East Tennessean

Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: News

The ETSU Bluegrass Band (top) and the Gospel Choir performed at Tuesday's Multicultural Expo, showcases ETSU's organizations and clubs. [Click to enlarge]

[Click to enlarge]

Tuesday's Multicultural Expo drew in a large audience that was eager to learn about the many organizations and clubs that ETSU has to offer. Booths were set up all around the Culp Center Ballroom for the event that took place at 7 p.m.
"The Multicultural Expo has been a tradition at ETSU for many years," said Steve Bader, vice provost for Student Affairs. Bader encouraged students to learn more about the student organizations on campus. "We are committed to your success," he said. "Get involved in a student organization."
This year's expo saw performances by the ETSU Bluegrass Band and the Gospel Choir, both of which received a wild applause.
There was also a demonstration by the Capoeira team called Tuco-O-Tapa. Capoeira is a form of Brazilian martial arts that was created by enslaved Africans who were trying to disguise their fighting practice sessions as tribal dances. If anyone is interested in getting involved with this group, there will be a lesson on Monday, Oct. 27, that will be open to all who wish to attend.
"Can you hear me?" asked Kenny Tedford, a new student here at ETSU. "Well, I can't here you. I'm deaf," he said, while laughing. The graduate student at ETSU gave a hilarious and inspiring speech about what it's like to be a member of the deaf community. Tedford, who recently graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.A. in theatre, was not given an education in his early childhood because of his deafness. Now, as an adult, he wants students to know that having a disability does not mean that you cannot succeed. "I'm learning now, the best one to be is who you are," he said to the audience with a smile on his face.
Ash-Lee Henderson, president of Black Affairs, spoke about Homecoming this year. She said that instead of the usual comedy show, this year will feature a poetry jam by the acclaimed poet, Saul Williams. "We hope to get a lot of organizations involved (in Homecoming) that usually aren't," said TJ Mitchell, president of SGA. Mitchell hopes that more people will be interested in coming to Homecoming this fall because there will not be a fall concert this year. "Homecoming is going to be SGA's big event this fall," he said. "Saul Williams will bring them in."
Among the organizations represented at the Expo were the following: ISEP, Black Affairs, Silent Bucs, Martial Arts Club, Women's Resource Center, Women's Studies Program, University Tutoring Service, International Learning Community, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, African-American Studies, NAACP, Japanese Culture Society, Sherrod Library, BADD (Bucs Against Drunk Driving), Ronald McNair Program, Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Phi Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta.
If anyone is interested in finding out more about these organizations, please contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at (423) 439-4210.

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