For many of the thousands of students who filed past Bruin Plaza on their way to and from class, it would have been difficult to miss the sights, sounds, and smells of WorldFest.
The week of events was planned by more than 30 campus organizations, and kicked off Monday with a food festival in Bruin Plaza. Organizers said the aim of the week was to provide students with a diverse cultural outlet, from food to dancing to music.
“It’s really about promoting the diversity and culture at UCLA,” said Shivani Sahay, WorldFest director.
Some students, such as Joseph Manoleas, a fourth-year history student, said the allure of world culture, in the form of inexpensive food and free entertainment, was too tempting to resist.
For Manoleas, the decision was not whether to stop and enjoy the multicultural food and atmosphere, but whether he should give in to the smell of barbecue, the appeal of cool boba, or any of the other foods being sold.
He said the decision was not easy.
“I am really impressed with the wide variety of food they have here,” Manoleas said.
And the food was just the beginning of Monday’s festivities. In the evening, a Mariachi band performed in the dining hall in De Neve Commons, and soon after, a kick-off event featuring Hollywood Aerial Arts and Mili Mili, was held.
Monday’s International Food Fest and performances provided a preview of what the festival will offer for the rest of the week. For students wishing to participate, the program will highlight world culture in a variety of ways, with dance lessons, movie screenings and cultural performances.
“I’m really interested in all the events that are being held this week,” said Nam-Giao Do, a first-year global studies student. “I think (WorldFest) is an extremely important event that brings awareness of the cultural diversity around campus.”
For the Cultural Affairs Commission, exposing students to a diversity of cultures was the major motivation for WorldFest.
“The goal is to bring everyone together to create a multicultural week,” Sahay said.
To do so, however, the commission did not simply rely on its own resources to put on the programs. Rather, it brought together various campus organizations, including the Office of Residential Life, John Wooden Center, and USAC offices, among others.
“Though (WorldFest) has been happening since the ’70s, what makes this year different is that we are working with over 30 different organizations to really promote diversity,” said Marivell Caba, USAC cultural affairs commissioner.
One of the organizations participating in WorldFest is UCLA Dining Services, which will be serving ethnic cuisines in residential dining halls all week.
For Jamel Greer, a third-year Afro-American studies student who participated in Monday’s food festival, WorldFest seemed to be a good way to allow students to experience culture.
“I think its a great way to celebrate the multicultural diversity that UCLA and the Los Angeles community have to offer,” he said. “Its a great experience.”