The Caribbean Student Association's annual awareness week began Sunday, offering several events planned to help raise awareness about West Indian Culture.
Since this year marks the CSA's 30th anniversary at UB, executive board members said they are striving to make this weeklong celebration extra special.
"We want everyone who celebrates with us to experience the rich, artistic culture that the Caribbean and CSA have to offer," said Terice Barnett, secretary of the CSA.
Their goal is to create events that are cross-cultural, aiming to build a sense of community with members and non-members alike.
This year the club plans a spectacular celebration that will intertwine CSA with the rest of UB's diverse community.
Wednesday, the CSA will be showing support to the Latin Caribbean at the Latino Bazaar where students will have an opportunity to learn what other Caribbean organizations have to offer.
Thursday, the CSA plans to invite other clubs on campus to join them for a free game of Laser Tag.
A Caribbean arts and craft workshop is planned for Friday where students can make traditional items such as beaded necklaces and earrings. There will also be time to enjoy Caribbean cuisine, play games and watch a movie.
On the last day of the celebration, Sat., Oct. 23, CSA will have its first big party of the year, "Super Sponge Night" at Club Evolution. The organization plans to have performances by up-and-coming dancehall reggae artists and dancers. Attendees are encouraged to conform to a playful dress code by wearing outfits with "SpongeBob" or "Superman" paraphernalia.
Proceeds from the events will go to a Caribbean hurricane relief fund.
Tosha Groves, a junior medical technology major and president of the Caribbean Student Association, said that on Sunday the organization will hold a wrap-up brunch to bring Caribbean Awareness Week to a close in true CSA fashion.
"CSA creates a social environment, somewhere people can relax and have good conversation," she said.
According to Groves, Caribbean Awareness Week has been in existence since 1974 when the club was first established, but this year the club's 30th anniversary celebration, along with mother nature's devastation this season, gives this Caribbean Awareness Week an added importance.
"The goal of Caribbean Awareness Week is to spread awareness of the issues that are going on in the Caribbean to the U.S. population," said Groves. "This year in particular we are using Caribbean Awareness Week as a tool to provide aid to the Caribbean."
A display case in the academic spine features an exhibit created by the CSA, that addresses several Caribbean social and political issues.
The club's Web site offers links to online periodicals containing up-to-date Caribbean news. "The Bermuda Sun" provides updates on the progress made in the aftermath of the several hurricanes that have devastated Caribbean islands.
All events are open to everyone, and the CSA enthusiastically invites all to participate.
According to Groves, CSA was founded so that people of Caribbean descent can have a place they can go for camaraderie, to meet people with shared interests and have somewhere to belong in UB. From this has grown a familial atmosphere with lively conversation, laughter and just good times.
"This is what we want to share with UB during Caribbean Awareness Week," said Groves.
