Inside the Titan Student Union Pavilion this Tuesday, students shared food, conversations and performances representing cultures from around the world as the Association for Inter-Cultural Awareness turned the space into a lively celebration of community.
Hosted in collaboration with International Education and Engagement, the event aimed to educate students about cultural diversity and showcase the variety of identities and organizations represented at Cal State Fullerton.
“As an international student myself, when I came here last year — it takes a little time to adjust when you don’t know the people, you don’t know the faces,” said Indrayani Bhosale, AICA’s event coordinator and second-year computer science graduate student. “But when you find someone from your community, it gets a lot easier. And when you come to these events, you not only find people from your community, but you meet so many people.”
The celebration featured multiple tables decorated with cultural memorabilia, live performances and international cuisine, giving students a chance to experience global traditions without leaving campus.
Attendees gathered near the stage, watching closely as dancers shared pieces of their heritage through movement. The showcase included a K-pop group dance, belly dancing, traditional Mongolian folk dance and baile folklórico. Each dance offered a glimpse into the customs and stories that shape the diverse community on campus.
Many students who tabled at the event found the experience meaningful. One of those students was Ethan Morris, a third-year accounting major who represented the Taiwanese Student Association.
“I’m representing the club today for this event, just mostly to spread our culture,” Morris said. “Being at an event like this, spreading our culture, telling people that we’re not just the country of boba or something like that. It’s really helpful so that people can learn more about us. So we’re not mixed up with whether it’s China or Thailand.”
Across the Pavilion, food samples were offered to attendees traveling the world from table to table. Along their journey, representatives from various cultural clubs shared artifacts as they taught short lessons about their customs.
Devipriya Nishadevi Ajith, a first-year public health major, shared aspects of Indian culture including the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu “Festival of Lights.” She also explained the cultural significance of the objects displayed on her table, ranging from traditional embroidered skirts to chai and samosas.
Attendees walked around with plates of food, experiencing new flavors. To some, the variety of snacks was what stood out the most.
“A lot of the different cultures and student orgs here have a lot of really tasty snacks,” said Xitlali Navarro, a fourth-year transfer student double-majoring in sociology and public health. “It allows students to get a taste of the different culture.”
The event served as both a celebration and a reminder of the diversity that defines CSUF. The sense of pride and connection shared throughout the day reflected the event’s larger goal of uniting students through cultural appreciation and understanding.
Jocelynn Veliz, AICA representative for Hermanas Unidas and fourth-year political science major, noted the importance of cultural unity.
“Especially in a place like Southern California, where it is essentially a melting pot of cultures; it’s just beautiful to be surrounded by others who are passionate about their culture as much as, you know, the people in the Latina community are,” Veliz said.