Thursday, October 21, 2010
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Minnesota State University, Mankato
Students perform for a packed audience “Beauty of Cultures” shows off talent MEGAN KADLEC
staff writer
The Department of Ethnic Studies and the Office of Institutional Diversity hosted the “Beauty of Cultures” Wednesday in the Centennial Student Union Hearth Lounge. The main purpose of the event was the celebration and promotion of multiculturalism at Minnesota State Mankato. The event was also meant to be an opportunity to encourage students, staff and faculty to meet the talented and diverse individuals at MSU. The event, which was free and open to the public, featured numerous performances by MSU students and community members as well as individuals from the Twin Cities. “It’s kind of like MSU’s got talent. So, if a student wants to show their talent, we open it up. You don’t have
to be an art major or in the performing arts to perform your talent,” said Vang T. Xiong, founder of the event Despite what students may assume, the performances were not limited to ethnic minorities. “The Beauty of Cultures” event featured dances done in Thai, Somali, Native American and swing styles as well as performances of traditional Asian and other cultural songs. “When we talk about multiculturalism, that includes all people that have different culture. It can be any ethnic group,” Xiong said. Xiong, an assistant professor in the Department of Ethnic Studies, came up with the idea for the event in fall 2008. The inaugural event was very successful. Students were packed into the CSU Ballroom, so the location of the event was changed to the Hearth lounge, an open space with the ability to overflow onto the second level of the
CSU. This year’s event was just as successful as the its first. The lounge was packed with students, and food lines stretched forever. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house; students were required to stand to watch the cultural performances. Performers wore everything from jeans and T-shirts to traditional cultural dress. Those who did wear traditional dress were colorful and interesting to watch, even though students couldn’t always see because of the number of attendees. During the event, students were encouraged to eat cultural food while enjoying the performances. In addition to the food provided, a small, adorable woman walked around the event, offering attendees fortune cookies. The special guest of the afternoon was Anne Blackhurst, the acting Vice President for Academic
Cultures / page 6
katie erickson • msu reporter Bao Xiong performs the Peacock Dance for students in the Hearth Lounge.
Looking past the label
Students put a face to women imprisioned in Minnesota Correctional Facility-Shakopee MEGAN KADLEC
staff writer
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Voices......................................5 World & Nation......................10 Study Break...........................12 Sports....................................15 A&E........................................21
Last Friday, 14 students in the Honors Program at Minnesota State Mankato went on a very interesting trip. Instead of visiting a museum or the state capitol, these students took a tour of the Minnesota Correctional FacilityShakopee, a women’s prison. Vicki Hunter, a professor in the Department of Sociology and Corrections, led the trip. The women serving time in this facility have crimes that
Inside
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range from chemical abuse to first-degree murder. In society, these women are perceived as malicious and violent. During the tour, the students met with inmates who talked about their experiences. The three inmates they talked to were labeled as sex offenders and murderers. However, when students looked past the label, they saw real women with sadness, regret and fear. “For me, I’m afraid of having to adjust to everything. I’m leaving here as a sex offender and a felon, and I’m
scared,” said a 29 year-old inmate. Society tends to view prisoners as evil beings with no compassion, but this trip helped students break that stereotype. “I have conformed my mom to prison, and she doesn’t deserve that. It’s really, really hard,” said a 31-year-old inmate. Inmates serving time have more time than the average person to reflect on their
Online
Prison / page 7
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