Thursday, May 7, 1998
Cultural festival brings world to UCLA
WESTWOOD: Special event promotes awareness of diversity in
student body
By Catherine Turner
Daily Bruin Contributor
Westwood Plaza was filled with the exotic aroma of international
food, waiting to be tasted by curious students at the World Fest on
Wednesday.
Food was only part of the World Fest’s goal to integrate the
UCLA community with the many different cultures prevalent on
campus. Events at the World Fest included cultural food, dances,
speakers and art exhibits.
The various student organizations at the week-long World Fest
all wished to shed light on some of the important cultural events
in their heritages.
"The World Fest is a week-long event promoting cultural
awareness and diversity throughout UCLA and Southern California,"
said Parimal Rohit, director of World Fest.
Student participation ranged from Thai Smakom, Nikkei Student
Union, the Armenian Student Association and Hillel.
The Armenian Student Association (ASA) displayed food with names
that even they could barely spell, including baklava, sarmas and
hamus.
This last week has been especially important to ASA, who are
adamant about making the UCLA community aware of an alleged
genocide inflicted on their people by the Turkish government on
April 24, 1915.
"We want to show everyone at UCLA that we have not perished and
we have a strong culture," said Armine Chaparyan, social-cultural
director for ASA. Events like the World Fest are important
opportunities for students in ASA who strive to prove their
survival and success despite the attempts of the Turkish government
to deny the genocide.
Their presentation at the Culture Fest included music, rare
instruments and a dance, events that few people have ever had the
advantage of seeing.
The World Fest also opened doors for other cultures to invite
students to learn about their traditions and heritage.
"I’d like to promote my culture to others just as I would like
to learn about other cultures," said Vachik Petrossian, vice
president of ASA.
Other events at the World Fest include Polynesian and Hawaiian
dances.
Luau coordinator Justin Khida decided to make the Hui O
‘Imiloa’s annual luau a part of the World Fest because "more people
from outside our club will be there."
Their dances, "Aia La O Pele" and the "Kahiko," are meant to
"share the spirit of giving and sharing the ‘Aloha Spirit’," added
Khida.
The majority of on-campus housing also put together cultural
events to contribute to the World Fest.
Instead of focusing on a specific culture, Rieber Hall decided
to tackle all of Europe. Each floor of Rieber Hall represented a
different European country.
Resident Director Tere Valenzuela wanted the residents to feel
like they could "visit Europe in Rieber."
"We really just wanted students to see that there is a lot more
to see than just the world here at UCLA," Valenzuela said.
Speakers at Rieber Hall encouraged travelling abroad and taking
advantage of the many international programs at UCLA, such as the
Education Abroad Program.
Travelling abroad, reading and socializing with people of
different ethnicities and personal interest were all encouraged by
the World Fest, which was organized by the Cultural Affairs
Commission.
"Students don’t come here to just read books, but also learn
about what different cultures have to offer," Rohit said.
Rohit stressed that although appreciating cultures as uniquely
different is important, unification of students is equally vital.
The World Fest not only portrayed individual cultures but portrayed
them as unified and working together.
"I’m glad that we could bring all groups together, instead of
having them each do their own little thing," Rohit added.