Group seeks unity, cooperation - University

Group seeks unity, cooperation - University

In honor of this being the final school year before the merger of all the colleges at the University with the exception of Cook, the Black Student Union hosted its first annual Unity Week. Prior to this year, the event was known as Unity Day, which featured a concert as its marquee program. In an effort to place a larger emphasis on unity, the BSU, as well as other student organizations, decided to transform the day into a weeklong event in hopes of preparing the University for the unification of the student body with the merging of the colleges.The week, which began last Sunday, featured contributions from the Liberated Gospel Choir, Hillel Foundation and Jewish Ministries, Omega Psi Phi, Verbal Mayhem Slam Poetry Society, Minority Education at Cook College Alliance, Rutgers College Program Council, West Indian Student Association, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc."The goal was to try to get different organizations, that would usually not do things together, to work together to unite all campuses," said BSU President Pat Henry, a Livingston College sophomore. "The main point is to unify all."While all events experienced a good turn out, Caribbean Day seemed to be the most popular. WISA held the event for the 29th consecutive year Saturday on the front lawn of the Livingston Student Center. The festival featured a carnival, poetry, dancing, stepping by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., dance contests, local performers, a cultural fashion show with designs from Lollipop, LH Design and Choko Lat, and an encore performance by reggae artist Beenie Man.Sponsors for the festival included the University College Governing Association and the Black Student Union. In the 29 years since WISA has held its annual Caribbean Day, this year has been the most successful, said Rachel Abraham, a Rutgers College senior. The success of the event was not only measured in terms of the turnout, but also for the amount of effort that went into planning it. Many fundraisers and grant propositions were involved with the planning of the event, Abraham said.