Worldfest to host cultural exchange

The 13th annual Worldfest will take place this week with
“Peace, Harmony and Diversity” as its theme.

Worldfest 2003 will be held throughout the UCLA campus May 4
through 11, and is hosted by the Undergraduate Students Association
Council’s Cultural Affairs Commission in conjunction with the
Office of Residential Life.

During this week, various student groups, faculty, staff and
affiliates of UCLA will share aspects of their cultures through a
range of artistic expressions, including art exhibits, cultural
dances, musical performances, theatrical presentations, films and
food.

“We want to educate the campus about the different
cultures and diversity found within UCLA, and teach them how to
embrace this diversity as opposed to tolerate it,” said
Satomi Zeigler, co-director of Worldfest 2003. “Tolerance
suggests that there is something wrong.”

The weeks worth of events will attempt to communicate this
message in various ways.

There will be a Cinco de Mayo food sale organized by Lambda
Theta Nu and Gamma Zeta Alpha today in Bruin Plaza from 11 a.m. to
2 p.m. and an international food fair on Tuesday in Bruin Plaza
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will also be daily cultural performances at noon in Bruin
Plaza.

There will be a number of diversity forums and lecture series
focusing on hate crimes, the Southeast Asian experience, the Middle
East peace process, the racial privacy initiative and racial
profiling and interracial experience.

“I think its a great idea to educate and expose students
to the different cultures at UCLA since this is such a diverse
community,” said Karen Tom, a first-year undeclared
student.

“Everyone contributes to this world and each other’s
experience here at UCLA,” Zeigler said.

On Friday, an international film festival will be held in the De
Neve Auditorium from 8 to 10 p.m. and all students are welcome to
attend.

The week will come to an end on Saturday with Hip Hop Xplosion
featuring Dead Prez in Ackerman Grand Ballroom from 8 p.m. to 12
a.m.

“The goal of Worldfest is to promote cultural
awareness, communication, appreciation and tolerance not only
during the weeklong activities but also throughout the year,”
said Amber Clarke, co-director of Worldfest 2003.

“Worldfest hopes to bring about the true spirit of a
cultural exchange and provide an opportunity to educate the campus
community,” she added.

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