To celebrate cultural diversity and to start off Asian American, Pacific Islander and Desi (APIDA) Heritage Month here at Ramapo College, the South Asian Student Organization hosted their event Beyond Borders: A Cultural Celebration. This event, with the help of the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (CHGS), International Student Organization (ISO), NAACH, the South Asian Dance team here on campus, and many more, created a cultural program aimed at fostering awareness and representing the APIDA students here at Ramapo.
This event is new to the club and is a fresh take on a diversity-style event that gives students an opportunity to understand a different culture. The event offered students three activities to take part in throughout the event, as well as a special dance performance and presentation and video. The event was meant to engage with students, making this an opportunity to experience their culture like this one or experience something they have never experienced before.
The first activity was the book giveaway table that was run by the CHGS and led by director Jacob Ari Labendz. All of the books on the table were from the center that were donated from individuals outside of the campus that were getting rid of Jewish history books as well as Holocaust ones.
Students were able to grab as many books as they could or just ask questions about the books from the center. Labendz helped students learn a little more about the Holocaust and cultural diversity with small conversations about the books on the table. Labendz hoped that this event would give him the opportunity to meet students he doesn’t normally meet and connect with them on the value of culture.
In an interview, Labendz said he wants students to “eat their knowledge” more so now than ever and to embrace the cultural voices inside of books like these and beyond. With a wide range of stories and voices, the tabling exemplifies the mission of the center and guides students to work to further knowledge and understanding of the history around them.
Across the room at the event was a henna table for participants to get a traditional style tattoo. This table was meant to showcase the traditional art form and to have individuals experience it if they have never got the opportunity to before. The table was run by NAACH to let participants appreciate the traditional art form tattoo.
Next to that table was the final activity which showcased World Knowledge. At the table there were three stations that all had a small activity that led up to the main goal of being an interactive presentation to understanding culture.
The three mini activities were “I love my culture because” wall, Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi Country Maps and World Map Pinning activity. Each activity invited participants to become more engaged with the community and to showcase their culture in ways not yet seen.
Following the activities, students were encouraged to grab traditional Indian food to eat during the presentation and video portions of the event. The presentation and video explored the history and significance of APIDA Heritage Month. While the month is nationally observed in May, the Ramapo community celebrates it earlier due to final exams and the shortened month.
The presentation shed light on APIDA representation at Ramapo College that shared statistics on the community on campus. It showed that 10.5% of enrolled students identify as part of the APIDA community and 10.3% of faculty and staff belong to this group.
With this presentation, it used the statistics to help the club create an event to honor, promote and support the APIDA community here on campus.
To conclude the night, there was a special dance performance from Chandana Chittimalla, who is a world renowned Kuchipudi dancer with over 20 years of experience. Her dance was a traditional dance that showcased the beauty of classical South Indian dance.
This event is just one of the many that are run throughout the month to bring an engaging atmosphere to our community and express the culture of the APIDA community. It brought the cultural values and identity of the group and shared with others hoping to bring a sense of cultural diversity and a coming together.
In an interview with The Ramapo News, the President of the South Asian Student Organization, Bibhuti Ghimire said, “This event successfully fostered cross-cultural appreciation, strengthened community engagement, and reinforced the importance of APIDA Heritage Month at Ramapo College.”
She says she hopes to continue this tradition amongst their other events to continue to bring together the community on campus.
Celebrated all month long is APIDA Heritage month, so be sure to check out the different events and experience a new culture within the Ramapo community.
rbleich@ramapo.edu
Featured photo by Rebecca Bleich
