Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Jeffrey LaMonde Detroit junior Nyesha Smith, middle, dances with fellow members of Victorious Vessels of Praise on Thursday night during the Unified Holiday Celebration in Bovee University Center's Rotunda. The event is aimed to educate students and faculty on various religious holidays, with presentations, dances and performances from many diverse groups. [Click to enlarge]

Students celebrated each other's cultural traditions Thursday in the least-traditional way.

Singing, dancing, informational booths and ethnic foods ushered in the holiday spirit for more than 350 people during the Unified Holiday Celebration in the Bovee University Center Rotunda.

Detroit junior and Victorious Vessels of Praise dancer Nyesha Smith said the celebration showed that cooperation is possible.

"It's great all these groups come together," she said. "And it's not just religion, but as people."

Minority Student Services sponsored event, which brought together more than 13 student organizations and 15 presentations of holidays, traditions and celebration.

Assistant Director of MSS Shawn Wilson said all the credit goes to the student organizations that volunteered.

"They put this together from the ground up," he said. "They put together all the presentations. Without them this event wouldn't take place."

Co-hosts Southfield senior Chris Maxwell and Traverse City sophomore Nou Her opened the event by greeting everyone in Japanese, Hebrew, Hmong, Spanish and English.

Maxwell said the event is a great opportunity to learn about different cultures.

"You get to learn about culturally specific holidays," he said. "It shows CMU has a lot more to offer than just a break for Christmas."

Charlotte sophomore Alison Tuma said she came to the celebration because she enjoys learning about other cultures.

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