It was with a good deal of reluctance that I let my friends drag me to GW this past Saturday night, where the annual Asian Arts Festival was being held. I was unsure what the festival even was–food and a talent show? A fashion show and henna painting? None of that really interested me. And though the name may not have explicitly stated it, I believed that the event was primarily for members of the Asian clubs on campus. In theory, everyone was welcome, but I believed that my presence would just be awkward. Going in with these ideas, I was surprised to find that the event I had previously thought was only for Asians turned out to be a spectacular celebration of multiculturalism, bringing together students of all races and ethnicities and showcasing the unity that pervades Andover culture. I arrived at the event just as the talent show was beginning. The show featured a diverse array of performances, ranging from traditional Indian dancing to a Korean drama. I was most captivated by a dance performed by Indopak in which people of both Asian and non-Asian heritage performed. I had always been under the impression that the cultural clubs at Andover catered only to those who identified with the respective culture or ethnicity the club was based around. I assumed that if students were not Indian or Pakistani, they couldn’t be a part of Indopak. Watching the Indopak performance shattered that notion. Dancers of various ethnicities dressed in traditional garb took the stage and moved to the beat of an exotic song. To me, it captured the essence of our multicultural campus. Andover students come from some of the farthest reaches of the globe. At first glance, one might assume that the many different backgrounds Andover students come from might separate us, a problem perhaps exacerbated by the dozens of clubs on campus which seemingly seek to divide students into small groups by race or ethnicity. But at this school, the diversity only unites students further and creates a sense of togetherness and security for anyone of any background. Our clubs allow us to celebrate each unique culture. Instead of viewing cultural clubs as groups intended solely for people of one race or ethnicity, we should embrace each club as an opportunity to learn more about the world and our peers. We need to take advantage of the opportunity these clubs allow us to unite even more as one student body, a diverse group of individuals that understands and respects each culture within itself. Before I attended the Asian Arts Festival, I thought it was a gathering solely for the benefit of Asian students rather than the inclusive multicultural event it turned out to be. If you are interested in joining a cultural club, do it. Even if you are not of the specific race or ethnicity a club caters to, get involved. You and the members of the club could learn a lot from each other. Katia Lezine is a new Lower from Winston-Salem, NC.
