Kristen Manning

Guest Reporter

Cultural Diversity Board plays an important role on the Mesa State campus, as well as in the community. The members’ missions are to promote and support the ethnic and cultural groups on campus by providing an educational resources and support services.

“Cultural Diversity Board’s focus is to amp up the educational leadership aspect of our mission,” said Julie Ackley, director of the board.

Last year, she was the CDB president of the Native American Student Council, one of six clubs that operate under the board. Others include Black Student Alliance, Gay Straight Alliance, Ho’olokhai (Polynesian club), International Student Association, and La Raza (Spanish culture).

When asked to be the director, Ackley said that she “wanted to put past experiences, as a business leader and promoter as cultural awareness, to greatness.”

Her main goals this year: increase membership and provide a warm welcome and open environment to help the students adapt.

Even though Cultural Diversity Board is a group on campus, they are here to promote diversity all throughout the community. Their objective is to reach out and spread the news that the world is made up of different cultures, and to help make the transitions easier. To do that, members reach out with a variety of activities throughout the school year.

Each spring, the CDB hosts a large event called Unity Fest. It’s a weeklong festival that brings all the individual clubs together to promote their purpose. Each day has a different event, such as arts and crafts, games and activities, and there is even a performance day, where each club is allowed to bring in an outside performer.

“This is where CDB gets to express itself the most because it has proven to be effective with Mesa State students as well as non-Mesa students,” said James Coburn, the International Student Association vice president, who heard about the Cultural Diversity Board through his roommate, who was a part of Ho’olokhai.

Throughout the year, each club has its time to shine with its own significant month. It is a month where that particular club has a cafeteria day, with a meal is dedicated to its particular culture. Also there is a performance day. Last year the International Student Association brought in Celtic dancers to represent their month of March; and drew a crowd of roughly 300 students. Every year, the clubs look to stand out and this year, the new leaders are looking to keep the bar high.

A common mistake that students make is to believe that they have to be born or raised in a specific culture to join one of the six clubs. That is not the case. CDB is open to anyone who is interested and who wants to get involved. Each club is contantly recruiting and the clubs can be found in the second floor of the new College Center.

kmanning@mesastate.edu