What are the aims of St. Olaf's diversity groups and organizations? "To educate, celebrate, and appreciate!" says Director of Multicultural Student Services Bill Green. "We are here to create common bonds among all members of the St. Olaf community."

St. Olaf's Multicultural Organizations embrace diversity, embody support, and exemplify the spirit of our college. Each of the six student diversity associations on campus strives to promote growth in education, awareness, and understanding of cultures and traditions from around the world.

The Multicultural Organizations of St. Olaf consist of the Asian Awareness Association (AAA), Hmong Awareness Group (HAG), the Cultural Union for Black Expression (CUBE), Gospel Choir, Presente, and Harambe. Whether these groups have been around for years or are just in the initial stages of development, St. Olaf's Multicultural Organizations continuously maximize opportunities for the entire community.

The Asian Awareness Association, established in the early 1990's, encourages consciousness of a variety of Asian cultures. AAA offers all students the opportunity to experience Asian heritage throughout the entire year, including distinctive occasions such as Asia Weeks (April 10th - 24th) to enhance appreciation.

While the Hmong Awareness Group is St. Olaf's youngest Multicultural Organization, HAG has quickly established itself to be a strong basis for understanding Hmong culture. HAG was founded by 2000 St. Olaf graduate Mai Vang in order to allow students and surrounding communities to become familiar with Hmong heritage.

The Cultural Union for Black Expression, more commonly known as CUBE, has continued to develop and grow since its birth in the 1970's. CUBE was the first Multicultural Organization to reside at St. Olaf's campus. Throughout the years, C.U.B.E. has remained a strong foundation for the promotion of issues relating to the African American population. C.U.B.E. inspires unity, direction, and self-awareness. This year's President, John Chapman, as well as all officers and members of C.U.B.E. will be actively engaged in promoting events throughout the year and the month of February (National Black History Month).

According to Bill Green, Director of Multicultural Student Services, "This is St. Olaf. People just like to sing." Because of this "fact," Voices of Praise, St. Olaf's Gospel Choir, holds the greatest amount of participants among diversity groups on campus. Voices of Praise, led by President Hannah Oliha, grants students the opportunity to worship the Lord through the power of music. Typically 15 - 30 students combine to generate glorious sounds of gospel during each year.

Presente, St. Olaf's Hispanic/Latino organization, was designed in the late 1980's to educate St. Olaf students about the rich assortment of Hispanic and Latino cultures. Presente advocates learning through collective experience and celebration. Presente sponsors various occasions to enjoy and apreciate these cultures all year. Scheduled occasions for the 2000-01 school year include Hispanic Heritage Month (going on now through October 15th), Viva la Raza Week, and Cinco de Mayo. Meetings of the Presente organization are Tuesdays at 7:30pm in the student Multicultural Lounge.

Harambe creates a canopy for Multicultural Organizations on campus. It strives to give rise to the unity of cultures and traditions from around the world. Harambe aims to bring students together in order to examine political, social, and cultural concerns at St. Olaf. This year's Harambe conference is scheduled to run on April 21st and 22nd. Harambe executive committee members include Sean Thomas-Breitfeld, Jessica Harper-Smith, Hannah Oliha, and Mario Paez.

Each of St. Olaf's multicultural organizations works to raise awareness and positive reception of ethnic diversity. Students, as well as faculty members, dedicate their time to ensure that our community understands and appreciates the world's vast array of diverse cultures and traditions. These multicultural organizations and events promote a greater knowledge and understanding of, as well as an increased appreciation for the social and cultural differences that make each society unique.