Promoting a diverse campus

Henna tattoos, Asian cuisine and opportunities to explore majors await incoming freshmen today as part of the Office of Orientation Programs' Welcome Week. Today's events include CultureFest, a celebration of cultural diversity on the IU campus, and the College of Arts and Sciences Freshman Reception and Expo. \nCurrently in its second year, CultureFest evolved as a result of collaborative efforts between the Office of Orientation Programs and the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Last year's event garnered the support of more than 1500 students, said Melanie Payne, director of Orientation Programs. \nThe current steering committee constitutes a diverse cross-section of administrative and student groups such as Residential Programs and Services, Union Board, IU Student Association and various cultural centers on campus.\nThe festival will kick off with a Union Board-sponsored speaker at the IU Auditorium. Author and hip-hop historian Kevin Powell will issue a challenge to incoming freshmen concerning cultural diversity and acceptance. The host for Black Entertainment Television will begin his address at 4:30 p.m. \n"He's a very dynamic young man, and we felt he had the right combinations of educational background and personal attributes to be a dynamic speaker," said Gloria Gibson, associate vice chancellor for multicultural affairs \nPayne agreed, lauding Powell as "an interesting guy" to whom students can relate.\nThis year's indoor festival will be about a half hour shorter than last year's event. Then-Bloomington Chancellor Ken Gros Louis was last year's keynote speaker, presenting a brief history of IU traditions. \n"We didn't want to lose that depiction of the history and culture of IU as an institution this year," Payne said. "This year, we put together some highlights of history, but the key component will be Kevin."\nFollowing Powell's talk, students will then move outside to the Fine Arts Plaza for the celebratory festival portion of the event. Refreshments from seven food areas will be served and such groups as Latino music group Alma Azul, the IU Soul Revue, female a capella group Ladies First, the IU Swing Dancing Club, and hip-hop group Holistic Experience will perform. Capocira Angola, a Brazilian cultural art, and Chinese Gong Fu will also be demonstrated. \n"Something a lot of people don't understand is this is not a student organizations fair," Payne said. \nThe festival features "anchor areas" manned by representatives from various cultural centers on campus, but it is not a "recruiting tool," Payne said.\nThough the primary target audience is freshmen, Payne said all students are encouraged to attend. \nThe College of Arts and Sciences will also present a Freshman Reception and Expo Thursday afternoon. Representatives from the College's more than 50 departments and programs will be on hand to advise students and answer questions.\nAn estimated 1000 students are expected to attend the event,from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Alumni Hall Solarium of the Indiana Memorial Union.\n"It's one opportunity where all the departments and programs that offer majors in COAS are in one location," said Judy Woodley, coordinator of student recruiting for the College. \n"Complete freedom" distinguishes the COAS event from other similar orientations in other schools, said Linda Smith, associate dean for undergraduate education. She equates the event to a fair, where students may "shop around."\nWhereas other departments and schools outside COAS offer academic orientations focusing on program requirements, the COAS Expo offers a strikingly different format.\n"They can just eat, they can walk around, and they can go in and out of conversations," Smith said. "It's an easygoing, pleasant event -- an opportunity for freshmen to see the totally stunning array of intellectual possibilities in the College"