Brought Together by Their Differences

Under a springtime sky, students at Saddleback College celebrated their diversity Wednesday with food, folk dances from around the world--and a genuine curiosity of their fellow students’ heritage.

The day’s festivities were part of Saddleback’s fourth annual Multicultural Week.

“It gives you an inside look at other cultures,” said Jeff Haskell, president of the Associated Student Government, which sponsored the event.

“If you don’t understand other people,” he said, “there isn’t going to be any tolerance.”

From Norwegian singers and African storytellers to Mexican folk dancers and a jaunty performance on Scottish bagpipes, the weeklong event highlights the artistic and literary contributions that myriad cultures have made to the United States.

Today, students will focus on the spiritual, with representatives of different religious faiths on hand to answer questions, as well as Native American storytellers and a meditation class.

“Religion and spiritual beliefs are such a part of all cultures,” said Angele Motlagh, president of the Saddleback chapter of Amnesty International. “Because of that, it’s important to address religion--for educational purposes, not to convert anyone.”

Since 1990, Saddleback’s minority enrollment has steadily increased, school officials said. The festival aims to respond to that growth by creating tolerance through understanding, said Jeanne Mazique-Craig, the Saddleback professor who heads the Cross Cultural Center.

It is also a welcome respite from the daily grind of scholastic life.

“It’s been wonderful,” said 19-year-old Lisa Martin, lured away from her studies by the mouth-watering aroma of food and the sounds of folk music. “Usually you don’t see the different cultures mixing here on campus, but this week everyone has been coming together.”

Said 35-year-old student Eric Todd Gainers: “It’s helpful because it basically opens up your mind so that you’re not ignorant of other people’s cultures. I think this should be done year-round.”