The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/8/04 Section: News

The Student Government Association's fourth annual Diversity Tailgate will be Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Herty Field.

DIVERSITY TAILGATE When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Herty Field

"We want to show UGA the different cultures interacting together in the fun tailgate atmosphere," said Anjan Deka, co-chair of SGA's Minority Affairs Committee.

For the past four years, SGA has put on Diversity Tailgate, and every year the affair is more detailed.

"People need to step out of their box and learn about other people's cultures," said Sundeep Sood, last year's chairman of SGA's minority affairs committee.

This year, the entertainment includes student Roma Patel performing an Indian dance, members of the capoeira group presenting their skills and two jazz bands from the University's music department.

"It's expanding," Deka said. "We're trying to have more cultural performances ... that's the point of it.

"By having the cultures represented at the tailgate, it brings people together on campus," he said.

Deka said the goal is to get 300 to 400 people to come to the tailgate.

The tailgate last year had about 200 to 300 people flowing in and out of the event.

"It's tough to gauge," Sood said. "The food was the measurement."

Although the Diversity Tailgate is the brainchild of SGA, other sponsors include the Indian Cultural Exchange (ICE), the Pakistan Student Association (PSA), the Black Affairs Council and the Muslim Student Association.

There will be tables at the event representing specific cultures, Deka said.

At the ICE table, people will be drawing henna tattoos, and PSA will have a karom board.

"It's become a trademark of the minority affairs committee," said Sood, who, along with last year's committee, organized the tailgate last fall.

"It's really become a part of SGA's yearly tradition to have the Diversity Tailgate," he said. "It's important because it provides an informal atmosphere. Sometimes, we just get so caught up in the issues."

Deka said he would like to see the future of the Diversity Tailgate full of performances, with all four hours of the event filled with back-to-back shows.

"And I would like to see more tables, not just display boards for the different organizations, and I want people to mingle and talk," he said.

"I don't want it to be something people have to go to," he said. "I want it to be something they look forward to every single year."

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