Members of the RWC community came together to enjoy not only each other’s company, but also to celebrate the diversity of our campus with feasting, sports, and dancing. The festivities on Friday, May 5, ended the week-long Worldfest 2006 celebration in traditional May Day fashion. Throughout the week, cultural diversity in all forms was the theme. On Tuesday, in the lobby across from One Stop, English Professor Rita Kumar, with the help from members of the RWC community, presented poems and passages written by authors of a more culturally diverse selection.
Dean Dolores E. Straker shared some of “Jazzmonia,” by Langston Hughes. Math Lab tutor, Susan Bardes, took listeners on a trip to Holland, with the piece “Welcome to Holland,” which addresses a different type of cultural diversity–life with disabilities. Many of the readings addressed issues of diversity and how society as a whole reacts to those issues.
Several poems written by Native American authors were also shared. However, an untitled poem written by Spiritwind, who is of Cherokee and African-American descent, probably showed the greatest understanding of cultural diversity. In her poem she writes of “a great future in a world of mixed bloods.”
Wednesday, May 3, brought fun and excitement to the Courtyard and Commons. For close to two and a half hours, students and staff had a chance to explore the sights and sounds of the Diversity Fair. Director of Disability Services, Jammin’ John Kraimer offered some eclectic energy channeling entertainment. His skills on the keyboards took listeners on a magic carpet ride.
Mike Roos, RWC English Professor and Activist Editor, played some classic Bob Dylan. He was also joined by Staff Writer, Scott Henthorn on the song, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”
And performing her own acoustic guitar and vocal compositions was Missy Krylach of the Record Management Office.
The Courtyard Concert was wrapped up by Associate Professor of Mathematics, Anthony Malone; who wowed his colleagues and students with his tribute to jazz great Dexter Gordon on the saxophone.
The various displays and activities held during Worldfest 2006 were designed to encourage “outside the box” thinking. Cultural diversity is not about race or being from a different country. It is, however, about embracing the differences in our fellow humans and realizing that those differences are what makes today’s world what it is today.