Rebecca Meyers | Lifestyle editor

Western is home to many different clubs and organizations that seek to enrich the college experience. One of these is the Multicultural Student Union, a group that was formed to educate and bring awareness to the diversity of cultural backgrounds at Western.

Gabriela Acevedo, the Activities Director of the MSU and a member of three years, sat down with me to talk about the Union’s work and experiences. She has coordinated a number of events over the years, such as the Dia de Los Muertos celebration as well as last years’ Out and Proud event.

Acevedo explains the club as, “dedicated to sharing different cultures and educating people who are attending our events about people of different backgrounds…It’s a way to connect with different people.”

The purpose of the club and their events are to provide entertainment, but also to educate the public on different cultures. Events are open to anyone at Western, and many are also open to the public.

To students who may be considering joining, Acevedo said, “Give it a try. It’s a great way to meet and learn about new people.” She said that attendance varies by term and time of year, but there are usually at least a few dozen people participating at once.

“We want it to be a supportive environment and a safe zone for everyone,” Acevedo added.

Due to the number of large events the club puts on annually, all open to the public as well as students, Acevedo also notes that membership can lead to opportunities for building leadership skills, such as the experience she has gained through her position as Activities Director. Students can become members merely by attending weekly meetings, but also have the option of participating in the organizations of the events.

The closest annual event is currently Out and Proud, which will be hosted in February. Other events to look out for are Women of Culture, the annual Pow-Wow which will showcase parts of Native American culture, and Nuestra Fiesta Latina towards the end of the year.

The MSU’s weekly meetings are held Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. in the Columbia Room of the Werner University Center.

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Meyers