Before attending Grambling State University, some would likely lean toward thinking beliefs that it is a historically Black college composed of only Black people. It is more just a historically black university with majority African American students.
The community is composed of people from such places as Lebanon, Guatemala, Egypt, and St. Lucia. Many of the people from international locations have created what is known as the Cross Culture Club.
“CCC is dedicated to the enhancement of social and cultural interaction through cultural activities,” said Dr. Chimegasukhan Banzar, who is adviser to the 6-year-old organization.
Banzar said the main purpose of the club is “to promote diversity within the school, to have mutual understanding of everyone’s culture throughout the world, and to learn from one another.”
The club is designed to help students cooperate, be respectful of, and to accept those cultures that are considered “different” from American culture.
CCC has participated in many events, such as The Fall into Culture Event, AIDS Prevention Seminar and Francophone Day.
The group also hosts different film festivals with movies from all over the world, including French-, Spanish- and Arabic-language films.
The organization has also participated in such community service such as Make a Difference Day, where they donated to the Goodwill last year, and cleaning up around the campus.
Their upcoming events include a trip to a dog shelter for Make a Difference Day, horseback riding and having movie nights.
This semester the Cross Culture Club is looking for more students to participate. On Thursday, CCC is holding a meeting in Woodson Hall Room 223 at noon.
Those who are interested are welcome to join, and must have at least a 2.0 accumulative grade-point average.
The Cross Culture Club is also having a picnic at noon Saturday in Lincoln Parish Park. There will be food representing countries from all over the world and many activities to join in on.
For more information, on the Cross Culture Club, contact the president, Talar Tcholakian, at 917-558-3353, or Dr. Banzar at 318-274-2356.