Cultural schooling, meals and enjoyable: Diversity Program Council recap

The pie-in-the-face fundraiser is held yearly to assist Diversity Program Council (DPC) organizations assist one another. Photo by Alison Skowronek.

SAMUEL DEMIS | STAFF REPORTER | sademis@butler.edu

The Diversity Program Council (DPC) hosted a large number of occasions from Oct. 13-17. These occasions supplied informal areas for college kids to embrace their particular person practices and beliefs whereas studying extra about different cultures.

The occasions included a blood drive organized by Students of Color Allied in Healthcare (SOCAH), a bonfire hosted by the Latino Student Union (LSU) and a portray and mocktail evening run by the Muslim Student Association (MSA), amongst different gatherings.

Amy Yactayo, a junior jazz research main and LSU vice chairman of communications, loved the camaraderie concerned in working DPC fundraisers. 

“One of the things we do every year is a pie-in-the-face fundraiser, which we hold as part of our Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations,” Yactayo stated. “It’s great that students are able to participate in such an amusing way; we deeply appreciate it.”

Additionally, the cash earned from the pie-in-the-face occasion is used to fund different DPC occasions all year long. 

Sahar Atmar, a junior biology and Spanish double main and president of the MSA, spoke about her expertise internet hosting the portray and mocktail evening.

“I was very surprised at the turnout for the event,” Atmar stated. “We have a pretty large group, but we also recognize that our events are usually on Wednesdays and not everyone can show up. We’re a very academically-driven group, so with midterms, many of us are incredibly busy. The fact that we were able to get 20 people to show up to that event is something I’m very happy with.”

The occasion offered a possibility to socialize with mocktails whereas studying concerning the 99 names of Allah through painting, combining a non secular academic expertise with an opportunity to unwind and make new pals. 

Atmar additionally mentioned future plans for MSA occasions all through the remainder of the yr.

“Ramadan in February is our biggest event of the year, but in the buildup to that we are planning on bi-weekly events,” Amar stated. “We’ll hold what we call a halaqa, which is the equivalent of a sermon. We’re lucky enough to have a Muslim life advisor on campus; he usually holds those for us. We also work in collaboration with the Compass Center on many of their events.”

The SOCAH blood drive was one other method of fundraising via motion. The drive was operated in partnership with Versiti, which has labored with Butler on quite a few blood donation fundraisers together with the Butler vs. Marquette Blood Battle. 

Tiffany Hoang, a junior healthcare and enterprise main and SOCAH president, expressed curiosity in internet hosting related fundraisers sooner or later.

“One [plan] we’re working on is a blood typing event,” Hoang stated. “We started doing it last year, where students can get tested and find out their blood type. It’s completely safe because we make sure to bring [in] professionals.”

Overall, these occasions are a wonderful alternative for college kids to push past their consolation zones, find out about distinctive cultures and have a enjoyable time assembly new individuals. 

“I would recommend just showing up to any event that sounds interesting,” Hoang stated. “All of the DPC organizations are considered alliance groups, so you don’t need to be part of any specific identity to come to an event.”

Students can discover details about upcoming DPC occasions on the group’s Instagram page.

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