Commonwealth Times

Media Credit: Rachel Larue David Lieu demonstraits the Chinese yoyo during the Intercultural Festival on April 13, 2008. (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Larue Trung Nguyen trying Tinikling dancing at the Filipino table at the Intercultural Festable on April 13, 2008 (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

[Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Larue Participants display garments from around the world during the Intercultural Festable on April 13, 2008. (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Larue A participant in the Intercultural festable wears a dragon head from Vietnam. (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Larue Jessica Lee, the SGA president, participates in the Intercultural Festival on the Monroe park campus on April 13, 2008. (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

The 2008 VCU Intercultural Festival held Sunday afternoon concluded a weeklong celebration of the diverse cultures represented on campus.

The festival was preceded by activities presented throughout the week, including a series of lectures about the Brazilian slave trade by VCU's Alexandrian Society on Wednesday and a parade on Saturday that concluded at Monroe Park.

Student groups set up tables and shared timeslots on two stages-one in front at the University Student Commons Plaza and the other near Floyd Avenue.

Several vendors sold food throughout the day, with the 11- piece band Richmond Afrobeat Movement joining the many acts who performed in the parking lot across from the Commons.

Bao-Vinh Nguyen, a biology major volunteering at the festival, said the tradition helps showcase the cultures represented at VCU.

"There's so much to learn from each other and share," he said. "It's a great experience to learn about new cultures … They're all so fun, there's always something new and you meet so many people-it doesn't matter where you're from."

Jessica Lee, Monroe Park Campus SGA president, operated a booth for advocacy group Hope in the Cities.

"It seems like (the festival is) including a lot more this year," Lee said. "It seems like people are enjoying it a lot more. People seem to be really excited about showing their stuff."

Biology major Stephen Nguyen, president of VCU's Vietnamese Student Association, was at one point dressed in a dragon costume.

"It's to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, which was this past February," Nguyen said. "We're just trying to show people our culture; we try to be bright and active … I love the festival. It's one of the best opportunities to show our culture not just to the students but the community."

Business major Brian McDaniel had been unfamiliar with the festival but said he was drawn by the food.

"This is my first year coming, and I'm definitely impressed," McDaniel said. "We watched a Jewish rapper; it was cool to see him."

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Media Credit: Rachel Larue David Lieu demonstraits the Chinese yoyo during the Intercultural Festival on April 13, 2008. (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Larue Trung Nguyen trying Tinikling dancing at the Filipino table at the Intercultural Festable on April 13, 2008 (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

[Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Larue Participants display garments from around the world during the Intercultural Festable on April 13, 2008. (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Larue A participant in the Intercultural festable wears a dragon head from Vietnam. (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Rachel Larue Jessica Lee, the SGA president, participates in the Intercultural Festival on the Monroe park campus on April 13, 2008. (ct/Rachel Larue) [Click to enlarge]

The 2008 VCU Intercultural Festival held Sunday afternoon concluded a weeklong celebration of the diverse cultures represented on campus.

The festival was preceded by activities presented throughout the week, including a series of lectures about the Brazilian slave trade by VCU's Alexandrian Society on Wednesday and a parade on Saturday that concluded at Monroe Park.

Student groups set up tables and shared timeslots on two stages-one in front at the University Student Commons Plaza and the other near Floyd Avenue.

Several vendors sold food throughout the day, with the 11- piece band Richmond Afrobeat Movement joining the many acts who performed in the parking lot across from the Commons.

Bao-Vinh Nguyen, a biology major volunteering at the festival, said the tradition helps showcase the cultures represented at VCU.

"There's so much to learn from each other and share," he said. "It's a great experience to learn about new cultures … They're all so fun, there's always something new and you meet so many people-it doesn't matter where you're from."

Jessica Lee, Monroe Park Campus SGA president, operated a booth for advocacy group Hope in the Cities.

"It seems like (the festival is) including a lot more this year," Lee said. "It seems like people are enjoying it a lot more. People seem to be really excited about showing their stuff."

Biology major Stephen Nguyen, president of VCU's Vietnamese Student Association, was at one point dressed in a dragon costume.

"It's to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, which was this past February," Nguyen said. "We're just trying to show people our culture; we try to be bright and active … I love the festival. It's one of the best opportunities to show our culture not just to the students but the community."

Business major Brian McDaniel had been unfamiliar with the festival but said he was drawn by the food.

"This is my first year coming, and I'm definitely impressed," McDaniel said. "We watched a Jewish rapper; it was cool to see him."

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