The couches and chairs were pushed back for food and performers in the Asian Pacific American Student Organization room of Holden Hall during FLAVA, a multicultural event put on by the Holden Racial Ethnic Aides Wednesday.
The event combined presentations by various ethnic minority groups on campus, including an American Indian singer, Indian henna painters and Asian poetry.
"It's a bunch of people who normally aren't together," said William Escalante, a Racial Ethnic Student Aide for South Complex, adding that the event was a "unifying factor."
Escalante said that the aides tried to show the diversity at MSU and served Mexican food, soul food and Thai food. The line for food flowed out the door of the APASO room and into the hallway.
"There's something that everyone can appreciate and enjoy from each one," Escalante said.
After the students got their food, they moved to the perimeter of the room to watch the presentations. All the spaces on the couches and chairs were full and students stood talking in groups.
Hospitality business sophomore Don Lyons sang and performed American Indian songs he wrote called "round dances" on his drum.
"It's kind of like love songs for natives," he said. "The drum beat represents our heartbeat as a people."
In the corner, psychology freshman Farah Jaleel and her friends used henna to paint flowers and designs on students hands.
"Henna is usually used at weddings and celebrations," Jaleel said. "The more there is, the grander the occasion."
She added that the paint can last for about a week if the person allows the dye to set in.
A pair of Puerto Rican dancers gave a quick demonstration of the merengue and invited the audience to join in. Four more couples took to the floor to try the quick foot and hip movements.
"A lot of students want only to go to their own cultural events," said Holden Racial Ethnic Student Aide Victoria Williams. "It's OK to explore other cultures."
Food industry management junior Marc Scott said it was a good idea to combine the event so different groups could mix.
"They go where they're comfortable," he said of students, but added, "after you experience it, people are just people."
