Saturday, May 8, the Diversity Center will be celebrating its annual Diversity Ball and Diversity Awards in Alumni Hall.

The awards are chosen every year through a nomination process. Nominations were sent out campus-wide and included a detailed questionnaire. Awards will be presented to a faculty member, a student and an event that have promoted diversity positively on campus. The Diversity Leadership Council reviewed the numerous awards to pick the winners this year. Awards were custom made by Baudeville.

Julio Zeleya, a student staff member at the Diversity Center and a sophomore political science major, said, “The Diversity Awards give us an opportunity to recognize student groups for their hard work that otherwise might go unrecognized. The night itself is a great way to get together and see friends and enjoy a great night with dancing.”

Houaka Yang, a junior biology major and Pakou Yang, a senior sociology, anthropology and Japanese double major are in on the Decoration Committee. Pakou Yang has been on the student staff at the Diversity Center since her first-year, and Houaka Yang has been on the student staff since her junior year.

They described the decorations as very formal. Pakou Yang said, “We are going for a very elegant and dramatic look. It’s going to be very gorgeous. The formal attire will really fit in with the atmosphere.”

Sophomore Religion and English Major Elizabeth Coco, an employee at the Diversity Center, said “The Diversity Awards give me a chance, as a busy Gustie, to just slow down for one night. I will get to be around the people I enjoy and know in the work setting. The night itself is important because the majority of our student body is apathetic to diversity. It can be frustrating because we always see the same people from the Diversity Center working and coming to these events. It’s important that the rest of the student body recognizes the hard work we do. Our goal is to teach the apathetic students the different cultures on campus.

“It’s an opportunity to recognize leaders bringing aspects of cultures that otherwise wouldn’t exist at Gustavus,” Nick Prince, a sophomore political science and classics major, said. “Personally, I have been involved with planning group events and coordinating between events through the Diversity Center, and I believe this night is a great way to acknowledge the great work I have seen them do.” Prince plans on attending the ball.

Tickets will be sold the rest of the week. The Diversity Ball will start at 5:30 p.m. this Saturday, May 8th. The Diversity Ball will open its doors at 5:30 p.m. The event is considered semi-formal to formal dress. The awards will be presented first at 6:00 p.m., with dinner following at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each, and the food is catered by Gustavus. Entrees include soy-glazed salmon, sautéed beef tips or veggie wellington and a chocolate fountain running all night. Following the dinner will be a live DJ playing until 11:00 p.m. for guests to dance. The event is open to all students and staff on campus to attend. Tickets are being sold throughout the week and at the Diversity Center. Anyone with questions or interest should stop by the Diversity Center.

Correction: In “Student Senate changes food allocations” in our May 7, 2010 issue, Nick Prince was listed as a junior. In “Diversity Center hosts annual ball,” Prince was listed as a sophomore. Though Prince is listed as a junior in the Gribly, he is a sophomore. We apologize for the confusion.