MISSION VIEJO : College Schedules Multicultural Events

As part of its expanded Multicultural Week, Saddleback College will play host to a series of activities organized by students from Thursday through May 1.

In addition to events celebrating the diverse cultures and ethnicities of Southern California, students will also use Multicultural Week--also known as Multicultural Experience--as an opportunity to hold forums on social issues related to race, gender and ethnicity.

“This year, (the series) is the largest it has been in quite some time,” said Ken Greaux, co-chairman of Multicultural Experience and a member of the campus Associated Student Government. “We want to make it extra special this year. The need to be sensitive to other cultures is very important, especially in light of everything that’s going on today.”

All Multicultural Experience events are free and open to the public. They are sponsored by the Saddleback College Associated Student Government.

The activities will begin Thursday with a Japanese Tea Ceremony from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. at McKinney Theatre.

The following activities have also been scheduled:

* “Forum on Stereotypes,” Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students of Saddleback. The forum, which will be held in Student Services Center Room 225, will focus on raising awareness about stereotypes.

* Native American Awareness Day, Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the upper campus quad. Organized by the Native American Club, the day will include traditional dancing, food and speakers, including Little Crow of the Native American Church and David Belardes of the Juaneno tribe of San Juan Capistrano.

* “Educational Forum on Cultural Sensitivity,” April 28, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the Student Services Center Room 225. Hate crimes will be a focus of the forum, which will include several speakers, including Rusty Kennedy, executive director of the Orange County Human Relations Commission.

* “Culture Fest ‘93,” May 1, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the upper campus quad. The festival will include a full day of dancing, musical performances, arts and crafts and ethnic foods.

For more information on any of the activities, call (714) 361-9747 or (714) 582-4530. For more information on Native American Awareness Day, call (714) 582-4385.