Cultural diversity endorsed
Advocates for cultural diversity take the University by storm this week with “Week of Soul” highlighting the cause.
The sponsoring committee of University Union, the Committee for Black Cultural Programming, themed the week “Young Hearts, Old Souls.”
WEEK OF SOUL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Tuesday
What: Soul Food Feast
Where: Tate Plaza
When: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Price: Free
Food provided by local soul food restaurant Peaches.
Wednesday
“Survival of the Illest, Volume One”
What: Hip-hop contest
Where: Memorial Hall ballroom
When: 8 p.m.
Price: Free
Thursday
What: Soulful Styles Fashion Show
Where: Georgia Hall, Tate Student Center
When: 8 p.m. in Georgia Hall of
Price: Free for UGA students and $2 for non-students.
Friday
What: Ying Yang Twins
Where: Georgia Hall, Tate Student Center
When: 8 p.m.
Price: $10 in advance/$15 the day of the show for UGA students and $15 in advance/$20 the day of the show for non-students. Tickets are available at the Tate Student Center.
“Students can expect a series of entertaining programs – cool events to come to and hang out with friends,” said Chanelle White, coordinator for the Committee for Black Cultural Programming.
“Any events that are not free are reasonably priced-any interested students can come out,” she said.
Although full of amusement, the week focuses on promoting cultural diversity.
“Many Americans are ethnocentric and unfortunately ignorant of other lifestyles,” said Ruthanna Vandegriff, a junior child and family development major from Taylors, S.C.
“We can learn so much from each other,” she said. “If we’re more accepting, we’ll all get along and be much happier.”
Today’s kickoff festival is a great way to bring students together, and includes free music and pizza, too.
University students get in free tonight, also. Those who missed “Dreamgirls” will have another chance to see the Oscar-winning film.
Students can enjoy more free food at the “Soul Food Feast” on Tuesday. Peaches, a local soul food restaurant, will serve lunch.
Still not satisfied? A free hip-hop contest, “Survival of the Illest, Volume One,” goes down on Wednesday.
There is something for everyone. Fashion critics are invited to the “Soulful Styles Fashion Show” on Thursday, featuring donated clothing from local apparel stores.
However, the event that has most students psyched is the Ying Yang Twins concert on Friday.
Opening for the Ying Yang Twins is DJ Mays, or Gregg Mays, a senior from Chickamauga.
He said he believes “the ‘Week of Soul’ is important because it provides a chance to bring students together in a diverse, weeklong setting to experience food, fashion, art and music they may not be familiar with.”
Even alumni are joining in.
“The main reason I’m going is to support DJ Mays. He spits fire and is one of the hottest DJs outside of the ATL,” said University alum Michael Sparrow from Athens.
“Anytime diverse groups of people come together over music, I believe good things happen,” he said.
More information can be found at www.uga.edu/union.
