Global Expo Highlights Campus Cultures
Videography and editing by The Signal reporter Victor Araiza. Broadcast reporting by The Signal reporter Haley Follett.
HALEY FOLLETT
THE SIGNAL
Students and staff traveled the world in an afternoon of culture and education at the 2013 Global Expo. The Office of Intercultural Student Services hosted the event Nov. 14.
Thirty-four booths run by student volunteers representing different cultures filled Atrium II as the smell of delicious worldly cuisines lingered down the halls, enticing fellow students to stop by and take a taste.
The theme of this year’s expo was traditional dress. Many of the booth participants impressed students with their cultures’ intricate clothing by wearing it throughout the day or showcasing it within their booth.
“We researched different regions from Mexico: Tlaxcala, Campeche, Chiapas, Michocan, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Jalisco and Veracruz,” said Liliana Zuniga, art education major and participant of the Mexico booth. “We depicted each region for their traditional dresses, so in the map you see what state they are, what are their dresses and little facts about their dresses and what they are known for.”
Clothing was not the only thing on display for viewing. Participants educated attendees further with art, flags, food and many other things unique to their culture.
Every year the Global Expo is put on as an opportunity for UHCL students and staff to obtain information about cultures other than their own.
“By sharing our traditional dress, food, music, dance and artifacts as well as the year’s theme, we inform not only our students, but the entire UHCL community about all of our diverse student groups and the global experience we enjoy on this campus,” said Linda Bullock, assistant dean of student diversity.
The expo had heavy traffic from start to finish as students and staff went from booth to booth with the passport they received from the Intercultural Student Services table set up at the entrance.
The passports featured each booth with a small paragraph enlightening students on what to expect when a stopping by each.
While some booths were run by seasoned veterans others were new to the expo. Tamil Nadu, one of the 28 states of India, was one of the first time booths this year.
“It was really great,” Kavitha Madhavarajan, software engineering major and member of Tamil Nadu booth, said. “I did not know I had so much culture in me. The more I spoke the more I got it out and it felt really good that I actually educated people and made them interested in visiting [Tamil Nadu].”
At the end of the day, Nhee Vang, coordinator for Intercultural Student Services, announced the winning booths for best overall, most spirited, best individual/small group and most educational.
Best overall went to Tamil Nadu; most spirited was awarded to Mexico; best individual/small group was given to Cambodia; and P.A.V.E. took home the win for most educational with their human trafficking booth.
