Visitors to the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center booth at CultureFest tied strips of cloth inscribed with well wishes to a sapling bent into a hoop.
“Putting a positive wish out there is a great way to really solidify something happening,” said First Nations department secretary Heather Williams.
Students can see the hoop when they visit the First Nations center later in the year and be reminded of the wishes they made, Williams said.
At the La Casa Latino Cultural Center’s booth, second year graduate student Amy Nunez handed out information about Latino support services at IU.
The Latino population makes up a small percentage of the student body, and Nunez said a predominantly white campus can be intimidating.
La Casa’s goal is to let students know it’s a supportive environment.
“We’re here for them if they ever need us,” she said.
Players used rubber ducks to learn about how disabilities aren’t always visible at the Disability Services for Students booth. After finding a color on the bottom of a duck they picked from a water-filled tub, players answered a question about disabilities.
“What president had depression?” The answer: Abraham Lincoln.
Disability Services Coordinator Charlie Stone said the organization works with students to spread awareness and let people know disabilities are nothing to be ashamed of.
Students moved candies from one container to another using chopsticks during a game at the Asian Culture Center’s booth.
The booth was surrounded by people waiting in line to use tickets for free food samplings from seven Bloomington restaurants. Turkish, Afghan and Indian options were available.
Student assistant Alyssa de la Rosa said being at CultureFest is an opportunity to publicize the Asian Culture Center.
“The people who come to ACC are different from the people who come out here,” she said. “We just spread happiness and food.”
Abby Scripka and Anushree Kedia posed for a caricature drawing.
Though they aren’t freshmen, Scripka said coming to CultureFest is a way to celebrate the diversity of IU.
“It’s always such a nice thing to do,” Kedia said. “It’s good to meet new people and answer questions.”
“I just really like free food,” Scripka said.
“That too.”
