Ethnocultural Department

BY JERRY MATHIAS & RIDHIMA VINAYACHANDRAN

In the year of 2021, the Ethnocultural Department sought to build upon the strong foundations laid by former co-convenors Meizhu Chen and Saleem Al Odeh. Now in its third year of running, the department continues to strongly represent all culturally and/or linguistically diverse (CaLD) students at UWA.

The main goal of 2021 was to increase our physical reach and engagement with CaLD students, having our very own stall at Guild on the Green and O-Day. The Department continued to produce infographics for worldly issues, especially countries ravaged by COVID-19. The Department had an opportunity to collaborate with AIESEC UWA during Harmony Week for their event ‘Global Village,’ a mini carnival on campus involving the cultural clubs showcasing their traditional food, drinks and clothing worn. The Department also collaborated with the Multicultural Students’ Union (MSU) and provided a dodgeball tournament for multicultural students. Ben Roshkov was the star of the Department’s ongoing initiative of CaLD Blogs, where he discusses his own identity and what it means for him to be adopted. Vyvienne Bautista tackled BIPOC-on-BIPOC racism in her blog highlighting that anyone has the ability to be racist. CaLD Blogs are an engaging initiative for committee members to write a piece that is relatable to the greater community and those outside of identifying as CaLD.

Semester 2 was rather quiet for the department, further highlighting the challenges the Department faces. Nonetheless, Semester 1 was a step in the right direction and it is crucial to commemorate the small successes achieved by the 2021 committee. A five year strategic plan was established this year for the Department and it will be compelling to witness what the 2022 committee and future committees can achieve as the Ethnocultural Department solidifies its role as a strong representation of CaLD students here at UWA.