"This cancellation deeply impacts us and reinforces the idea that we should be afraid," Oriyavong said. "We should not be afraid to celebrate nor acknowledge our identities."

Following his speech, APASO Senior Adviser Hanaa Yoo yelled out “Go green” to the audience. The crowd responded with “Go white,” and then roared after her rebuttal.

"(Go white) should be a chant in celebration of the students’ school spirit and not the mindset of the university," Yoo said. "We at MSU value DEI. That being said, MSU, go beyond white."

The goal of the Cultural Vogue (CV) is to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) identities, Cultural Vogue Chair Maya Fukumori said. While the night mostly showcased traditional and modern dances, there were also acapella and Chinese yo-yo performances.

The performers consisted of numerous student organizations including the Vietnamese Student Association, Taiwanese Student Association, Korean Student Association, CTRL+A (an APIDA dance club), Spartan Sur (a South-Asian fusion acapella team), Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, Japanese Student Association, Spartan Diabolo Club, Pilipino American Student Society, Chinese Student Coalition and Hmong American Student Association. 

Introducing each performance were co-masters of ceremonies Sarah Seo, publicity senior for the Korean Student Association, and Darrian Chen, president of the Taiwanese Student Association.

Seo also performed with KSA in a modern dance to multiple K-pop songs. 

"Being a part of CV really helped allow me to be myself and embrace my Asian American heritage," Seo said. "I want everyone who leaves (CV) to be very proud of who they are."

For Chen, he was proud to have the opportunity to provide cultural context and history behind each performance. 

"These aren't just silly little dances that we want to put on," Chen said. "There's always a tie to the theme, impact, this year and how these performances had had a huge impact on us growing up."

Throughout each performance, there wasn’t a minute where the audience wasn’t cheering, swaying to the music or holding up signs for those they came to support. 

One of those audience members was Donald Kim, a senior in supply chain management and past CV performer, who came to support his friends. Kim raised a poster he made any time they arrived on stage.

"It's always great to see all these organizations come out and perform," Kim said. "It's important to show off our diversity and see how people come together to uphold their heritage and culture through a full artistic and creative way."