November 23rd WSU Football vs. Idaho State 1:00PM-5:00PM

November 23rd WSU Volleyball vs. Eastern Washington 7:00PM

November 25th Soup Day Shepherd Union Building

November 28th Thanksgiving Day No School

November 30th Men’s Basketball vs. San Jose State

7:00PM Dee Events Center

December 6th LDSSA Christmas Show

7:30PM-9:30PM Browning Center

December 9th – 13th Finals Week All week long

December 9th Fill the Sleigh Event 1:00PM-7:00PM Shepherd Union Atrium

December 13th Fall 2013 Graduation 1:00 PM Dee Events Center

Weber State University has switched over to a new program this year called Weber Sync. Weber Sync is connected with the Center for Community and Engaged Learning (CCEL), so that students can easily manage their volunteer hours. Another great thing about Weber Sync is that students are able to connect with clubs and organizations around campus. It is a great tool to use to stay up to date on events, and to be able to become more involved on campus. Weber Sync can be accessed through the Weber State University portal, on the Student Services tab. Every student has their own account where they are able to record their service hours as well as connect with clubs and organizations. By: Michelle Diez

November & December 2013 Issue seventeen

“Embracing our past, enhancing our present to inspire our future”

From the Desk of Our Director

Contact us at 801-626-7330 or multicultural@weber.edu Visit us Online at weber.edu/multicultural

Culturally A Monthly Insight into Multicultural Life on the WSU Campus

Immigration Discussion Immigration is the topic of this year’s Weber State University Diversity Conference. Luckily, my class schedule allowed me to attend this event. What I learned and what the most interesting information about this immigration topic was the process and how slow, long and unfriendly it truly is. There were many accounts told on how any mistake with an application would need to, of course, be corrected, but the process produces a “back-to-the-beginning” course of action with the application with the person seeking citizenship. I’m not saying that we don’t need a system, but the current one we have seems to be penalizing those who are already in the country; living and working as good, productive citizens. However, because of lack of legal documentation, they can’t actually be citizens. The years of struggle with this process, is distressing and in many cases very un-American per these iconic words inscribed on the Statue of Liberty “Give me your tired; your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, and the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest tost to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” The improvement of our current immigration process needs to happen soon. By: Jeff Henry, African American Senator

I can’t believe the holidays are upon us and the end of the semester is approaching fast. Thanks giving, finals week, commencement, and the holiday break. Boy, do I have much to be thankful for!

Focus on the game changers. For me, this means changing a situation in a significant, bold, innovative, and important way. Game changers are found in education, athletics, social justice…you name it – game changers impact our lives. I want to give a quick shout out to a game changer: STEPS (student employment) supervisor, Teresa Holt, will move on to her new position at WSU as the CDU Program Coordinator. Thanks for making an impact! Congratulations to STEPS Team Lead, Laura Natalia Muñoz. She will obtain her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Administration and has been offered a position at IHC. STEPS former and current employees who will also be graduating: Stephanie Quinn (former Student Association American Indian Senator), Andres Morelli (former Team Lead) and Michael Vuong (former Data Specialist). Although the Multicultural Student Center will experience some changes within the next couple of months, please help me congratulate these sharp and talented individuals in their educational and career advancement!

As always, any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or Center staff. Thanks for your continued participation and support of our programs.

Have a safe and restful holiday break, Michiko Nakashima-Lizarazo

Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit

“Preparing For the Real World” On October 30, 2013 Weber State University held the Multicultural Youth Leadership Summit where nearly 1,000 high school and middle school students were invited to visit the campus. Students were separated into groups to learn about diversity in college. They were also taught that everyone can go to college no matter what your financial status or background may be. Students arrived at Weber State the morning of October 30th around 7:30am to receive care packages with information on FAFSA, scholarships, and even a book! Workshops were held all afternoon until 12:30pm when lunch was served to all students. Towards the end, seniors were able to stay and have a chance to win a scholarship to Weber! Big thanks to Sodexo for helping! Overall, the event went very well! Thank you to all who volunteered! A total of 58 people volunteered to help this conference run smoothly. Without volunteers this conference would not have been possible. Thank you to all volunteers! We could not have done it without you. By: Christina Holt

Tips for Surviving Finals Week

Finals week is fast approaching and with that comes added headaches, stress, and sleep deprivation. For us continuing students, that week is nothing new, but for you freshman, finals are a whole other world. Nonetheless, here are some tips for surviving this dreaded weak:

• Start Early: You should prepare a schedule the week before finals actually begins. That way you limit any chance of cramming and pulling your hair out.

• Sleep: Make sure to include sleep as part of your schedule. Studying while you are tired definitely has no benefits and you are probably not going to remember the information you read at 2am.

• Limit Distractions: Study in a quiet place and avoid stressful situations and people. Sometimes you may need to take a couple days off of work to pin yourself in the library.

• Prioritize Your Time: Say no to people that want to take up your time when you know you need to commit to studying. If you want that good GPA, you need to put yourself first.

• Take Breaks: You are doing yourself a disadvantage by not taking time to splurge yourself. Take time for bathroom breaks, meals, or simply just go to a movie with your friends. Over-studying in a short amount of time is a reason why a lot of students tend to do poorly on their final exams.

• Be Confident: Be aware that they are only tests and papers. Don’t be intimidated. Understand that you’ve prepared the best that you to your ability and remain calm while taking your exams.

Hopefully, these tips will help you to succeed with your studies. Believe in yourself and understand that it will all be worth it in the end.

By Chelsea Bybee

Nisha Bennett, BS Andres Morelli, BS

Laura Natalia Muñoz, BS Stephanie Quinn, BS Michael Vuong, BS

The American Indian Council will be helping out the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake in handing out Thanksgiving turkeys on November 23rd from 11:00AM-4:00PM. There will also be a Native American Storytelling Festival at Taylorsville High School to be held on Indigenous Day this Monday, November 25th. The last meeting for this Fall semester is on December 4th going over plans for the next semester. We are looking for candidates to fill positions such as Secretary/Treasurer, Historian, and Webmaster. We are excited to have such an awesome turnout this semester. Thank you! By: Timmy Phomsouvanh

American Indian Council Hispanic Area Council  

One of the activities that the Hispanic Area Council had was el Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. The Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd to honor family and friends who have passed away. This tradition includes setting up an altar or display with flowers, sugar skulls, and favorite food of the people that they are honoring who have passed away.

For el Día de los Muertos, the Hispanic Area council served “Pan De Muerto” to students in the Union Building. The students had the option of getting either sesame bread or sugar bread. The altar was displayed all week from October 28th-November 1st in the Union Building. The altar had sugar skulls, papel picado, skeletons, candles, pictures and flowers. Later in the evening, HAC members went to the Ogden Cemetery to rake leaves and clean around the graves.

By: Ana Reyes

Tasty Thursday

This year the Multicultural Student Center has had a fantastic Tasty Thursday outcome. It’s always great to see familiar, as well as new, faces stop by and continue to come in. Of course, the food is always delicious, so stop by and try something new. Meet new people and have an awesome time! Our following Tasty Thursdays will be held on January 30th, February 27th, March 27th, and April 17th. We will also be doing punch cards at every Tasty Thursday event. Complete 5 activities to be put into a drawing of 25 dollars to the Bookstore. Attending two Tasty Thursday events count towards punches, liking us on Facebook or Twitter, attend an area council meeting, and attend an MSC event. Our next Tasty Thursday is Asia for the Spring semester. Hope to see you all there! By: Eileen Hernandez

Chief Editor: Laura Natalia Munoz │ Co-Editor: Timmy Phomsouvanh For more information or advertising please contact us at (801) 626-7330

For more information about Area Councils please visit www.weber.edu/multicultural

Holidays Observed Around the World

Keeping in step with the Multicultural Student Center’s Tasty Thursday schedule it would be a good idea to be aware of the holiday traditions and customs of some of these countries and continents that we have been celebrating. There are many different cultures spread throughout. Here are just a few of my favorites:

South Africa (Representing the African continent) December 16th: Day of Reconciliation

Day of Reconciliation, also called Day of the Vow, Day of the Covenant, or Dingane’s Day, is public holiday observed in South Africa on December 16th. The holiday originally commemorated the victory of the Voortrekkers (southern Africans of Dutch, German, or Huguenot descent) who made the Great Trek over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838. Before the battle, the Voortrekkers had taken a vow that, if they succeeded in defeating the Zulus, they would build a church and observe the day as a religious holiday. The observance became known as Dingane’s Day (after the Zulu king Dingane), and in 1910 the day was established as a public holiday. In 1952, the ruling National Party passed the Public Holidays Act, which changed the holiday’s name to Day of the Covenant (later changed in 1980 to Day of the Vow) and formally declared the day a religious holiday. As a result, activities such as sports events and theatre performances were banned. The day gained additional significance in 1961, when the military wing of the African National Congress, Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”), chose the date to begin an armed conflict against the ruling government’s policy of apartheid. After the first democratically elected government was established in South Africa in 1994, the holiday was officially renamed the Day of Reconciliation. The holiday is now meant to foster a sense of national unity and racial harmony.

Vietnam (Asia) December 24th-25th: Christmas

Christmas in Vietnam is a huge event, especially in Ho Chi Minh City. The Vietnamese Christmas celebrations are like any other city in the western world. The Christians in Vietnam attend a Midnight mass on Christmas Eve and return home to a scrumptious Christmas dinner. The Christmas dinner usually consists of chicken soup while wealthier people eat turkey and Christmas pudding. On Christmas Eve, Vietnamese people in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, especially young people, like to go into the city center, where there is a Catholic Cathedral. The streets are crowded with people on Christmas Eve and in the city center, cars are not allowed for the night.

Europe (Finland) December 6th: Independence day

Independence Day is a national public holiday held on the 6th of December to celebrate Finland's declaration of independence from the Russian Republic. The movement for Finland's independence started after the revolutions in Russia, caused by the disturbances from the defeats of the First World War. This gave an opportunity for Finland to withdraw from Russia. After several disagreements between the non-socialists and the social-democrats about the matter of who should have the power in Finland, the Senate of Finland, led by Pehr Evind Svinhufvud, finally gave in on the 4th of December in 1917; a Declaration of Independence, which was adopted by the parliament two days later.

Australia November 28th: Hanukkah

Many Jewish Australians start observing Hanukkah on the evening before on the first day of Hanukkah, as many Jewish observances begin at sunset on the day before. The first day of Hanukkah is marked as the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. The Hanukkah period lasts for 8 days up until the second day of the month of Tevet.Hanukkah (or Chanukah) often starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev.

Many Jewish people light the hanukiah (or chanukkiyah), which is a type of candelabrum. Some state governments, such as the New South Wales government, have issued public statements to people celebrating Hanukkah, reminding them to be aware of fire hazards associated with Hanukkah, particularly with regard to using oil and lighting candles.

Hanukkah is a festive period for Jewish communities throughout Australia. Events involving meals, socializing, and games are held in venues such as parks and beaches. Meals that are offered during these events are often foods fried in olive oil, such as potato cakes and different fried breads. It is also a time for gift-giving so some people order gift baskets to give to others. Hanukkah card games, board games, and books are sold in Australia. For example, a toy known as the “dreidel” is widely popular among both children and adults during Hanukkah. By: Christopher Jackson

This semester is almost over! There are a few things you should be aware of as this semester is rapidly approaching to a close.

1. Weber State Scholarship application is due January 13, 2014. Please get this submitted ASAP and continue to update it as permits.

2. FAFSA now has a new deadline!! April 1st is the new priority date. Allow yourself to get the time you need to complete your taxes and fill out your FAFSA. Remember: Our Multicultural Peer Mentors are here to help you with it!! Come down and see someone for assistance on this application.

3. Spring 2014 registration has opened!! Sign up as soon as you can to get into the classes you want.

4. Finals Week in December 9-12! Study hard and get those grades! 5. Graduation is December 13th. Come support our fellow graduates from the MSC! 6. First day of Spring semester is Monday, January 6th!

Scholarship recipients: Please note to keep up on your requirements that were provided for you in your folders. Keep up the great work everyone! We’re almost there!!

By: Juhi Dubal

Black Scholars United has collaborated with Greek Life, Future Educators of America, Gay-Straight Alliance, and Sam’s Club for the comeback of the Dead Man’s Party. The dance was a great success with a n outcome of 200+ students in attendance. The canned food drive was also a success with a donation of 350+ cans to Weber Cares. BSU would like to thank all who supported and helped with this event. We plan to continue the lost tradition 2014. Look out for upcoming events from BSU in the month of December and in spring 2014 on our Facebook page or come to our final meeting of the semester on Wednesday, December 4th in the Shepherd Union Building Student Lair at 3:30 PM. See you there! By: Niehsa Miller, BSU Vice President

Black Scholars United