Events explore aspects of cultures

Katherine K. Gardiner Arizona Daily Wildcat Jodie Hollingsworth, a marketing sophomore, participates in Multi-cultural Week festivities on the Mall at the Japanese culture booth. Hollingsworth plucked a few strings on the kato, a harp/guitar type instrument used in traditional Japanese rituals, after being shown the technique by those running the booth.

Multi-Cultural Week's most popular events were Thursday's "Festival of Nations" and Friday's "Tucson Soul Explosion and African Market Day."

"Tucson Soul Explosion" brought the University of Arizona a taste of African American fashion and art for the fourth year.

"It's something we don't see very much," said Amy Becker, an anthropology freshman.

Friday's events also featured local African American vendors, UA African American fraternities and sororities, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other campus organizations.

"I think it draws the African American community on campus to get information and buy things that they can't get in one place in the city," said Robin Lemon-Soape, coordinator of African American student programs.

Sharon Thomas, owner of Imani, which means "faith" in Swahili, said that most of the outfits, jewelry and dolls she sells come from West Africa and the Ivory Coast.

"We have materials related to history," said Donnell Thomas, Sharon's husband. "When students come in we can explain how this fits into what they learn in class."

Among the "Festival of Nations" performers were the Edelweiss Folk Dancers, a Tucson group of retired men and women who perform at Oktoberfests and international festivals.

"It's nice to explore these people's cultures," said dancer Maurice Swinnen, 72. "People get exposed to other cultures, and they are not afraid."

The group itself was diverse with Belgians, Americans, Russians, Czechs and one UA alumnus.

John Lesko, 73, received his master's degree in business administration from the UA in 1972. He said that when he attended the university, there was no multicultural week.

"Students were marching against the government," he said.

"Get out of Vietnam. That's about the only thing that mattered then."

Future Wildcats also had the opportunity to enjoy Multi-Cultural Week, which was organized by the International Students Association.

"We learned about our history and stuff," said 10-year-old Kyle Woods, a student from Myers-Ganoung Elementary School.

Annika Laguna, 11, another Myers-Ganoung student, said she likes how "they have this day for our culture."

Andrea Laffitte, a field worker for the Tucson Unified School District's African American studies department, said, "We bring them (the students) to the cultural events and expose the kids to the events on campus."

David Longoria, biochemistry freshman, said the "Festival of Nations" had been the only multicultural event that he has noticed on campus. He said it is not enough.

"I think this is really beneficial," said Michael Foltz, a finance junior. "A lot of students bypass it because it doesn't fit into the American pop culture."