Story and Photos by Eri Mizobe
There is much diversity at the University of Oregon, and Weaving New Beginnings is a celebration of this to “welcome staff, faculty, and students of color and their allies.” The event, hosted by Student Affairs and the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO), was held on Thursday, October 20, from 6 to 9 pm.
The Erb Memorial Union (EMU) ballroom, where the event was held, boasted an international selection of food, including sushi, chicken skewers, and desserts such as lemon cake and marionberry granola bars. Various student groups, such as the Intercultural Mentoring Program Advancing Community Ties (IMPACT), Asian Pacific American Student Union (APASU), the Health Center, LGBTQA, MEChA (Chicano student group), and the Counseling and Testing Center, held information tables.
The importance of  on-campus events like this  that promote and showcase diversity is becoming increasingly relevant. There was a 45.7% increase of  incoming freshmen of color between 2009 and 2010 and a 21.5% increase in new transfer students during the same period.
“It was a great way to learn what other student groups are on campus and to really see the diversity and strong presence of the multicultural and minority groups at the UO,” says Mackenzie Clark, a sophomore. “Plus, the food was delicious. It was also a great way to show the freshmen what it means to be a minority on campus and all of the resources available to them.”
Students from the UO School of Music played live music throughout the event. A group of enthusiastic students could be seen dancing in front of the stage as the night went on.
Gabe Nyugen, a freshman, agreed that he enjoyed this taste of diversity. He says, “The collectiveness of the event harbored a mosaic of different people. It made me feel a sense of closeness and that we all had some commonality. I am proud to be associated with this University.”