Multi-Cultural Appeal

سيداتي وسادتي (Ladies & Gentlemen-in Arabic),
         I was privileged enough to see and hear some pretty amazing things last night on our fine campus here at SUU. Last night was the closing banquet for the Multi-Cultural Club. If you have never seen there sick t-shirts and asked them what they are all about, let me give you the low down. The club was started for lack of a better phrase "break up the white" that is going on in Southern Utah. Obviously, if you have ever been to So. Utah, you know 98% of the community is White & Mormon. SUU has started an amazing global outreach program but the students who get here are extremely traumatized by the overwhelming lack of diversity.
        The club was created to celebrate diversity and different cultures, but not only to celebrate but to educate. The club would spend a whole week learning about on of the members cultures and they would cook food associated with the culture, learn basic phrases, and even learn dances. The club seeked to spread knowledge and they did just that. With a total of about 50 members it was a great start. All because of one man, Shaka Richardson. He, sorry for the pun, "had a dream" and he pushed until he saw it fulfilled.
        As I sat in the Great Hall last night, watching them talk about their accomplishments and honor their members, i realized this may be the best club on campus and one of the most needed here at SUU. As a Saudi student was honored with a certificate from my table, you could tell it meant so much to him and he was so honored. Throughout the rest of the night he took pictures with many of the members but the certificate was always proudly presented and one could tell it was now one of his most cherished possessions. Americans tend to take certificates so lightly and just toss them out, but he was truly honored and that club/his new family made his experience here at SUU memorable and amazing.
       I encourage all of you to at least participate once in Multi-Cultural Club next year, as I know they have many plans. Learn about something that you aren't familiar with and step outside of your boundaries, you will be surprisingly pleased in the end.