The Skyline View

Date created: 3/14/05 Section: FEATURES

Media Credit: Filipino Student Union Nikki Santiago, president of the Filipino Sutdent Union, practices on the kulintang for Pilipino Cultural Night alongside Leo Rosales.

If there is one distinguishing feature here at Skyline College (other than the incessant fog) it would have to be the diversity. We are a campus of many cultures and whether we choose to celebrate these cultures through clubs, or whether we embrace them in other ways they are still a part of who we all are.

There are two major ethnic cultural clubs here at Skyline: The Filipino Student Union (FSU) and the Black Student Union (BSU).

The FSU recently started up early last semester. Nikki Santiago, President of the FSU, posted some flyers around campus for the FSU's first meeting to see if there was an interest. Thirty people showed up for their initial club meeting, and the club has been going strong since then. Last semester, the FSU did a lot of fundraising through food sales. They also had film screenings as well as book readings. This semester, they are, among other things, working towards a spring show.

"We are going to showcase the Filipino culture and Filipino-American experience," Santiago said. "We'll bridge the gap between Filipinos born in the Philippines and Filipinos born in America."

Vice President of ASSC and leader of SOCC (Student Organization Club Council) Melchie Cabrigas says she believes that the clubs are very valuable for student life.

"I think it gets students more involved, not just in their organization, but it also gets them involved in other clubs as well."

BSU club member Carl Johnson believes that being part of a club is a great way to give back to the community through his club's volunteer work. He also believes that culture clubs bring about awareness and a sense of unity and understanding. But Johnson also feels that after hanging around with a lot of different cultures, these differences also create a sense of sameness.

"Everybody thinks they're different but they're all the same," he said.

The Latino-American Student Organization is also in the making, according to club member Shellie Raygoza.

"We're doing some leadership activities and trying to get a really good base," she said, adding that they hope to expand their club by adding more campus and community activities.

Continued...

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