ICC events this semester
Fall 2009 so far has been a very fruitful and rewarding semester for the InterCultural Center (ICC). The ICC is an organization that aims to foster multicultural understanding enriching the diverse campus community at GMC. ICC has organized over ten successful events this semester, three of which had over one hundred people in attendance. ICC welcomes all students interested in fostering multicultural communication and understanding to participate in our events and offers all the chance to be involved in one of our four committees (Gender Committee, Race Committee, LGBT Committee, and the Programming Committee).
ICC kicked off with its Reception, through which the new ICC governing board welcomed the returning and new students, faculty, and staff to campus and introduced the programs from the past and the goals for this year. The first major program held this semester was a Remembrance event, commemorating all those affected by 9/11. Over one hundred GMC members were brought together at the event by one prayer and one experience to show their commitment towards anti violence.
The last event of September was the screening of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas with the aim to support the Holocaust Awareness Month (September). The film tells a story seen through the innocent eyes of the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence had startling and unexpected consequences.
The series of ICC events was then continued with an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Celebration Night on October 8th, organized by LGBT Committee of the InterCultural Center headed by Charlie Piazza. “Milk” was screened in honor of LGBT History Month of October and to raise awareness on campus about gay rights movement from the early seventies.
To increase dialogue about the trouble surrounding racism, the Race Committee of ICC, headed by Shawn Henry and Asadullah Sohail and with the help of Professor Vance Jackson, organized “A Discussion of Race in America after the Election of Barack Obama”. Did America move beyond racism with the election of Obama as the country’s first black president last year? The participants enjoyed the conversation held to answer the above question, concerning race-relations in the United States.
Halloween was celebrated by the ICC and its governing board in a special way this year. In the night of October 31st, ICC joining forces with SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) organized a Canned Food Drive on GMC Campus and in Poultney in order to collect food from donors willing to share theirs with those in need. More than a total of two hundred cans were collected and donated to the Poultney Food Shelf.
The InterCultural Center is also dedicated in fostering student involvement in fighting for human rights. Recently three members of the ICC governing board, Kat Carvajal, Pragatee Dhakal, and Shawn Henry attended for the first time, side by side with representatives from Middlebury and UVM, the Vermont conference for Amnesty International USA (AI USA), a nongovernmental organization that actively engages in protecting human rights worldwide. GMC had the most number of students participating in that event who were so culturally diverse for which the regional coordinator for Amnesty International USA was highly impressed and gave very positive feedback about GMC’s student involvement. The three ICC members who attended the regional meeting came back very inspired with this organization’s dedication to fight for human rights and decided to initiate actions on our campus for establishing our own chapter of Amnesty International. Within a span of two days, we received more than 150 signatures of people interested in our cause. Seeing so much student involvement, ICC invited students to join us for a Regional Amnesty International Conference that will be held in Boston on November 14th and that will be attended by twenty GMC students.
The Ice Cream Social was an initiative of the Programming Committee of ICC. The objective accomplished with this event was bringing students together for a relaxing social hang out and to hear feedback about ICC’s past events and programs that people are interested for the future.
Global Bazaar was the culmination of all ICC events from this semester. The cultural music and delicious aroma of African Samosas (prepared by GMC student and marvelous cook Paula Bounsana), and a mouth watering Filipino dish (cooked by Professor Vangie Blust), attracted over one hundred people in the Gorge on Saturday night, November 9th. Some of the highlights of the evening include the energetic and euphonizing Djembe Drummers headed by Erin Burch, who accompanied Susanne Claxton’s Belly Dancing crew in an unforgettable performance. The program was followed by an African dance performed by GMC sophomore Brenda Nsambu. National outfits from diverse countries, courtesy of students from Afghanistan, Moldova, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Korea, and others were worn at the event. A display of cultural artifacts including Congolese jewelry by Marydel Monga, professional photos taken in Afghanistan and put on display by Asadullah Sohail, and informational fliers and poster board on Multiculturalism and Diversity Awareness presented by the GMC Psychology Club members Rhyan Hollis and Christina Melendy, were all there. The InterCultural Center is proud and honored to have hosted this program and is thankful to everyone who attended the event.
But this is not it. ICC has more and more events to come. This Wednesday will be the screening of The Sari Soldiers. As cited on the review pages of the movie, The Sari Soldiers, filmed over three years during the most historic and pivotal time in Nepal’s modern history, is an extraordinary story of six women’s courageous efforts to shape Nepal’s future in the midst of an escalating civil war against Maoist insurgents, and the King’s crackdown on civil liberties. The movie brings into perspective how women have and will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping a country and the world in general, for a better and equal future. Snacks will be available and everyone is invited on a journey into Nepali history!
ICC’s last, but not least important program scheduled for the last week of school is our InterCultural Dinner—a semestrial event organized before finals during which InterCultural Center and all students willing to help prepare dishes specific to many various cultures. Don’t miss it because you know that the food is so good that it will be devoured in less than ten minutes.
The InterCultural Center is proud and highly appreciates that GMC community members attending ICC events are students, faculty, and staff of different religions, cultures, and believes which allows the flourishing of a diverse and respectful community at Green Mountain.
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