Globalpalooza exposes students
to a wide variety of cultures

For junior English and Spanish double major Katerina Gkionis, it was just an answer to an interview question. While interviewing for an event coordinator position within the College Union Board (CUB), Gkionis was asked what her dream event would be. She replied that she would like to see a multicultural festival on campus.

On April 21 of last year, Gkionis got her wish.

Globalpalooza was a multicultural event, organized by Gkionis and her fellow event coordinator, Annie Raczko, senior English and elementary education double major, held in the Brower Student Center. Thirty organizations were represented, and each was matched up with another and asked to represent a certain country. Each group had its own table, which was decorated according to the designated country. The group members made food from that country to be part of a large buffet. In addition, there were professional entertainers, dance groups and individual performers from different organizations performing through out the day.

Gkionis only expected a few hundred students to participate in last year’s event, but at the end of the day, more than 500 students came out to Globalpalooza. “We transformed the Student Center Atrium and Food Court into a mini-world and made it a fun place to be! It was one of the most exciting days because a dream came to life,” commented Gkionis.

Gkionis and CUB repeated last year’s success with the second installment of Globalpalooza, held this past Sunday, April 13, in the Student Center. This year, Gkionis and her new fellow coordinator Jessica Dalpe (sophomore psychology major and president of the French Club) implemented several changes: there was more food for the buffet, more funds for each group, and more performances to attract more students.

Eight groups performed this year, including TCNJ’s two a cappella groups, the Trentones and iTunes; Barkada, the Philippino student group; United Flow; and the Gospel Choir. Mimes, a professional bagpiper, and Greek folk dancers also colored the scene at this year’s Globalpalooza.

Gkionis noted, “Jessica and I felt that we could foster more cultural awareness through this event this year since we knew exactly what we were searching to do. We also felt that it was extremely important to hold this event since that would solidify it as an annual event. We want to make this a tradition at The College of New Jersey.”

Photos from the event, courtesy of Katerina Gkionis.