Many Faiths Come Together To Share a Meal

BY JESSE ZAPATA

The twelfth Annual Interfaith Dinner was held last Wednesday in the Marvin Center to highlight the various faith organizations on campus. Students who attended were treated to live music, food, guest speakers, and more during the annual event. Started after 9/11, the dinner strives to bring together students in solidarity against prejudice. Overall, the event was focused on examining faith’s common role in social justice and freedom. 

Tim Kane, associate director for inclusion initiatives, introduced the various performers and guests. Each campus faith organization was represented, and they also chose the speakers. The Voice Gospel Choir began the program with several hymns.

Speakers for the event included Muslim Student Association student Aabid Mohiuddin, Satyam representative Pavithra Chidambaram, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship choice Jon Yu, Allied in Pride representative Nicholas Gumas, GW Catholic student Olivia Bee, Jewish Student Association representative Joey Saban, and Kabir Gumer from the Sikh Student Association.

Each original speech was unique, yet they all taught lessons. Some were deeply rooted in the biblical tradition and quoted passages from the New Testament while others focused on a secular morality. Another defined the term “Tikkun Olam” as the Jewish faith's "one common goal of a better place for those who follow". A fellow speaker focused on the Sikh traditions of identity and scholastic petition. Each address, though different from the others, represented the night’s theme of the involvement of faith in freedom and social justice.

In closing, GW President Steven Knapp gave a brief history of the Interfaith Dinner and the university’s history of student led interfaith initiative. He also shared an excerpt of a letter written by George Washington to a Rhode Island Synagogue's congregation. The letter contained not just the theme quote of the evening, " to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance," but a larger statement about the power of diversity in bringing wisdom and prosperity to those who embrace it.

Interfaith Director for Satyam, the school's Hindu awareness organization and planner of the event Priya Yadav said she was happy with the dinner’s turnout. She added that the school had been working to “re-excite interest in interfaith and multicultural events.”

“We have so many [students] dedicated to their faith who want to let others know,” she said. 

Ugly Betty Star Leads Off Latino Heritage Celebration

The Latino Heritage Celebration at GW kicked off on a roll this week as actor, director and community activist Tony Plana captivated the crowd with his keynote address Monday evening at the Marvin Center.

You may know Plana from his more recent role as Betty’s father in the hit TV show "Ugly Betty." But his career has spanned decades, and his wide range of performances in the arts as well as in the community provided a platform which enables him to inspire fellow Hispanics.

Plana told stories to a fixated audience from his early life as an immigrant Cuban child in Miami in the 60’s. At other times, the crowd curled over with laughter as Plana mused them with highlights of his acting career.

Active community service and dedication, however, was the major emphasis of the speech. He urged the crowd to pay attention to the “tragedy of education” that is prevalent in schools today.

Plana adamantly professed “if there was an obstacle in your way, that you must take action to overcome that obstacle… not only for you, but for your community as well."

“Worlds will never change unless you change them yourself,” he explained to the audience.

He concluded his talk with a lively Q & A session with audience members who called on Plana to guide them through their own endeavors. Plana continued to emphasize the importance of education as a key step in breaking the mold that has been set for Hispanics in the local community, playing nicely into this year’s theme for the celebration “Saber es Poder” (Knowledge is Power).

The Multicultural Student Services Center hosted the event. Director Michael Tapscott emphasized that “Everyone is welcome at the MSSC."

The Latino Heritage Celebration, which takes place on GW’s campus Sept 19^th-Oct 15^th, promotes the immense value of self-awareness of Latinos while simultaneously empowering the Latino community. The weeklong celebration also seeks to educate the GW and surrounding D.C. community about the rich Latino history and culture and their impact on the United States. Other events this week include a Latin American film screening, Parade of Flags and Latin dance classes.

A full list of Latino Heritage Celebration activities can be found at the MSSC website.