Northville, Mich., residents Andy Tang, left, and Nathan Low, right, play Chinese drums for the lion dance Nov. 17, 2013, at Brody Hall Complex. The Global Festival gave the Lansing community a chance to explore cultures from all around the world.
From flags of all colors to custom music featuring Korean hit “Gangnam Style,” Brody Complex Neighborhood was the home of the annual Global Festival on Sunday, weaving MSU into a cultural interactive melting pot.
Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., approximately 3,000 attendees ranging from infants to students came out to the free festival, which dates back to the 1940’s.
The Global Festival is a great opportunity to share the cultures that are represented at MSU with everyone on campus as well as the community, said Amber Cordell, international student advisor at the Office for International Students and Scholars.The festival featured more than 30 tables put together by MSU student organizations, each representing a different country.
Among other reasons, Cordell said she likes how the festival helps break down stereotypes in certain countries that are often negative because of the media.
“If you see students and get to learn about their countries and cultures first hand, and little children are exposed to these people from all over the world, it helps change peoples mindsets about diversity,” she said.
Attendees received a blank “passport” upon entering, and as they traveled to each table, they were able to learn of the culture and get their name signed into the passport in the native language of that country.
For the MSU Armenian Club, this year was the first time they contributed to the festival. The relatively new club was able to express their culture through the event and showcase the Armenian lifestyle, said social relations and policy junior, Sona Movsisyan, who serves as the club’s president.
“We’re really glad we did it because there are so many people coming and we’re meeting so many people,” she said. “They’re interested in it which is great to know that people actually care about other cultures.”
The Global Festival also featured 20 presentations ranging from fashion shows to Chinese yo-yo demonstrations.
Accounting sophomore Kevin Checinski enjoyed the opportunity of fellow students and community members becoming more culturally aware of their surroundings and things they’re not regularly associated with.
“I’ve never seen these things before like the Chinese yo-yo,” he said. “It’s things people see in the movies, but you dont see live, and for free which is awesome.”
MSU’s Community Volunteers for International Programs put together a World gift shop which sold international items donated by local Lansing residents then sold to the public for low yard sale-type prices.
The market usually generates about $7,000 in sales, said Community Volunteers for International Programs member Dottie Schmidt. All of the proceeds are donated to fund up to three scholarships for international students.
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