Students, clubs, food trucks, and more took over Memorial Circle outside of Bozorth Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the Office of Social Justice, Inclusion, and Conflict Resolution’s Culture Fest. At this event, there were games, giveaways, live performances, and over 700 students in attendance. This event showcased many different organizations at Rowan University.

Richard Wos Jr., founder of the new campus organization Rowan Disability Student Union, spoke about what it was like to attend this event.

“It’s a great time, really nice chill hangout time, but we also get to meet other organizations, get to network with them, and also potential collaborations which is a fantastic idea,” Wos Jr. said.

Wos Jr. also explained their organization’s place on campus. 

“I am working with accessibility services now on campus and I am able to develop the program more and develop this program to be something more impactful,” Wos Jr. said.

Also present at the event was the director of the Office of Social Justice, Inclusion, and Conflict Resolution, Dom Pierson. The Office of SJICR houses many different programs, such as the Dr. Harley E. Flack mentoring program, which is a mentorship program for students used to help develop student leaders, and the Interfaith and Spiritual Exploration Center.

Pierson spoke about how Culture Fest has changed over the years.

“Culture Fest, formerly known as the cultural organization fair, was started by a group of students who were not charted by the SGA and couldn’t participate in the SGA organization fair. They felt like they didn’t have any way to amplify their voices or who they were and spread that with their own community. So, we started small with the org fair. I think we might have had 25 student organizations, and over the last four years it has grown tremendously,” Pierson said. 

Pierson also discussed the name change to Culture Fest.

“We changed the name to Culture Fest because we wanted it to be a celebration of culture because now it incorporates some of our campus partners that are external to Rowan and to identify a culture of care and celebration for students on campus. So to us, it means absolutely everything,” said Pierson. 

Ren Cito, a junior majoring in the music industry, talked about her organization Epic Movement, which is a campus fellowship focused on the intersection of faith and culture for Asian American Christians. Cito talked about what it is like being a part of the Epic Movement.

“We are mainly an Asian American Bible study group, which I found really interesting as an Asian American Christian myself, so I was really passionate about this group,” Cito said. 

Kevin Jenner, a senior radio, television, and film major and president of Rowan Hillel talked about what it meant to be present at the Culture Fest and showcasing the organization.

“I think being out at this culture fair is very important. It is very important that we show Jewish students that we are not afraid to be out on campus with what has been going on in the world,” said Jenner.

Kenold Gosir is a former Rowan graduate student who is now back at Rowan for his first year as the Assistant Director of Inclusive Leadership. He also oversees the Dr. Harley E. Flack student mentorship program.

Gosir spoke on what it was like overseeing the Culture Fest for the first time. 

“I’m proud to see the success, all the students coming together in the community, finding their place here and their sense of belonging at Rowan University,” Gosir said.

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