As the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives permeate public universities across the country, students are at the forefront of the resistance.
Over 400 students and 19 vendors gathered at Oakes Lower Lawn to celebrate the 44th annual Multicultural Festival on May 16, where joy stood in defiance of attacks on DEI initiatives. Across a myriad of cultural backgrounds — from vibrant folklorico performances to engaging ballroom dances — the festival’s noise wasn’t made only from music, but unity.
Students dance together on Oakes Lower Lawn. Photo by Isla Patrick.
Isaac Alessandro Rios, treasurer for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Azatlan (MEChA), echoed the importance of this year’s theme, “Our Roots, Our Future: Cultivating Love in the Face of Hate.”
“We are facing an executive administration that doesn’t value the importance of diversity and inclusion in our spaces and especially in our university,” Rios said. “This [event] provides us with the opportunity to showcase our cultures and uplift our communities in order to combat racist policies.”
The Multicultural Festival is among the longest-running events at UC Santa Cruz. Since 1982, students have organized the event to create a sense of community and belonging on campus for students of color through the celebration of cuisines and performances from different cultures.
The festivities began around 12:30 p.m. featuring performances from headlining musicians including MXKA, an up-and-coming Afro-Mexican artist from San Leandro, and Sambada, an Afro-samba-funk dance group.
San Leandro-based artist MXKA took to the stage, attracting a crowd of dancing students. Photo by Isla Patrick.
Attendees nodded along to the slow tumbados from MXKA who is known for her fresh take on modern corridos and R&B fusions. Singing and composing modern corridos timbados, she stands out in a genre typically populated by male artists. MXKA’s identity as a Black and Mexican woman played a large role in why the festival’s theme resonated with her.
“Celebrating not being apologetic and being a part of something where we can appreciate all different cultures is something that I stand for,” she said. “And that’s what my music is for as well.”
Another performer and vendor at the festival, Latine/Chicane-based sorority Sigma Pi Alpha, showed off a dynamic hip-hop dance routine to the song “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee on stage. Sigma Pi Alpha member and first-year business management and economics major, Elizabeth Valdez, spent several hours practicing the routine alongside her sorority sisters.
“Our performance not only exemplifies our culture, but also the sisterhood between all of us,” she said.
Other student organizations gave lively performances on stage, including Grupo Folklorico Los Mejicas and Bayanihan.
While attendees danced or participated in activities, numerous student organizations sold a wide selection of food for attendees roaming from booth-to-booth. Whether it was fresas con crema from Hermanas Unidas or bánh mì from the Vietnamese Student Association, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Two students share a treat from the Taiwanese Student Association’s booth. Photo by Isla Patrick.
As performers took the stage, attendees covered the grassy field with picnic blankets sprawled out in the sun, enjoying the music and each other’s company.
Emersen Hong, a first-year environmental studies and biology double major, was among those students sitting beside her friends.
“Multicultural events are important because as a pretty spread out campus, a lot of communities are kind of in their own particular area,” she explained. “It’s really good that we can have events like this that consolidate everyone into one place where everyone can celebrate each other’s culture and try new food and see new dances.”
Student organizations sold cultural dishes from tents around the perimeter of Oakes Lower Lawn. Photo by Isla Patrick.
Between sets, a DJ played classic hit songs, such as the famous “Payaso de Rodeo” by Caballo Dorado, prompting many attendees to rush to the center field for line dancing.
Whether their reason for attending was the food or the performances, participants stayed for the community, with the hope that fostering cross-cultural connection will continue under an administration that aims to divide.
