Celebration highlights cultural diversity
The 23rd annual Celebration of the Flags took place on Smith Mall on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m.
The Celebration of the Flags ceremony gives students and the community a chance to see and hear about the diverse cultures represented at the University of Indianapolis. The ceremony displayed the many colors of the flags of 66 nations and afterwards offered cuisine from a few of those nations.
As many colors shone brightly across Smith Mall at the start of the event, flags from Australia to Zimbabwe represented the origins of the students present at UIndy.
Students were given the chance to display the flag of their home country in front of spectators as Chair and Associate Professor of Theatre Jim Ream read the names.
Some flag bearers wore traditional clothes that showed the variety of different cultures.
Flag bearers, carrying flags that represent all of the home countries of students at UIndy, waited to be called and individually recognized by Theatre Department Chair Jim Ream during the 23rd Celebration of the Flags ceremony. Photo by Kelbi Ervin
President Beverley Pitts was first to the podium, letting everyone know that this would be her last Celebration of the Flags due to her upcoming retirement. She welcomed all of the international students and challenged all students to reach out and make new friends with students who are from abroad.
“This is the beginning of something big,” Pitts said.
Pitts also encouraged students to study abroad.
Felix Baum, a sophomore international student from Germany, spoke next at the ceremony. He told of his first experiences coming to the United States in 2007 as a high school student and his decision to come back to continue his education at UIndy.
“It [coming to America] gives individuals a competitive advantage later in life,” Baum said. “It [traveling] sets international students apart and allows them to become bilingual.”
Last year, Baum carried the German flag for the event. Baum believes that carrying his native flag was a great honor.
The song that provided musical accompaniment for the event was “I Believe” by Nikki Yanofsky.
The final speaker of the day was president of the Indianapolis Student Government Valerie Wilson. She explained why this specific song was chosen for this event and the significance behind it.
She says the song speaks of how “nothing can stop me” and connected this message to international students and those who may choose to study abroad.
She urged the audience to become more culturally competent and to take the time to get to know somebody before making judgements.
She ended the evening’s festivities by thanking Polk Food Services, Inc. for providing the food for the event and the Physical Plant for their hard work in doing the set-up for the event.
Sophomore Kaeli Cockrell, who attended the event, said her favorite part was the roll call of the flags.
“I liked hearing people cheer for their country,” Cockrell said.
She believes that there was an increase in attendance to the event, compared to the previous year.
“More people were involved with the food this year compared to last year,” Cockrell said.
