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Sowing unity or division?
Some students feel cross-cultural events such as Global Day held at the American University of Sharjah highlight rifts within the multicultural fabric of campus life.
- By Eva Fernandes, Notes Report
- Published: 09:36 May 17, 2009
Although cross-cultural events, such as the recently held Global Day at the American University of Sharjah, are intended to celebrate unity, some students maintain they expose on-campus divisions instead.
Khalisah Stevens, a 20-year-old half-Malaysian, half-American International Studies major, said such events don't shatter any preconceived notions about cultural unity on campus.
"The truth is if you look at the way the audience reacts [to Global Day performances] - how they only cheer for their respective cultures and how they leave the auditorium immediately after - you will realise that there is no real cohesion between various cultures at AUS."
Furthermore, Stevens questioned the extent to which diversity is celebrated. "The atmosphere during Global Day seems a bit competitive," she said. "The desis (Indians) cheer for desi performances - reflective of desi pride. To me, it seems to be more hegemonic, challenging Arab pride&" Saudi national Eman Bukhari, 21, an International Studies major, agreed with Stevens. "Global Day to a certain extent has become less about a celebration of cultural diversity and more about competition of who has the biggest stall and the best design."
Some students say the lack of cultural unity that surfaces during Global Day is reflective of campus culture. Bahraini national Lulwa Al Muhanna, 20, said that although there is no racial discrimination, there are cultural cliques.
"I have observed that Starbucks is for the Emiratis, the atrium of the Student Centre for Jordanian, Lebanese, Syrian students," she said. "The KFC area is for desis, the Iraqis sit by the couches in front of Dunkin Donuts. The Sudanese sit in front of Abella, in between the Syrians and the desis."
Al Muhanna said people by nature feel comfortable with members of their own nationality and the importance given to cultural clubs on campus contributes to the formation of cultural cliques.
Emirati Sara Al Suwaidi, 19, a mass communication major, said: "AUS is a mini UAE. The hierarchy of Western expats, GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nationals, other Arabs and then Indians exemplified by different pay levels, is alive in the minds of students and the administration."
Stevens echoed the point. "The UAE is divided by classes and unfortunately, classes are homogenous with nationalities," she said. As a result, said Stevens, the cultural divide in UAE society creates the need for cultural clubs in university, not the other way round.
Representation and cooperation manager of Student Activities Ezz Taha sees it differently. He said students themselves start cultural clubs, which represent the students' need to promote and celebrate their culture.
Taha added that the positive behaviour exhibited by students on Global Day showcases the unifying effect the event has across cultural clubs and in turn on the various cultures on campus.
He stressed that it was not uncommon to find, for example, an Egyptian dancing during the Indian Cultural Club's performance, or to witness the member of one club helping his counterpart from another club with his stall.
Despite the unifying intent of Global Day, Al Muhanna said she thought such events cause students to lose out on school spirit. She said: "These events are not initiated by students, they are not a natural expression of student spirit, quite the opposite."
School spirit aside, Al Muhanna, Bukhari, Al Suwaidi and Stevens all said they agreed that cultural divides do not negatively affect their studies. Al Muhanna said: "In the classroom you feel equality with your professors; no one grades you differently because of your nationality."
The writer is a student of the American University of Sharjah
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