By Faith Jarrell
Student Life Editor
Several Washington College student-led organizations teamed up through the week of Nov. 6 to Nov. 10 to host “Culture Week” in which students could learn about cultures differing from their own. The series of events was hosted by the African Student Union, the Black Student Union, and the Latin Student Union.
The kickoff event on Monday, Nov. 6 was Lotería, which is bingo consisting of a deck of various colorful cards. Lotería took place in the Egg in Hodson Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. LSU was in charge of setting up this event in particular.
The next day, Tuesday, Nov. 7, ASU hosted an African Market. The market was also set up in the Egg and was open from noon to 2 p.m. On three long tables, a myriad of items that would have been found at an authentic African market were set out. These items included traditional African clothing and accessories as well as African food and snacks that was being given out.
ASU vice president senior Ketia Kamali was present at the African Market.
“We wanted to showcase what a market would be like back home. Obviously, there would be more food and stuff…but there are snacks, clothes, and fabrics, and you can see a lot of shoes, and waist-beads. I know a lot of people have never seen [an African market], so we just wanted them to see something they’ve never seen before,” Kamali said.
On Wednesday, Nov. 8, BSU held a poetry slam in the Norman James Theatre in William Smith Hall which started at 6 p.m. Participants in the poetry slam included freshman Hope Benjamin, sophomore McKenna Smith, and sophomore Arianna Smith.
All three organizations came together on Thursday, Nov. 9 for a potluck dinner at 7 p.m. in the Egg. The dinner was described as “showcasing our cultures” in an email sent out by ASU president senior Silvana Tipson.
The week ended on Friday, Nov. 10 with Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a celebration hosted by LSU starting at 6 p.m. This event included live performances from students, an ofrenda, or altar for the dead, which anyone could add to, and a face-painter located around Hodson Hall and mostly in the Egg.
Sophomore Roselyn Garcia hopes that “more events like these can keep happening.”
“I wanted to go because it reminded me of home in a way. I’m not Mexican, but I’m Latino, so there are similarities in the culture. Also, I like the idea of sharing, learning, and educating people on different cultures,” Garcia said.
The last event in the “Culture Week” series is a party happening this upcoming Saturday, Nov. 18. The “For the Culture Party” will be held in the Skybox of the Roy Kirby Jr. Stadium from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and will have “music from each culture” according to Tipson’s email.
Photo courtesy of Ketia Kamali.
Photo caption: ASU vice president Ketia Kamali is pictured at the African Market at a table with various clothes, fabrics, shoes, and accessories.