Before fall semester began, 275 students attended Kupita/Transiciones, a four-day orientation that has been hosted by the Student Multicultural Center since 1988.
The program helps African-American, Latino-American and Native-American first-year and transfer students transition to ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State, with activities that introduce educational, cultural and social aspects of the university.
Michael Daniels, the centerβs program coordinator, says this experience helps students develop a greater sense of their cultural identity and that of others.
βI felt a sense of belonging once I went through Kupita,β says Emanuel Jackson, a junior public relations major who now volunteers as a student mentor. βIt was a deciding factor for me to stay at ΒιΆΉΣ°ΤΊ State.β
After (which translates to βpassingβ in Swahili) Natalia Roman, a senior applied communication major, got involved with diversity initiatives on campus. That led to an internship with the Student Multicultural Centerβfulfilling a graduation requirement. βI tell students to stay open, meet a lot of people and get involved as much as possible.β
βLauren Rathmell β17