By Giselle Lee | Staff Writer
Students braved the hot Texas weather to engage with various multicultural organizations at the Mosaic Mixer and Showcase Wednesday afternoon in and around the Student Union Building as part of Mosaic Week with the Department of Multicultural Affairs.
Dallas sophomore Gianna Villarreal, president of the Hispanic Student Association, said the Mosaic Mixer forces all organizations to “be together in one spot” and noted that the event encouraged students to be “open-minded” when meeting someone from outside their culture.
“There’s no way to avoid any interactions, and I think that’s beautiful,” Villarreal said. “It’s fun to see other people’s cultures and get to experience that as well and share your own, because there is such a beauty in culture and, like, seeing other people enjoy what makes so much of your identity.”
Villarreal said it’s important for students to “find who they are” at Baylor and to feel less hesitant about engaging with cultures they may be unfamiliar with.
“We’re all still not fully adults yet; we’re not out in the real world,” Villarreal said. “The connections we make here is what truly matures us and makes us well-read people.”
San Antonio sophomore Claire Swinney, the Harumatsuri coordinator for the Japanese Student Association, said that the best part of Mosaic Mixer is meeting new students at Baylor and getting them plugged into different cultural clubs.
“It’s nice that Baylor has a week that allows other students, especially students from different cultures, to come together and spread what they do on campus,” Swinney said.
Swinney said Baylor has made progress in promoting cultural organizations and encouraging students to embrace cultures they may not be familiar with.
“Do not be afraid to approach different cultures, especially if it’s like a club or a culture that you’re not used to,” Swinney said. “Just walk up and ask what it’s about and join in the festivities of all these different cultures and the celebrations that they have.”
San Antonio senior Jade Daniels, president of Minorities in Sports, highlighted the importance of Mosaic Mixer in giving minorities, particularly student-athletes, a sense of belonging in the student body.
“Sometimes when athletes walk around our campus, they feel like aliens because they’re in their own circles and we’re in our own circle, when we all should be in this together kind of thing,” Daniels said. “It’s beautiful to see people have interests and find their community, even if it’s not with us, even if it’s with another table; it’s just beautiful to see minorities together.”
Kaleigh Wiffler, the graduate apprentice for the Department of Multicultural Affairs, said the Mosaic Mixer is “especially meaningful” because it is a unique way to introduce students to how they can get involved in many ways.
“Variety is what makes Mosaic Mixer so special,” Wiffler said. “It gives students the opportunity to find something that interests them, meet people they may not have otherwise crossed paths with, and start to see where they can fit into the Baylor community.”
Wiffler, who helped organize Mosaic Week, said she hoped new Baylor students felt like they belonged with the communities that will support them throughout their college experience.
“I hope students leave Mosaic Mixer having made a new connection, discovered an organization they are interested in or found a space where they feel comfortable being themselves,” Wiffler said. “College can feel overwhelming, especially when you are still trying to figure out where you fit, so I hope Mosaic Mixer helps students feel more confident knowing that there are people here who want to support them.”
