Students gathered on Feb. 27 to watch campus cultural groups perform at an event hosted by the Undergraduate Students Association Council’s Student Wellness Commission.
Student Wellness Commissioner Hannah Yip hosted “Joy as Resistance” – a cultural showcase highlighting music and dance from cultural student organizations – in Carnesale Commons from 5 to 7 p.m.
Several student organizations performed throughout the evening, including performances from Jade Lotus Lion Dance, a traditional Chinese lion dance group, and Ritmo Vivo, a Latin dance performance group.
Yip said she believes the event was especially relevant amid diversity, equity and inclusion initiative rollbacks.
Universities across the country have scaled back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and cultural programs following executive orders from President Donald Trump.
“It’s so important, in light of so many attacks on DEI, that we intentionally create these events where different cultural groups can come together, different students can come together and share inner wellness,” Yip said.
Yip added that the event was designed to highlight the intersection of students’ cultural identities and allow them to share traditions through art and performance.
Andrea Reji, a member of Ruha, an Indian Catholic Fellowship hosted out of the UCLA University Catholic Center, said her group danced to a devotional song of thanksgiving. Reji, a second-year psychobiology student, added that the choreography also infused classical dance with Kuthu styles – a South Indian folk dance characterized by rhythmic footwork and energetic movements.
“Something important to our culture is community, as well as the arts,” she said. “Today we brought those together to perform for UCLA and to share our culture.”
Ruha is pictured celebrating after their performance. (Nicholas Mouchawar/Daily Bruin)
Alongside performances, students represented several cultural organizations and offered attendees interactive activities and campus resources.
Meghanne Chan, a member of Samahang Pilipino’s Filipino Leadership Internship program, said she taught attendees how to write their names in Baybayin, a precolonial Filipino writing system.
“When we write in Baybayin, it’s like national pride, it’s like going back to our indigenous roots before colonialization, where our culture was changed and altered to be more anglicized,” said Chan, a first-year physiological science student. “Writing in Baybayin is showing that you have national pride and showing that you are still connected to your culture and past.”
Members of SOÑAR, a student retention project under UCLA’s Chicano Resource Center, also hosted bracelet-making for attendees.
Brittany Lopez, a fourth-year psychobiology student involved with SOÑAR, said the organization offers services including counseling, mentorship and professional development opportunities for students.
Jennifer Rivera, a UCLA alumnus and former SOÑAR internship coordinator, said she tabled at the event to show support for the organization and its mission.
“We want to keep supporting students,” Rivera said. “There’s a lot happening in the world right now, and we want people to know that we’re still here for them.”
Yip said she was grateful for all of the groups that participated in the event, adding that she hopes that students enjoyed interacting with the cultural organizations.
“The main takeaway that I hope people had was that it was a community space with a lot of fun and music and dance,” she said. “The performances were so lively. I couldn’t help but smile the whole time.”
