“I think it’s really important to have different cultures celebrated, because Uni is such a diverse school, and that’s like something that we’re known for,” says Spanish Club President Fabi Vega-Sanchez. “I also think there’s a lot of under-represented groups within that diversity. I think it’s really important that they get equal opportunities … [and] recognition.”
Uni students and families organize a variety of multicultural events year-round, including the Diwali Lunch, the Moon Festival, and the National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Students discussed the background behind these events and why it’s important to appreciate the diversity of the cultures at Uni.
Every year, Indian families at Uni put together a lunch for the school for Diwali. Junior Kruthi Ramanath’s parents have helped with the event in the past.
Diwali is a Hindu festival that “celebrates the return of light and goodness,” says Ramanath.
“I think it’s important that we have [an] event where everyone can get a taste of Indian culture. People who want to wear traditional Indian clothes can wear Indian clothes, and it’s … a day for everyone to collectively acknowledge and celebrate Diwali,” Ramanath says.
“Everyone loves Indian food, so it’s a great opportunity for everyone to get a nice, delicious, free lunch,” she says.
The annual Diwali lunch includes options for vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian people.
“For vegan people, it’s channa, so chickpeas,” says Ramanath. “For vegetarians, it’s paneer. For non-vegetarians, I think it’s chicken tikka masala with a traditional sweet gulab jamun and a similar side of appetizers.”
The Moon Festival is organized by Uni’s Asian American Association in honor of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinese culture.
“It’s originally started by Jojo, who is a graduated senior,” says Ruijing Tang, leader of Uni’s Asian American Association. “It’s a response to the anti-Asian hate that emerged after COVID.”
The Moon Festival usually has cultural workshops, performances, and catering, according to Tang.
“Everybody can try the food and basically celebrate the culture,” she says.
Uni’s Moon Festival is usually hosted on a Friday in the fall.
“We have a committee that we start preparing at the start of the year, and we have funds for that specifically, so the [Moon Festival] goes smooth. People usually like it because of the food and the fun … we ask people to dress up,” Tang says.
Uni’s Asian American Association also hosted a multicultural potluck in March. The potluck had cuisines from Eastern Asian, Hispanic, Caribbean, Indian, and German cultures.
“The Moon Festival is more Asian cultures. We thought it would be good to have [a mix of cultures], so we reached out to all the other clubs,” says Tang.
Last year, Vega-Sanchez organized a celebration for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which was from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
“Every year, it’s been a little different, but basically we just bring food and we have traditional Latino and Hispanic games and food,” Vega-Sanchez says.
“We were able to work with the PTSA to do a contest … We had a bake-off [where] you brought a Hispanic dessert. I think most people made très leches and then we had a loteria, which is a very typical game, like bingo. And then our other one was a spice contest,” she says.
“It just brings people into the event, and they come out of it with more knowledge,” Vega-Sanchez says.
