By Jon Gray
Last Saturday afternoon the Multicultural Center, the Commission on Diversity and Racial Equality and the National Pan-Hellenic Council held the Nubian Festival for first year African-American students. The festival, held at the Red Barn, provides an opportunity for students to see the many resources and RSO’s here on campus targeted toward African-American students.
This festival is the first of its kind to be held in three years and the director, Tomarra Adams, estimated that the event attracted between 75 and 100 students. She added, “I understand this is a commuter college and a Saturday, so attendance may suffer.”
The festival had many games and activities for the students to try, such as a free throw basketball shoot and a football toss, along with entertainment provided by radio station B 96.5. The center piece of the event, however, were organizations such as the Resident Student Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Porter Scholar Society and Planned Parenthood, all of which help students not only adjust to college life but assist them throughout their college careers.
Many of the students already knew about some of the resources, such as Chalynn Heeter, who said, “I already knew about most of the resources, but I don’t remember if there was anything like this when I was a freshman. It’s a great way to build a community among the students.”
According to Adams, building a community among African-Americans on and off campus is “one of the underlying goals.” But all of this is intended to lead to “increased retention rates for first year students.” She also added “many people don’t see how fun and games help, but a community of friends helps increase [retention] rates dramatically.”
For anyone who missed the festivities, information about the aforementioned groups and organizations can be picked up Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Multicultural Center in the Red Barn. The phone number is 852-8867 and Tomarra Adams, the acting director, can be reached by e-mail at taadam01@louisville.edu.
