The diversity of Kean University is shown through its students’ different cultures and traditions. On Thursday, April 20, from 7 to 11 p.m., the Student Government Association and the Graduate Student Government hosted CultureFest, which lets students feel at home by celebrating their backgrounds.
“It means so much that we were able to host the first CultureFest since before the pandemic,” said Benjamin Lorenc, junior class president of the Student Government Association. “To see such a wonderful and diverse turnout warmed my heart."
In Downs Hall, students experienced a night of entertainment. Most organizations had tables representing clothing, food, and music from different cultures. Some tables included Ecuadorian Student Association, West Indian Student Organization, Arab Culture Club, and more.
Participants also got to experience live entertainment at CultureFest. There were live dances from Spectrum Afrikaans and Pure Samba Cuban Dancers. The campus also introduced performances by the Ecuadorian Student Association and students Shuxin Bai, Weiyi Wang, and Yuting Sun.
Culture Fest had a wide variety of food from Spain, Vietnam, the Mediterranean, and the West Indies. The tables featured specialties like paella, bánh mì, chicken kebabs, and curry.
“This is very lively and energetic, and I would say this is the best event I have been to since the semester started,” said Mallissa Wright.
Events like these allow students to acknowledge their peers’ backgrounds. Everyone was dancing, socializing, and interacting with different cultures. The Student Government Association and the Graduate Student Government did a great job of making this night special for the Kean community.
"It was a pleasure being able to host the event alongside Ben as we worked diligently to put it all together. We could not have done it without the help of our volunteers, student planning committee, professional staff, and, of course, the Kean students who attended. We look forward to next year's CultureFest, as we want it to be even bigger and better!" said Makenzie Kuntz, sophomore class president of the Student Government Association.
