Faculty and students gathered together in the Christian Association Thursday night for an eclectic evening of cultural expression through poetry music and song. The event, entitled "Carnivale '98: A Coffee House Celebrating the Human Tapestry of the Penn Community," was an effort to expose students to Penn's many cultures to help them both appreciate and learn about the diversity on campus. "Multiculture is what makes Penn as great as it is," said College senior Debbie Posner. Planning for the coffee house evening started in September after students indicated they were looking for a way to bridge cultural gaps "Students were telling us that there's no way to get acquainted across [cultural] lines," said Christian Association Executive Director Beverly Dale, who helped organize the event. "This needs to happen on a regular basis." Many campus organizations came together to sponsor the Carnivale, including the African American Resource Center, The Christian Association, Kelly Writers House and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Center. The upstairs room of the Christian Association was candle-lit to add to the coffee house atmosphere. The main goal of the event was for people to have "an entertaining evening" noted event organizer Reverend Andrew Barasda, also of the Christian Association. A wide variety of performers, including The Madih Group, PENNaach, Swapnil Shah, Herbert Murray and Wharton Professor Michael London, were on hand to entertain and inform others about their individual cultural backgrounds. "It's really a good idea to have all the [performing arts groups of different] cultures here." College senior Pallavi Sharma explained. "Often the groups all have their own shows." Members of PENNaach, a South-Asian Dance Troupe, said they were happy to take part in the Carnivale. "It's important to promote our culture," College sophomore Vaishali Kothari, one of the group's co-founders, said. "People are still learning about the South Asian influence on campus." The Madih Group, composed of Penn students and others who share their Muslim spiritual message, sang religious songs both about Mohammed and the Virgin Mary. "We take any opportunity to sing," Aisha Nelson, a second-year Medical Student, noted. The emcee for the entertainment was Penn alumnus Nathan Price. He read aloud an original poem which conveyed the theme of diversity. The poem expressed Price's idea that time should be used "to explore, to be more." The audience responded enthusiastically to London, who teaches a class called "Diversity in the Workplace." He has also released an original compact disc entitled "Everything is New." London led the group in a sing-a-long and amused them with a blues number about his warring right and left brains. He also performed a slower number about "trying to find a life with heart."
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
