The Johns Hopkins Gazette: October 30, 2000

October 30, 2000
VOL. 30, NO. 9

CultureFest 2000 Begins

By Leslie Rice
Homewood

Since 1987, CultureFest has made the autumn season a richer one at Homewood. The annual weeklong event celebrates the food, music, traditions and voices of the many cultures that are represented in the Hopkins student body. This year's theme, "Cultural Echoes: Voices of Generation X," offers a chance for students to take a special look at how history has shaped and changed the traditions of their parents and grandparents and to think about what the idea of culture means to their generation, said the event's student co-directors, Rumana Rahman and Rachna Krishnan.

Rumana Rahman and Rachna Krishnan are co-directors of the annual event, which begins Friday.

"The wars that our grandparents fought and the population boom that our parents experienced are a part of our history; our frontiers have changed, as have our barriers," said the two students in a written preview of the event. "Communism and apartheid are things of the past. Our future is defined by new challenges such as breaking down the race barrier and lowering the glass ceiling. By incorporating this theme into this year's CultureFest celebrations, we want our voices to be heard. It is this voice of Generation X that we want to resonate throughout our communities, at Hopkins and [in] the City of Baltimore. Generation X: colorful, diverse, with a voracious appetite for knowledge and fearless in mixing culture."

In addition to the annual events like the Unity Party, the food bazaar and the talent show, the students are introducing a new feature: a coffeehouse series in which two student groups from different backgrounds will present each night music, poetry, dance or food representing their cultures. In addition, a film series will reflect cultural and political issues surrounding Generation X.

All events are held on the Homewood campus and are open to the public.

CultureFest 2000
'Cultural Echoes: Voices of Generation X'

Friday, Nov. 3

Noon, Glass Pavilion. Opening Ceremonies.

7 p.m., Shriver Hall. Talent Show: Cultural X-plosion. Traditional and modern performances by various student cultural groups and a fashion show, followed by a reception.

Saturday, Nov. 4

11 a.m., Donovan Room, Gilman Hall.

Film Festival I: La Familia, East is East, Life is Beautiful and La haine.

6 p.m., Glass Pavilion. Diwali Dhammaka. Annual festivity celebrating the Hindu holiday of Diwali. Co-sponsored by the Hindu Students' Council.

Sunday, Nov. 5

1 p.m., Donovan Room, Gilman Hall. Film Festival II: Weapons of the Spirit, Farewell My Concubine, Fire and Do the Right Thing.

7 p.m., E-Level. Theme Coffeehouse I. Features a talk, "American Politics through Jewish Eyes," by Robert Zirkin, Baltimore Co. 11th District delegate.

Monday, Nov. 6

Noon to 4 p.m., Glass Pavilion. World Bazaar. A sampling of various cuisines, arts, music, dance and games in an open market setting.

6 p.m. Bunting-Meyerhoff Interfaith and Community Service Center. Chester Gillis, associate professor of theology at Georgetown University, will give a talk, "Who's Religion Is Right? Maybe Yours, Maybe Mine, Maybe Ours." Co-sponsored by the InterFaith Council.

Tuesday, Nov. 7

9 a.m. to noon, Glass Pavilion. Election Day Breakfast. International breakfast for students who present a voter registration card.

8 p.m., E-Level. Theme Coffeehouse II.

Wednesday, Nov. 8

Noon to 4 p.m., Glass Pavilion. International Food Court I. Students and faculty are invited to sample cuisines from regions of Asia and the Middle East.

8 p.m., E-Level. Theme Coffeehouse III.

Thursday, Nov. 9

8 p.m., Shriver Hall. Talk by filmmaker Spike Lee. To provide the community with a speaker who has captured the sentiments and pulse of Generation X through film and literature, CultureFest 2000 is co-sponsoring this MSE Symposium event. Lee's topic is "Expressing Inequality: Conveying the Message through Art and Literature."

10 p.m., Levering Hall. Unity Party: Insanity. A campuswide celebration of culture featuring music, food and dancing.

Friday, Nov. 10

6 p.m., Glass Pavilion. Closing Banquet, featuring food from 14 local restaurants and performances by student groups.

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