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Spring 2004 | Volume 26, Number 6 | Campus | |
| From Lunar New Year to GospelFest, SPU Explores and Celebrates Intercultural Heritage BETWEEN JANUARY AND MAY, Seattle Pacific University resonated with the hum of intercultural history, heritage and expression. Through guest speakers, panel discussions, video, film, music, food, drama, costume and dance, the campus community took part in a variety of cultural and ethnic experiences. During January, which was Asian Heritage Month, the University highlighted stories of Chinese in the frontier West and Japanese-American internment during World War II, and hosted a faculty/staff panel on being Asian at Seattle Pacific. The month-long emphasis culminated in a Lunar New Year event that featured Asian cuisine and entertainment. “Our goal was to give SPU students a taste of a celebration that is important to many people in the world,” says Annalise Nordtvedt, student coordinator for the festivities. Asian-Americans and Pacific-Islanders number 227 students this year, just over 6 percent of Seattle Pacific’s total student population. February’s celebration of African-American History Month, which culminated in an evening of West African drumming and dance, began with the visit of two renowned gospel music experts: pianist-composer-conductor Stephen Michael Newby and the acknowledged “dean” of American gospel music, Horace Boyer. Concerts on February 6 and 12 showcased their talents, involving musicians from SPU and beyond. “During his guest residency at SPU, Dr. Boyer took us through about 150 years of music in the African-American experience,” says James Denman, SPU instructor of music. “It was a walk through American history — and a journey in faith.” For a week in April, the TRIBES Project brought the power of first-person narratives to campus through speakers dedicated to fostering reconciliation between peoples and cultures. Among them was Richard Twiss, a Lakota/Sioux and author of One Church, Many Tribes. The Image/SPU Film Festival in May focused on “Border Lands: Movies That Explore the Space Between Us.” These included “Malcolm X” and “Europa, Europa.” |
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 From the President As today’s opinion-shapers declare the Christian message irrelevant, Seattle Pacific University President Philip Eaton reminds us: “For two billion people, the resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything.” “This Is Our Campaign” When Disaster Strikes Fact or Fiction? |
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