By Phoebe Taber
On Oct. 23rd, the Alpha Gamma Pi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa hosted Culture Night at the Highland campus. The event began with a PTK meeting featuring committee updates, including the celebration of successful volunteering at Formula One, updates about volunteer opportunities for UT events, and details about an upcoming food drive.
Asmaa Kajjaj, Treasurer of PTK and President of Active Minds, spoke about the tradition of Culture Night. “It’s kinda been a staple of PTK for a few years, it was put on pause during COVID but we revamped it and I brought it back,” she says. “I’ve been in charge of doing it for two and a half years and every single year I try to improve on it.”
Following the conclusion of the PTK meeting, students received a “boarding pass” for Culture Night. The ticket listed the attending organizations offering hands-on experiences, global cuisine, and opportunities to interact with various communities.
The Geology Club displayed rock samples, maps, different informational materials, and engaged in lively discussions about geology with students. Some organizations offered free materials for students to take home. The Honors Student Organization (HSO) provided tissue paper to make Mexican folk art such as papel picado and paper flowers. Active Minds, an organization focused on promoting mental well-being and mental health resources, offered free stickers, fidget toys, candy, and bracelets. Culture Night also included henna, bingo cards, and international cuisine.
Last semester marked the first Culture Night that included student organizations. Kajjaj commented, “I started bringing in student organizations because I think it’s fun to represent your own culture and also just get people excited to learn and talk to each other. It’s a lowkey event, it’s super fun, you get free food, get to learn about cultures and it’s just a vibe.”
The Association of Young Leaders was one of the most popular tables. The association hosted Lotería, a Mexican board game similar to bingo that uses a deck of cards instead of numbers. They played several rounds, with each winner rewarded with a concha, a Mexican sweet bread.
At the center of the event was a table covered in the Moroccan flag, laid with countless cultural items. Moroccan pottery, food, metalwork, shoes, and even perfume were available for students to engage with and learn from.
Overall, the tone of the night was incredibly welcoming. Central Vice President Carter Ibrahim expressed, “I love this meeting of PTK, Asmaa hosts it every summer and it’s just so much fun getting to learn about everyone’s cultures. Especially their food ‘cause I’m a hungry guy.”
PTK members were also excited for the event, such as Isaiah Uzochukwu who affirmed, “so many familiar faces, so many different faces, love the turn out tonight. I represent the Nigerian culture and I can’t wait to say how grateful I am to be around here. Thank you so much.”
