ND Campus Wide Fair revamped
Jason McFarley and Maria Smith
News Writers
If performances by the Hawaii Club or the Bagpipe Band don't attract a crowd, then Zahm Hall residents smashing a car on North Quad might.
The cultural diversity and creativity of Notre Dame students will be on full display Saturday at the second annual Notre Dame Campus Wide Fair. Featuring a variety of student organizations representing over 15 cultures, the Fair "is a great way to open up the year — just another way to celebrate ND," said Joyce De Leon, chair of the cultural division of the Club Coordination Council.
Student planners of Saturday's Notre Dame Campus Wide Fair say the event improves upon last fall's multicultural fair by showcasing a greater variety of student clubs and interests. Organizers hope the revamped format will boost attendance past the 200 to 300 students who attended last year's fair.
"We've asked more groups to perform and be part of the fair this year," DeLeon said. "It's not just a cultural fair this time."
Students attending the Fair can expect a relaxed, entertaining and informative atmosphere, DeLeon said. "We really wanted to show that culture on campus isn't just something we talk about and learn about in the classroom. This is a chance to showcase everyone's talents and celebrate a sense of togetherness."
The free event includes music, dance and food from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on North Quad. Fairgoers can sample food from a dozen ethnic student clubs and watch performances by 17 groups. The fair includes special performances by the Bagpipe Band, Ballet Folklorico, Coro Primavera, Filipino-American Student Organization, First Class Steppers, Guitar Players Association, gymnastics team, Hawaii Club, Irish Dance Team, Pom Pon Squad, St. Edward's Hall Players and Voices of Faith. Performances begin at 2 p.m.
Zahm Hall has planned a unique show, said Morgan Russell, co-chair of the cultural division in the Office of the Student Body President. Residents of the North Quad residence hall will take turns smashing an old car with baseball bats.
"The idea behind the whole fair was to create a fun outdoor event that people can just stop by and have fun at," Russell said. "It's a good thing to go out and see it. It's an even better thing to walk away thinking about it."
Organizers timed the fair around the football team's bye week this weekend, DeLeon said.
DeLeon had originally planned the fair for last spring as a campaign goal on Brian Moscona and Keri Oxley's platform when the pair ran for student body president and vice president. After Libby Bishop and Trip Foley defeated them in the election, the new student leaders voiced support of the fair even though it had been a Moscona-Oxley idea, DeLeon said.
Notre Dame Student Government, the Office of Student Activities, Multicultural Student Programs and Services, Student Union Board and Campus Ministry sponsor the fair.
Among the groups providing cultural music, dance and food at the fair will be FASO. The group plans to perform two traditional dances and to serve free food prepared by the officers. Club Vice President Charleen Vinalon encouraged students to stop by and said, "The goal of our performance is to share our culture with a wider part of Notre Dame. We're trying to demonstrate how fun it can be to try something new, and I think that the Campus Fair will give a lot of groups that chance."
"I'm really excited for the cultural clubs that don't get to do big events on campus," DeLeon said. "With the fair, they get a lot of exposure without having to spend a lot of their resources."
Stepan Center will host the event in the event of rain.
All News Stories for Friday, September 27, 2002
