Fall 2013 Cultural Connections

M ULTICULTURAL NEWSLETTER F ALL 2013 E DITION A BOUT THE M ULTICULTURAL N EWSLETTER ...

The concept of the Multicultural Newsletter is to provide an avenue for information, updates, opinions, news, and events that will expand the cultural horizons of all Ripon College students. Each issue will include upcoming cultural student

organization events, articles and opinion pieces by Ripon College students, and see the great things the Student Activities Office is doing.

The ultimate hope of this newsletter is that the reader will find him/herself more aware of the cultural

B EHIND

By Michael Crider

Wow! So yet another semester has passed us by here in the SAO Office and I think it is shaping up to be one of our best yet. As the Multicultural & International Student Assistant for SAO, I have had the pleasure of working with the wonderful Kyonna Withers and have enjoyed the past year and a half immensely.

The biggest area that I have attempted to make inroads with in this position has been to incorporate more student organizations and have students take a more active role with the various programs that SAO puts on. Although both Kyonna and I love our jobs and couldn’t be more invested in their success, it only

atmosphere and events present not only on the Ripon College campus, but around the United States and the world.

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THE SCENES

makes events more successful if more students (or faculty and staff, for that matter) are invested as well. Kyonna and I have been more than happy to see some student orgs take on this responsibility with Black Student Union, Cultural Diversity Club and Queer-Straight Alliance among the leaders in this area.

Most people do not know what Kyonna and I do on a weekly basis, so I thought it might be a good idea to give a sort of “behind the scenes” look. Kyonna and I meet weekly for an hour, sometimes longer, to go over everything that needs to be done not only in the next week, but go over the next two months or so.

These meetings are generally very compressed

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as there is a ton to go over, but the mood is always high. These meetings are my favorite part of my job, by far. They can be quite stressful with so much going on, but Kyonna and I really build off one another and this is where I feel that I am at my best. These meetings do tend to feature about 17 or so forgotten thoughts by each of us, but we do end up getting there eventually! In addition to this weekly one-onones, are the month-long planning committee meetings which occur bi-weekly generally.

All of these are outside of the events themselves which are on the Calendar of Events.

It may be a (sometimes) lengthy time commitment, but I wouldn’t trade it for another job. Hope to see you on a committee or at an event next semester!

THE SCENES

1

N EW S TUDENT P ROFILES

2

M ILWAUKEE

3

FOLK FAIR

F ALL B REAK T RIP

3

I NTERNATIONAL M ONTH

4

BSU, CDC, QSA

R RR UMBA ,

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U PCOMING

EVENTS

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NEWSLETTER

M EET THE N EW R IPON C OLLEGE I NTERNATIONAL S TUDENTS !!

This fall Ripon was fortunate to welcome nine new students from many countries of the world. Here are a few fun facts about them! 

Soe Lu Tun comes

hobbies are playing basketball

from a city called



Rangoon (Yangon) from

Grunawalt. Jordan is a

Myanmar, which is in

first year from the

Southeast Asia. He is a freshman and thinking of majoring in biology or chemistry-biology as his dream is to become a biotechnologist. If sleeping can considered one of the hobbies, he would say his hobby is sleeping since that is

Meet Jordan

island of Guam and has an interest in studying

and video games. He is interested in not only mathematics and computer science but also physics. 

Tu Nguyen is a first year

anthropology, English,

student this year. He is

and biology. She's a bit

thinking of majoring in

of a nerd and a geek and

environmental studies and

will talk your arm off

minoring in business. His

about the Doctor,

hometown is Hanoi, Vietnam

Sherlock, and the Impala

and his hobbies are playing

if you let her.

soccer, reading, and playing

what he mostly does on



free time. “I love to sleep

Myanmar. He likes

Zin Htet is from

games 

Ngan Tran is a first year

because only when I

basketball and so far

who comes from Pleiku,

have enough sleep, I can

has enjoyed all Ripon

Vietnam. She wants to double

study and concentrate

has to offer!

major in French and Global

well."





Myanmar. He is

Mra Thitsa comes

from Myanmar. She is

Studies. She loves to travel

Nay Htet is from

thinking to major in

and experience new things. A fun fact is that she took two gap years before coming to Ripon.

very excited to be here

computer science, but

at Ripon. She recently

haven't declared it yet.

performed her talent of

There are many things he

year majoring in physics and

the Burmese candle

wants to do. His hobbies

mathematics from Kaw

light dance at the

are music and basketball

Thoung (a small city like

International Month

and are his passions.

Ripon), Myanmar. He loves to

fashion show and was a



hit. Mra looks to get more involved at Ripon each day.

Sein Soe is one of

the international students from Myanmar (Burma). His full name is Sein Min Soe. His



Myo Thiha Zaw is a first

play soccer and loves to go to art exhibitions. He also goes

by Ivan and is enjoying his first year.

F ALL 2013 E DITION

Milwaukee International Folk Fair By: Kyonna Withers On November 23, 2013 two van-fulls of students went to the Milwaukee International Folk Fair at the WI fairgrounds.

This is an annual activity that promotes internationalism and diversity all under one roof. There were over 40 food booths to choose from that will

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satisfy any palate. There were four different dance stages where acts from various cultures could perform traditional dances to traditional music. Lastly, each country showcased their cultures through art, artifacts, pictures, jewelry, clothing, and toys for purchase from patrons.

Our students and host parent David Sakrison really enjoyed their day at the festival.

F ALL B REAK

ANYONE ???

By Chuchen Tan On Thursday October 24th, Kyonna Withers took many of the international students on campus to Six Flags Great America. We were so excited about this trip and could not stop talking about it. And now that it has ended and we have come back to our life at Ripon, I must share with you the wonderful experience we had while in Illinois.

Visiting Six Flags right before Halloween may not be the best idea, especially for my friend Vivian Bai and me, since we get scared easily.

There were people dressed as demons and monsters loitering around the entrance of each gate, or section. They tried to scare everybody who passed by, and, although we do not want to admit it, it worked every time on Vivian and me. We ran so fast for our lives.

And I am certain that the pitch of my voice was no lower than when we were on the rides. We had so much fun going on different rides; the fact that Six Flags was open from 610 pm worked well and it was dark before we noticed. Other Ripon students Kyaw, Soe, Myo, Zin were captured on camera on one of their rides and they purchased the photos.

Their faces were priceless!

Although it was freezing and there were times when I could barely scream on the rides because the wind was so strong, our night at Six Flags was perfect. Its Halloween theme was softened at times with the stroke of tenderness in a Merry-Go-Round and other entertainments. So if you are not the adventurous type, there are many other fun options at Six Flags.

Four hours’ mixture of screaming and adrenalin rush made our time at the park a night to remember. After a late night meal at Burger King, many of us gathered to play UNO. It was a great bonding time and we went to bed satisfied and excited for the next day at Gurnee Mills Shopping Mall.

The Mall was also beyond expectation. Though not as big as Mall of America, it offers quality designer products at acceptable prices. Everyone in our group came back with something they were looking for. Shopping was much more relaxing compared to the last night’s craziness and marked this trip a complete success. We enjoyed ourselves very much and we are grateful that Ripon College offers these fun trips. Hope to have more in the future! :)

Pictured above are international students Ngan Tran and Jordan Grunawalt practicing a common Russian dance with others at the Folk Fair.

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NEWSLETTER

I NTERNATIONAL M ONTH !!

N OVEMBER WAS INTERNATIONAL MONTH WHICH HIGHLIGHTED COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. L UNCH EACH F RIDAY IN THE COMMONS FOR THE MONTH OF N OVEMBER WAS AUTHENTIC FOOD FROM THE COUNTRY OF THE WEEK ! I N S TUDENT A CTIVITIES THERE WERE AUTHENTIC CLOTHES , COUNTRY FLAGS AND MUSIC FROM THE SELECTED COUNTRY EACH WEEK ! C OUNTRY PROFILES WERE ALSO PROVIDED . T HIS YEAR WE HIGHLIGHTED S YRIA , G UAM AND V IETNAM ! T HERE ALSO WAS A FASHION SHOW AND INTERNATIONAL FAIR ! B ELOW ARE PICTURES FROM THE MONTH ’ S EVENTS .

F ALL 2013 E DITION

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MULTICULTURAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Queer Straight Alliance

rRRumba!

The Queer Straight Alliance is not new, however their name is. Formally known as the Network, QSA has planned and implanted a successful LGBT History month and other various programs. Their mission involves creating an accepting and supportive environment that accepts all sexual orientations and gender identities within and throughout Ripon College.

They also aim to educate in order to facilitate the elimination of homophobia and transphobia. This group meets on Tuesdays at 6pm in room B12 of the commons.

Love to dance? Well this group is for you! rRRumba is a student organization that meets every Tuesday and Thursday in Great Hall at 7 and seeks to promote the appreciation and recognition of ballroom dancing as a positive and constructive form of recreation. Every year rRRumba is invited to perform at International Dinner and goes to Salsa Congress, which is a national salsa convention in Chicago. They are always looking for more participants so feel free to join!

Black Student Union

Cultural Diversity Club

BSU is a very established and motivated group. This group has been recognized on campus and at national conferences for their hard work and dedication to multiculturalism and diversity programming. Some signature programs from BSU are soul food, straight talk, soap box, and Black History Month. Planning for Black History Month 2014 is almost complete but they are excited to announce their 2014 theme “That Includes you…” The purpose of the BSU is to decrease racial ignorance of those on campus and to create cultural awareness on campus. This group meets every Wednesday at 5:15pm in B-12 of the commons.

This is a vey active group for international students and those that love to experience international flavors and culture. The purpose of the club is to highlight the various cultures represented on the campus of Ripon College.

This is achieved through various activities including movies, a fashion show, presentations about different countries, dances, sponsoring of speakers and musicians, study breaks, and other activities such as International Dinner. They meet every Thursday in the Pickard Dining Room in the commons at 5pm.

U PCOMING

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300 W. Seward St. Ripon, WI 54971 The Office of Student Activities and Orientation Phone: 920-748-8112 www.ripon.edu/campuslife/diversity Editor of newsletter: Kyonna Withers Assistant Director of Student Activities E-mail: withersk@ripon.edu

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Please feel free to submit relevant and appropriate articles, stories, events, and more to Kyonna Withers for publication consideration.

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Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the Office of Student Activities and Orientation or the Ripon College community.

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EVENTS

MLK Week 2014 January 27-February 1 Martin Luther King Jr Day January 20 Home Away from Home group dinner January 29 6pm Black History Month in February Chinese New Year February 31

&

HOLIDAYS

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Ash Wednesday March 5

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Women's History Month in March

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CDC Culture Week April 7-13

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Soul Food April 6

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International Dinner April 13

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Easter April 20

M EET THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MULTICULTURAL RECRUITMENT !

James Bland is coming to Ripon College from Virginia by way of Baltimore, Maryland. He is a 2012 graduate of Longwood University where he earned a B.A. in Communication Studies with a concentration in Organizational Communication and Public Relations. A Man of Class and Fashion, James is a bow-tie enthusiast. He owns over 20 and knows how to tie a regular neck tie into a bow tie. He believes that you have to look the part you

are coming to play. If you look good, then you will feel good, and you will do good. James is allergic to all forms of nuts (almonds, peanuts, etc), so if you think of getting him a foody gift, be careful! You have to always root for the home team, so while James is a fan of the Baltimore Ravens, he follows the Washington Redskins more closely because of his relationship with his Uncle, who has been a diehard fan for years. As the Assistant Director of Multicultural

Recruitment and Program Development, his position is shared between Admissions and Student Activities, so he will be responsible for a small territory as well as campus programming and outreach to multicultural students.