Despite attacks on higher education and DEI initiatives, Columbia continues to offer a space for cultural and identity based organizations.
On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Student Diversity and Inclusion and Student Engagement and Leadership hosted their first ever community “The Reunion: Welcome Back Celebration,” bringing together student organizations of all backgrounds to celebrate diversity and spread awareness of the different communities here at Columbia.
The event, held at The Garden just across from 1104 S. Wabash Ave., welcomed around 50 new and returning students.
The outdoor event displayed tables for some of Columbia’s student organizations, including The Black Student Union, The Latino Alliance, On the Outside Film, Women in Audio, The Asian Alliance, the Mi Gente Renegades, RISE, SINING, PANIC and Students for Justice in Palestine.
Matthew Rillie, coordinator of Education and Community Development, and Kristi Beltran, director of SEAL, kicked off the event by highlighting the work these student organizations put in to provide resources and safe spaces for students.
“These groups want to do a lot. They want to create safe spaces, affirmation, joy, a more inclusive space on campus,” Rillie said. “And I think because of that, we wanted these groups to be able to be in community together.”
The organizations not only provide space for students to connect with people they identify with, but also educate students on different communities.
“We have groups that specialize and focus around identities and cultures, but everything is open to everyone,” Beltran said.
“Our main thing is making sure that we have a space for black students on campus and coming together to fellowship, to spend time with each other, to learn to grow, to just have that safe space to really enjoy themselves and feel that sense of community and culture,” said BSU president Raymia Jones Fowler, a junior film and television major.
Adilene Vega, a senior art history major and co-president of Latino Alliance, said that while the Latino Alliance provides visibility for students at Columbia, it is also focused on “showing support for the community in Chicago in a larger context.”
Senior fine arts major and Latino Alliance co-president Stefanie Valle Aguilera added that it’s important for Columbia to have events and organizations like this so students know they have a space and a community for them even when they’re away from their home state or even their home country.
Senior film and television major Ella Garnes attended the event as a part of On the Outside Film, which is “dedicated to creating groundbreaking films that inspire and highlight underrepresented archetypes within the black community,” she said.
“Our team thrives on inclusion representation ensuring no one feels on the outside,” Garnes said.
On the Outside Films produces films and creates space for black filmmakers through mixers and film festivals such as their annual event, The Reel Black Film Festival.
“A lot of what we do is giving other black filmmakers space to be vulnerable with their stories no matter how weird or experimental they are,” Garnes said.
Garnes compared the reunion to a tool box. “It brings awareness to what you have as a tool, a lot of times you don’t really know what’s offered at the school because we’re an open campus.”
Sophomore Sound Design major McKenna Andrews and junior film and television major Joy Boukhalil attended the reunion as the president and vice president of Women in Audio.
“The purpose of our club is really just to provide support and just networking in a professional setting and just geeking out about audio and music as well,” Andrews said.
Women in Audio serves as a space for women and nonbinary people who are interested in audio to express themselves and flourish. “Despite that we are the minority, we’re still here and we still love what we do and we want to just flourish in our field,” Andrews said.
“This organization has been vital in my career here, it’s how I’ve been able to network and build connections,” said senior graphic design major Cadence Uzarraga.
Junior english major Kameron Murray showed up to represent the Mi Gente Renegades, Columbia’s latin dance team.
Murray, who is also a representative of SOC, emphasized that events such as “The Reunion: Welcome Back Celebration” are a good way to get the word out about different student organizations.
“A lot of people don’t know that these groups are out there,” Murray said. “Not everything is easily accessible, especially if you don’t live on campus, you don’t always see posters around.”
Copy edited by Brandon Anaya
Resumen en español
El miércoles 10 de septiembre, clubes enfocados en las culturales y identidades participaron en el evento “The Reunion: Welcome Back Celebration”, a pesar de las acciones contra las universidades con iniciativas de diversidad, equidad e inclusión. La celebración, organizada por las oficinas de DEI y de Participación y Liderazgo Estudiantil, estaba en El Jardín, al lado del edificio de 1104 S. Wabash Ave., donde las organizaciones promovieron a los asistentes, para expander su comunidad.
Resumen en español por Sofía Oyarzún
Resumen editado por Brandon Anaya
