
“I wanted to watch the game, but also because I wasn’t ready yet,” Dupre said.
Dupre said the event was successful in attracting minority students, but he questioned its success in integrating the student population as a whole.
“It’s all about the intent: if it was designed purely to get the African-American group out here, then it’s a hit,” Dupre said. “But if their intent was … to promote themselves to everyone, then they could have done a little better job.”
Cryer said she interacts with people outside her race, but she views the BSU as her comfort zone when she wants support from her black friends.
“Sometimes you don’t mind going out to communicate with other people,” Cryer said, “but I just feel comfortable being in my own comfort zone.”
Albert said students are insecure when encountering different cultures because they don’t understand their differences and are afraid of offending people. As a result, people become comfortable with the stereotypes they have learned from a variety of places like family, church or the media.
“But it is important for students to use the college experience to increase their awareness, knowledge and skills of how to interact in a diverse community,” Albert said.
Dupre said he wants to participate in Student Government and intramurals after getting adjusted to college and may join a minority organization if he has the chance.
“I like to do my research on what I’ll be joining before I join,” Dupre said.
