Written By: Paola Sacerdote
With campus closed, the Brooklyn College Diversity Fair, hosted by Student Activities Involvement Leadership (S.A.I.L) Center was conducted via Zoom this year. Students from various clubs participated, wearing cultural clothing and showcasing photos of cultural or religious celebrations through artwork, music, and dance.
“We aim to create a safe space where students can be themselves, where they can share their common concerns as well as their common joys,” Assistant Director of the fair Renée Straker introduced the event.
Even though the fair was held online students were able to engage and enjoy the art, music, conversations, and games. Students and members of different clubs presented slides showing art, dance, and fashion of their culture. A variety of clubs including the Computer Science Club, Muslim Women Educational Initiative, and Glamazon, BC’s only fashion club, joined the fair and introduced their clubs with video and slides of cultural content.
The fair created group online questionnaire games to get students engaging with one another. A DJ also played music throughout the event.
Sharnette Collins, treasurer for Black Student Union, informed participants of other upcoming events the S.A.I.L Center is having this semester.
“We want to have a venting session,” Collins said, “For us to come together and be able to talk about what has happened the past few months with COVID. We are also planning to have an event on how COVID-19 has impacted the black and brown communities and what we can do to help our friends and family.”
The event gave a space for students to interact with each other and learn about the culturally diverse clubs, organizations and departments that are represented on Brooklyn College’s campus.