19th annual Pow Wow

Spring is here and Western’s calendar is filled with events.  Events on campus have always been promoting diversity and welcoming community members.  There are multiple clubs and organizations which are working on sharing the cultures of their club members and promoting diversity on campus.

On April 14, 2012, Multicultural Student Union (MSU) at Western is going to celebrate their 19th Annual Pow Wow. According to MSU’s invitation letter, this is an event promoting Native American traditions where dancers, drummers and vendors will be gathering to celebrate and educate about their culture. The event will be held at the New PE Gym. This is a free event open to the public, which includes Indian tacos as dinner. The event is scheduled for 5 p.m.

“Last year, this event was very successful. I came to it and enjoyed performances, food and traditions displayed in the event. I am looking forward to the event this year. Having lived in Monmouth for 17 years, I am really glad how students at [Western] organize different events and invite community members to their event.  Events like the annual Pow Wow and International Night are some which we always look forward to attending,” said Monmouth resident Mark Fidner.

“I am very excited to attend this event. I will be looking forward to attending some traditional American event. I like eating tacos; I will surely save some space in my tummy for that day,” said freshman Dyl Karbia, an International student from Liberia. “Having come from West Africa, I am still not aware of traditional American events; attending this event will be a fruitful learning experience for me.”

“We celebrate this event on campus because we feel that it is important to embrace and educate ourselves about the significance of the traditions that the Native American culture celebrates. The Pow Wow is celebrated in the Native American community as a form of gathering for the tribal members to celebrate the richness of their culture.

“This event is a great way for students and community members to come and learn while enjoying the Native American customs. MSU is involved around campus by hosting a variety of cultural events allowing students to be a part and learn about different cultures,” said Mayra Perez and Susie Carrillo, Pow Wow Coordinators from MSU.

MSU is a club that focuses on promoting diversity and cultural awareness throughout the Western campus and the surrounding community. MSU gives students, faculty and staff an opportunity to share their cultural background while learning about others.  MSU has been an active club on campus and has organized many events.

Attending college is a once in a lifetime opportunity for everyone. There are events to attend,  things to learn, and an experience to have, which will last throughout their lifetimes. Events like the Pow Wow will give students the experience of learning Native American traditions out of the classroom, and what else could be better than having it your own campus?