Ethnic clubs work to promote cultural awareness
By KATIE MALMQUIST
Scene Writer
Many people argue that Notre Dame and Saint Mary's campuses lack a serious degree of diversity. And while the number of minority students may seem small, the enthusiasm they bring to campus is anything but.
In a wide array of student-run ethnic clubs, these students share their culture with the Notre Dame and Saint Mary's communities, creating opportunities for minority and non-minority students alike. Those featured here are only a few of the many which work hard to promote diversity throughout campus.
Filipino American Student Organization of Notre Dame (FASO)
Like most ethnic clubs on campus, FASO was originally created to provide Filipino students with a chance to explore their culture. The group now functions mainly to share that culture with students of every background.
"We really just want to tell others on campus about Filipino culture and share it with them," said Adrienne de la Rosa, a sophomore member and treasurer of FASO. "We target everyone on campus for participation … a lot of members bring their roommates who aren't Filipino to [club events] and they enjoy participating as much as the other club members who are [Filipino]."
Most of these events center around traditional Filipino rights of celebration like dancing. Dances like the Tinakling, in which a bamboo stick is used to pound out beats on the floor, and the Binasuan, where female dancers balance candles on their head and open palms, are performed at various times throughout the year. Students can usually see these performances in the annual Asian Allure, which is organized by the Asian American Association of Notre Dame, or at other special campus events like the Welcome Back Picnic.
"This year we performed for the alumni at the JACC over a couple of football weekends," said de la Rosa. "That was pretty special because the events usually only feature the cheerleaders and the pom pom squad."
Upcoming FASO events include the annual Fiesta Filipino, which will take place Feb. 24 and will feature dances from all three of the main Philippine islands. The event will be followed by a traditional Filipino dinner prepared by FASO members.
"We do a lot of cooking because food is very important to our culture," said de la Rosa.
FASO members often meet to learn more about cooking Filipino cuisine, learning techniques such as the rolling of eggrolls. These events are open to and attended by students of all backgrounds.
With all this cooking and performing, the club just wants to promote the beauty of their culture throughout South Bend. "In the end, FASO's a lot of fun, and we try to make a family for each other," said de la Rosa.
Le Cercle Francais
In a long standing campus tradition that was resurrected in 1995, Le Cercle Francais is an organization of French-speaking students who meet to celebrate the French language and culture. With the help of professors in the Department of Romance Languages, the members of Le Cercle Francais work toward two main goals: to promote French culture on campus and to give students a chance to practice the language in a casual environment.
Once a week, members of Le Cercle Francais meet to work toward this second goal. At "La Table Francaise," students gather for casual discussion on anything from campus happenings to world news. The only stipulation is that students only speak in French.
"Most people that come [to "La Table Francaise"] have returned from studying abroad in France and want to keep up their skills," said Jill Boruff, one of the club's two co-presidents. "But don't be scared if your French isn't great — that's why we are here."
"La Table Francaise" meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Recker's, and is always open to new students who are interested in French culture. Meetings are easygoing and provide students with an opportunity to meet professors in a casual and personal setting. Le Cercle Francais is currently looking to increase participation in this tradition, so if you are at all interested, stop by any week to experience it for yourself.
Other club events include French masses, which are held each semester, and an annual film festival which is currently running films on campus. The third and final film of the series, "La Patinorre" (The Ice Rink) is showing Friday at 2 p.m. in the Annenburg Theatre in the Snite Museum. Le Cercle Francais is also planning a trip to Chicago this semester to dine in a French restaurant and hopefully see some French art. Interested students should contact Boruff for more information.
India Association of Notre Dame
The India Association of Notre Dame, like most ethnic clubs, wants to share Indian culture with all students on campus. Their focus is not just for Indians, but anyone interested in India and its culture.
Members meet for a variety of different events, including club parties, game nights, movie nights and dances. Last year, the India Association held a festival of dances called Bongo Night, which they hope to turn into an annual event.
"Bongo Night was a great success, but there weren't enough non-Indian students, so this year we are hoping to attract more students from different backgrounds," said senior club member Aswini Ramkumar, who served as the club's president during the 1999-2000 academic year.
The night features a number of traditional Indian and Asian dances. The Indian music will also provide fun for anyone interested in Indian culture.
The India Association will be participating in the International Village, a week-long celebration of diversity at Notre Dame which will be held in mid-March. The festival features many different international organizations that will sponsor various ethnic movie screenings, book sales and exhibitions. The International Student Services and Activities homepage on the Internet provides more information on this upcoming event.
Pakistan Association of Notre Dame
The Pakistan Association, one of the younger clubs on campus, was created two years ago by its current president, Ali Qazilbasah.
"When I started the club," said Qazilbasah, "there was not a previous outlet for Pakistanis on campus, but then, there weren't many Pakistani students either. The club started with only two members."
The club has since grown, and now works with a faculty advisor to promote Pakistani culture on campus with a focus on intellectual activity. Last year, the club organized panel discussions with representatives from various countries including Pakistan, India, Mexico and South Africa. The original panel topic was "Issues Around the Globe," and a second discussion followed concerning the future of democracy and human rights in South Asia and India.
Upcoming events include another panel discussion entitled "Rethinking Pakistan." The club is also planning on inviting various scholars to speak on campus, and is currently preparing for a lecture on the origin of the game cricket and its role in Pakistani culture.
The Pakistan Association also plans to participate in the International Village, with various activities to add to the event. One of the more popular is the teaching of Henna, the art of body painting which is not permanent but resembles tattooing.
Like all other ethnic clubs on campus, the Pakistan Association is not limited to Pakistani students, and encourages students of all backgrounds to get involved. Anyone interested in joining should contact Qazilbasah for more information on upcoming events.
Students interested in joining or learning more about any ethnic clubs should contact the Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS) office for further information.
All Scene Stories for Monday, February 5, 2001
