Thursday, February 12, 2015 @msureporter
facebook.com/msureporter
Minnesota State University, Mankato
www.msureporter.com
FEBRUARY
12
THURSDAY HIGH: 12 LOW: 9
FEBRUARY
13
FRIDAY HIGH: 26 LOW: 0
FEBRUARY
14
SATURDAY HIGH: 7 LOW: -8
A thousand and one nights in Mankato Middle Eastern Student Association hosts a magical event February 14. PRATAKSHYA BHANDARI Staff Writer The Middle Eastern Student Association is organizing the Middle Eastern Night on February 14 at the Centennial Student Union. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with an exhibition followed by dinner and entertainment at 7 p.m. The night will end with a masquerade dance starting from 9 p.m. The theme of the night is One Thousand and One Nights. It comes from a famous Arabic folk tale that has many versions, the most famous being Arabian nights. A lot of countries in The Middle East have a tradition of royalty, and it is often reflected in their culture as the event follows the concept of a royal folk tale, told as a story through performances. The event is open to the public and students. Tickets cost $8 and can be purchased online at MSU website or at the ticket booth in CSU. For those who just want to attend the dance, the price is $1 at the door and will include a mask.
mnsu.edu
“We want to showcase the good stuff that we have. Our culture, dance, music, food and our values. There are about 22 to 24 countries that are represented. We have a lot in common, but we also have a lot of differences, and we want to show them all,” said Jessica
Farah, event coordinator for Middle Eastern Night. Entertainment for the night includes dance and music representing different regions of the Middle East. Apart from MSU students with different cultural backgrounds as performers, there is a group of student per-
formers coming from St. Cloud State University. The menu, however, is kept a surprise. “We can’t tell you what the menu is just yet,” Mohammed Al-Baloushi, president of Middle Eastern Student Association said. “But we can tell you
that we have an interesting mix of taste and spices. For now, it’s classified.” The date, coinciding with Valentine’s Day, wasn’t a deliberate choice. However, the association is hopeful that the event will have a good turnout, especially from students looking to celebrate the occasion on a budget. “It’s the ideal date for college students. For $8 you are getting food, entertainment and masquerade dance. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day?”Al-Baloushi said. The Middle Eastern Student Association is the biggest RSO within ISA. It is because Saudi Arabian Student Association, while an RSO of its own, is also a part of the association. Saudi Arabian students currently have the largest international student population at MSU. The event is one that the MSU community looks forward to, because of the representation of so many countries as well as cultures. A chance to celebrate the unique culture, as well as anticipation of signature food
NIGHTS • Page 3
Looking backward to move forward Students to explore the tradition, culture, and beauty of Oromia. LUKE LARSON Staff Writer What do you know about Oromo culture? Can you find Oromia on a map? Do you know any Oromo students here at Minnesota State University, Mankato? Next Saturday, February 21, the Oromia Student Union is offering an opportunity to grow in awareness of the culture and traditions of an ethnic group that is wellrepresented both here at MSU and in the state of Minnesota as a whole. “One of our main goals is to affect the Mankato community with the recognition of the Oromo people,” says Aliya Hussein, president of the Oromia Student
INSIDE:
youtube.com
Union, the group hosting the event. “It’s about distinguishing Ethiopians and the Oromo. It’s so complicated and when you try to explain it to people who don’t know, you can’t really sit there and lecture them about the
Oromo people. So I feel like this night is an opportunity to show that we are very much different from the Ethiopians.” Abdi Mude, a member of OSU who immigrated to Minnesota four years ago, explains
that the Oromo are the largest ethnic group in east Africa and live primarily in Oromia, a region of Ethiopia. “At one point, the Oromo had everything.” says Hussein, “They were the richest people in
VALENTINES - PAGE 11
the east until they were conquered by the Abyssinians in the 19th century.” Mude notes that the Oromo are best known for both their world-class runners, which include Kenenisa, Darartu, and Abebe Bikila, the first African to win an Olympic marathon, as well as their world-renowned coffee. He adds that the Oromo are not unified religiously; some are Christians, some are Muslims, and others practice Waaqeffannaa, a traditional religion. The night will feature a host of events offering insight into the Oromo people and their culture. Traditional Oromo cuisine will be served begin-
OROMO • Page 2 ED/OP
6
A&E
11
SPORTS
15