Celebrating Diversity Focus of Student Community Connections Dinner

By Christine Clark | Feb. 28, 2011

Creating community, celebrating diversity and breaking down barriers were themes of a student-lead, student-initiated event Feb. 18 where members from various campus cultural and spiritual organizations gathered for the Community Connections Dinner.

Organized by UC San Diego’s Associated Students Office of the President, the event featured students from the Black Student Union, Jewish Students for Peace, Greek-affiliated groups and other organizations and representatives from UC San Diego’s six college councils. 

“UC San Diego has so many student organizations, but oftentimes they’re isolated from each other,” said Olamide Noah, event organizer and AS Office of the President Community Development intern. “This event is designed to help students better connect in a neutral space where they can meet each other and interact on a personal level.”

Improving campus climate has been an essential part of AS President Wafa Ben Hassine’s efforts. Hassine said, “My office feels that a greater push is necessary to help learn about each other’s histories and narratives, learn to celebrate our similarities and build respect for our differences.”

Dheeraj Advani, member of the Thurgood Masrhall’s College Council said “As a student here, it’s so important to build those personal connections. It’s how you feel welcomed and how you find out about the various resources at UC San Diego and learn how the campus works.”

The Community Connections event included a dinner, awards ceremony, keynote speech from Hassine and community arts project.

Junior Benyan Mulugetin, member of the Black Student Union, said that he attended the dinner to learn more about the campus. “I am a transfer student,” he said. “This campus is huge, I feel like I have barely gotten to know it.  There is so much to learn here and an event like this is nice because it’s a good opportunity to meet people and have fun.”

Hassine delivered the keynote speech via a YouTube video because she was unable to attend.  “I am so sad I can’t be there, but so happy and proud of this event and that you all attended.”

An awards ceremony recognized 13 different cultural, Greek and faith student organizations with certificates of appreciation. At the conclusion, students gathered for a community arts project that symbolized the importance of building community. Pebbles that were a part of the table centerpieces were used to contribute to the community art work. Each community representative dropped a blue pebble into a vase while saying what they pledge to do to better the community on campus.

“There’s still a lot more room for more pebbles and pledges,” said Noah. “And it will be an ongoing component of making more community connections.”