By ARIEL GONZALEZ
Staff Writer
Spectrum: The ALANA Student Union hosted its annual Afro-Carib event this past Friday. The event intended to highlight and celebrate the Caribbean culture while focusing on the African roots.
Spectrum was established in 1997 according to current President, Alexis Melvin.
“Caribbean people don’t have much a stage on campus so it’s really good to be able to celebrate their culture,” Melvin said. The event makes a big impact on campus each said, Lamara J. Burgess, associate director of Intercultural Leadership at Saint Rose. “There are so many students from diverse backgrounds and it provides a unique opportunity for them to unite over food, performances, music and dance. I’ve attended for the last three years and it’s one of my favorite events of the year,” said Burgess.
The diversity of both cultures were very vivid. “It’s a great event to showcase both groups through food and dance and being together. It is a great event for that to happen,” said Cherèva McClellan, Director of student life at Saint Rose who was attending her first Afro-Carib event.
The event provided many great performances by some of the College’s most diverse groups and outside entities who also participated. Sabor Latino, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Golden Vybz, singer Daniel Harris, and the Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc. all performed at the event.
“The frats performing it was a new experience and provided new faces,” said Johanny Monsanto, who performed a chair dance alongside Jaysalee Salcedo and Genesis Mercedes for Sabor Latino.
Freshman, Anamaris Miro of Sabor Latino said, “I was kind of nervous and was expecting more of the show but it turned out to be a good event.” However, some felt the event lacked student attendance. “I think the event was okay but it was too empty as well,” said student Brianna Isabel. The event lasted about two hours, although the event had a late start due to lack of attendance. The event eventually turned out to be great and had a decent sized crowd after a slow start.
