On Feb. 27, Belmont students held the third annual World Culture Fest in the Beaman Student Life Center to celebrate diversity on campus through dance, music, fashion and more. Individual students and student organizations focused on cultural identities had booths representing different world cultures for students to sample food, learn interesting facts, ask questions and participate in cultural activities such as henna tattoo art and calligraphy. The Rumi Club, Chinese Cultural Club and Black Student Association co-sponsored the festival in partnership with the Student Government Association.
Among the performances were Bollywood, Haitian and K-pop dance performances as well as musical performances of Scottish fiddling, hip hop and karaoke in nine languages. The booths represented cultures from South Korea, Laos, Egypt, India, Japan, Africa, China and Haiti.
The purpose of Culture Fest is to bring together students from all backgrounds to celebrate cultural art expressions from around the world. Some students and faculty were representing their own culture, while others were engaging in and representing a culture they were not familiar with prior to the event. Faculty sponsor for the event, Assistant Professor Dr. Amy Crook, said, “The support that students show to each other at the event during performances and at the booths is really amazing. People are asking for the recipes for exotic foods they’re having for the first time, falling in love with new musical genres and sharing experiences from their study abroad trips. It’s so encouraging to see the students put on such a quality event that really brings the community together.”
Belmont alumnus and nationally acclaimed musician Gordon Kennedy was recently recognized as a Morris Family Mentor & Lecture Series and Curb College Distinguished Lecturer.
Strings for Hope (S4H), an organization created by White Bluff resident Laura Wilson in 2011, collects discarded guitar strings to create unique jewelry through the artful work of women at Nashville’s Next Door, a housing and rehabilitation facility for women in transition. Funds raised through jewelry sales are donated to local food distribution centers to alleviate hunger in the greater Nashville area.
Alumni bluegrass group Judah and the Lion performed on “Late Night with David Letterman” on Friday, Jan 20 for the program’s final season. The group performed “Kickin’ Da Leaves” from their first full-length album, “Kids These Days.”