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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Getting to know UF's Global Village

Forty years ago, my father and his family emmigrated from Pune, India to Framingham, Massachusetts. It was a movement from East to West and from sun to snow. On his first day of school in America, the teacher pulled him up to the front of the classroom and said, "This boy came from India. Look at his hair, look at his skin," and proceeded to have her class observe this legal alien.

In a world where Joe Biden (to much critique) says "you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent," the cultural fabric of the nation has obviously transformed since 1968 and, consequently, so has UF. Fifty years after integration, the institution supports a highly diverse student community and broad scope of multicultural organizations and events.

Across campus, students observe Ramadan, Rosh Hashana and Lent. Residence halls, such as Weaver, pair students from Australia with those from Chile to be roommates. Greek life incorporates Asian fraternities and Latina sororities. And all events and groups are peppered with students who show up from sheer interest in a culture, regardless of their own background or religion.

Our school is ripe with these kind of stories - stories of far travels and hard adjustments. Stories told through traditional dance or political movements. We hope to tap into the multicultural current on campus and bring these stories to you.

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