The Global Village held their first Global Success Gala in the Prillman Plaza to celebrate their leadership in diversity and unity during turbulent changes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.
The Global Village has been one of the many student centers that have been instructed by KSU Administration to begin their “deconstruction process” in order to “generalize” to make way for anti-DEI policies spearheaded by President Donald Trump.
The community center established for the Global Village allows for international students and in-state students to “foster intercultural understanding” and build academic and personal support among students from different backgrounds.
So far, the Global Village has hosted over 20 events this year, including the French Dysphoria Fashion Show, which was a notable accomplishment for the program.
They established a “safe space policy” and often hold regular gatherings among students from both international and in-state origins.
The students enjoyed a variety of food, including Plantain, Jollof Rice, and Meat Pie from Egypt and Greece.
Oyiwodu Eche, the program director, spoke to her students about their unity amidst these changes.
“As you all may know by now, the Global Village as we know it will be closing down. We will have a new hub and program in the fall,” Eche said. “It is no secret why our centers are closing; however, I will continue to be here, and so will our physical space.”
8 students won rewards for their completion of the International Peer Leaders Program and for being aides for the Global Village, which includes:
- Naaz Gupta, International Peer Leaders Program
- Jaun Pablo Guzman, International Peer Leaders Program
- Arianna De Souza, International Peer Leaders Program
- Chaatuya Nakkana, International Peer Leaders Program
- Nick Uhler, International Global Village Aid
- Thariyaa Suleiman, International Global Village Aid
- Alexia Martinez, International Global Village Aid
- Kamsy Madu, International Global Village Aid
