DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat A performer of Bhara Heinataim performs a dance in tribute to the elephant god in the Indian culture last night at the student union. The dance was one of many that took place in the Grand ballroom to promote diversity on the campus.

Students may have noticed the faint scent of curry or the echoes of Mariachi music as they made their way through the Student Union Memorial Center yesterday.

Cultural booths, global films, international foods, performances and open discussions about racial issues all served as parts of the celebration of Diversity Day, part of the Student Union Memorial Center's Grand Opening week.

"(Diversity Day) is a fabulous idea, to get all the cultures mixed together," said Pedram Mahdavi, a member if the Baha'i Club. "Learning from each other's culture, sharing ideas, sharing experiences: that's what it's all about," the economics junior said.

The organizations involved worked together to ensure UA students would have the opportunity to enjoy the many cultures and traditions alive on the UA campus.

(Diversity) is something that we often overlook — opportunities to weave into everything we do. - Ann Wolnick director, UA BookStores public relations

Diversity serves as an integral component and key theme throughout the new union, said Nick Adamakis, marketing director for the Student Union Memorial Center.

"(Diversity) is something that we often overlook ÷ opportunities to weave into everything we do," said Ann Wolnick, public relations director for UA BookStores.

As part of the Diversity Day celebration, cultural organizations were invited to set up tables in the food court and on the UA Mall.

Clubs like the Baha'i Club, Women of Color, the International Students Association and Associated Students with Disabilities, among others, set up booths.

The groups work to increase student body awareness of minority issues and to provide a community for diverse students, focusing on campus and community involvement as well as social events.

In addition, students were able to view the new international flag display in the main bookstore. The flags will stay up permanently, Wolnick said.

"The flags represent the more than 130 nations that our students come from," she said.

"They really represent the diverse student population that we have," Adamakis said. "They're kind of neat, and it adds color."

The bookstore also hosted a performance by Native American dancers in the rotunda in celebration of the dedication of the "Emergence" stairway. The stairway's decorations are based on traditional Native American art.

More dancers performed in the Grand Ballroom later in the day.

More than 200 people watched traditional Japanese, Indian and African dances.

"The fact that these cultures come from places that are thousands of years old is amazing considering we are a country that is so young," said Kyleen Phillips, a sophomore majoring in French education and interdisciplinary studies.

Even the union restaurants got involved.

At the Cactus Grill, staff served up a variety of foreign dishes including Spanish paella, Indian curry, Nigerian spinach and Swedish meatballs, said cashier Annette Rivers.

The food was a hit with diners.

"It is really good to have different cultural tastes instead of having the normal American stuff that we always have," said visiting diner Moshay Williamson.

The Diversity Day attraction that drew one of the largest crowds was the study abroad tent on the Mall. Students stopped in to learn about educational programs in dozens of countries.

"I think that people in our generation want out get out there and see what there is beyond the United States. I think the last couple of years have taught us that we need to expand our horizons," Phillips said.

Diversity Day is part of a weeklong celebration of the Student Union Memorial Center Grand Opening. Each day's activities embody a particular theme, such as involvement and memorial, both of which were celebrated earlier this week.

Today's theme is Heritage. The celebrations will focus on the traditions and history of the university, Mexican music and food, American Indian traditions and other local rituals.

The Grand Opening celebration will conclude tomorrow with Community Day.