Note: This story was edited at 12:32 p.m.
02-21-06
by Kirsten Brown
In a flurry of exotic dancing,
poetry and song, the annual Cultural Extravaganza will return
this Friday, Feb. 24, to celebrate OU-COM’s vibrant and
diverse student body.
From noon to 1 p.m., you are
invited to stop in Irvine 194 to partake of international foods
and performances put on by students. Nigeria, Ghana, Mexico,
India, Pakistan, Japan, Romania, Philippines, China, Lebanon, as
well as the United States, number among the countries that will
be represented by students hailing from them.
“The Cultural Extravaganza,”
says Dean Jack Brose, D.O., “has become a great OU-COM
tradition. I look forward to the excitement and energy that the
event has.”
Organized by the Student
National Medical Association (SNMA), the gala aspires to
encourage a sharing of racial and cultural differences.
“The purpose is to bring all
students together,” says Aderonke Adegbile, a Nigerian
national, “because we understand that people come from different
backgrounds. We want to give students a chance to express who
they are and what they are about.
“The number of minorities
admitted this year was about 30 percent, not considering people
from other cultures,” Adegbile says, “so the whole purpose is to
show OU-COM’s diversity and that the college encourages
diversity, as well as how this is really important for the
future of medicine.”
The extravaganza is divided
into individual events, each one roughly 5 minutes long. One of
the main attractions includes a fashion show highlighting the
attire of students’ countries of origin.
But there is, shall we say, a
fashion twist.
“Instead of wearing something
from your culture or country, models will come out wearing the
apparel of others,” Adegbile says. “This is very different from
other fashion shows, where you typically come out in your own
clothing.”
Another part of the
extravaganza involves an African cultural dance, as well as
poetry readings and music. Want to join in the fun? The cost is
a mere $1. Proceeds will go to a charity decided upon by the
SNMA general body.
“The cost will be for donation
purposes and to cover expenses,” Adegbile explains.
Administrators and student
members of SNMA worked together to shape this festivity and make
it a success, she says.
“The school has really
supported us,” she says. “Student affairs helped us with the
fliers, and the dean helped us with food; the dean’s office has
really been wonderful about it.
“It’s not the only event that
brings students together, but it is one of such events. Our main
focus is just for students to have an opportunity to embrace
other cultures.”
- 30 -
News for
the week of
Feb 13 – Feb 18
