Cultural clubs, performers and students gathered to celebrate UCLA’s diversity Nov. 19 for the Bruins Around the World event.
Bruins Around the World is a joint initiative between the Undergraduate Students Association Council Office of the International Student Representative and UCLA Residential Life. This year, Carnesale Palisades hosted musical, design and dance showcases from six student organizations.
Paige Zwerner, the ISR office’s director of programming, said the event was held to facilitate cultural appreciation. Bruins Around the World featured double the number of participating organizations than in previous years, Zwerner added.
“It’s so important to learn about the diversity that you might not know about and appreciate other cultures,” said Zwerner, a second-year communications and political science student.
International Education Week is an initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education that promotes international education and cultural exchange at over 21 campuses, said C. Cindy Fan, the vice provost for international studies and global engagement, in an IEW promotion email. Bruins Around the World is a part of this annual programming at UCLA and has been held for more than seven years, according to an emailed statement from Korina Pilkington, an Academics and First Year Experience coordinator.
Residential Life and First Year Experience primarily funded food vendors and giveaways, said Ariana Muniz-Austin, a project management intern with Residential Life, in an emailed statement. Attendees snacked on egg rolls, samosas and pastries from Porto’s Bakery and Cafe at the event.
Muniz-Austin, a second-year physiological science student, said the event helped international cultures reach domestic students.
“It’s a platform that we use to allow international students to share their culture with the UCLA community,” she said. “It’s good exposure for students to come in and see these different expressions of cultural heritage and identity.”
As attendees settled into their seats, emcees announced the first performers.
The first group to take to the stage was Kyodo Taiko, a student-run Japanese drumming ensemble. Participating in BATW is an ensemble tradition, where members in their second year of the club present the piece “Omiyage,” said Cecile Lebegue, a third-year psychology student and member of Kyodo Taiko.
Emily Otoshi, a third-year cognitive science student and member of Kyodo Taiko, said she was happy to see the group’s work translate into performance. The group is like a family to her, she added.
Other music groups followed, including UCLA’s Music of China Ensemble whose piece featured Chinese instruments and student solos. Melanin Melodies performed a song in three-part harmony.
Syed Tamim Ahmad, the USAC ISR, gave a speech during a brief intermission.
Ahmad, a third-year physiological science student, said he decided to run for office of the ISR after attending Bruins Around the World in 2023. He added that the event is important to him because it provides UCLA’s international community with a glimpse of home and a space to exchange their worldviews and cultures.
“We all come from different places. We all have a different perspective of the world,” Ahmad said. “(Seeing) the massive amount of perspective of the world in a single room at a certain time – it’s just beautiful.”
The event also highlighted dance groups from Nigerian Students Association and East African Student Association. Sophia Kyama, a first-year human biology and society student, said she performed with EASA for the first time at BATW this year.
“Before, I was feeling nervous, but when we finally got on stage, the nerves went away, and I was just happy to be there,” Kyama added.
Other attendees included faculty and younger children, many of whom were performers’ families, said Benjamin Adubofour, a member of the NSA Dance Team. Adubofour said the event provided a unique opportunity to celebrate and share his culture with others, both in and outside of the Nigerian community.
“I think more of my people should be coming. I think they would love it,” said Adubofour, a second-year human biology and society student. “It’s a cultural experience that you can’t really find anywhere else on campus.”
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