The University of Northern Colorado’s four cultural centers presented students with a community extravaganza on Tuesday evening outside the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center and Kohl House. Open and free to all students, staff and the general public, the social served as a way for everyone to learn about various aspects of the centers and what they have to offer.
The four cultural centers involved, the Asian Pacific American Student Services; the Native American Student Services; the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center and the Cesar Chavez Cultural Center, presented students with an opportunity to not only socialize with their peers but to also become familiar with notions of cultural awareness and sensitivity.
“Our goal is welcoming back students to our campus community, while displaying to these individual students identifying with these cultural centers that their doors are always open,” said Talia Carroll, director of the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center.
Individuals like Carroll make it possible for UNC to spread the notion of cultural mindfulness. Thanks to the efforts of individuals working within these institutions, students can feel right at home and share these communal experiences within their area of study.
This cultural extravaganza also coincides with the controversial suspension of an Obama-era policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. In an email released by University President Kay Norton a few days ago, some of the details surrounding DACA’s implementation were mentioned:
“As you know, I have been a supporter of the executive order creating DACA and of the BRIDGE Act, a bipartisan bill recently introduced in Congress that addresses the legislative reform required to fix our broken immigration system,” Norton wrote. “These efforts dovetail with our values that welcome all UNC students to take advantage of the opportunity to succeed here.”
Despite the hardships people in our country are facing, UNC is making it possible to relieve some of the pressure and tension through community interaction and collaboration; the extravaganza itself proved just how strong the UNC family is.
Norton also mentioned how the event “demonstrates how we’re all members of the university community.”
“These cultural centers are not just representations of the different groups and organizations on campus; they’re a part of an entire UNC family. This event drives home the fact that we’re both a family and community,” Norton said.
Jonathan “Jon Jon” Miles, a Spanish major and student staff member for the Cesar Chavez Cultural Center, also shared his thoughts regarding the event.
“We hope to get the community of Greeley and UNC involved with this project of cultural awareness, while showing the face of our cultural centers at the same time and allowing others to embrace culture overall,” Miles said. “Our centers are places to feel at home. Today is meant to be a great time.”
Norton also granted the opportunity to speak to the general public regarding the collaborative affair, but more specifically questions surrounding DACA.
“Our school policies are not changing,” Norton said. “We are going to continue monitoring its [DACA’s] implications, while gathering more information about its details. In the meantime, we are still going to remain committed supporting all students, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, color, or background.”
UNC Mirror reporter Andrew Stiegler also contributed to this story.
