This year at Ramapo, there are many new Culture clubs that are helping to promote diverse cultures that students would like to share. By participating, students can learn about new traditions, cuisines, languages, and histories all while building friendships and fostering a more inclusive environment at Ramapo.
Chinese Club:
The Chinese Club is a new culture club that exposes students to the vibrancy of Chinese culture. The Chinese teacher at Ramapo, Li-Laoshi, is the Advisor for the club. Li-Loashi commented, “The Chinese club’s mission is to explore the vast and vibrant world of Chinese culture in a fun, relaxed, and welcoming environment. We go beyond just the language to celebrate the traditions, customs, arts, and modern life of Chinese speaking communities.” The Chinese club is a great way to gain an understanding of the culture, and to have fun with hands-on activities. The treasurer of the Chinese Club, Oliver Addler who is a sophomore at Ramapo, added, “We are going to use activities and field trips to help immerse people in the Chinese language and culture. The goal is to get lots of kids to join the club, not only those who take the class but to teach more kids about Chinese”.
Slavic Club:
The Slavic Club is another new culture club here at Ramapo. The club explores and discusses many traditions of the Slavic culture. Keira Vinokur and Isabella Rutigliano are juniors who started the club alongside their Advisor, Mr. Gilgur, a physics teacher. Keira explained, “We explore different nations’ traditions through different methods such as games and Kahoots! Typically we meet every 2-3 weeks, sometimes during lab lunch or after school!” Every time they meet, they focus on a different country. The Slavic Club also holds fun trivia events, including Kahoots about the culture, and other entertaining trivia games. Keira also stated, “The club started honestly as a ‘wouldn’t it be funny’ thought between my friend Bella and me. We both talk a lot about our culture and thought other people would want to as well!”
The Slavic Club is looking forward to gaining new members and gaining a space for students to share their heritage and learn history in a fun, interactive way.
Muslim Student Association (MSA):
The Muslim Student Association (MSA) is a community for anyone who is interested in learning about the Muslim culture. The club provides an encouraging environment to help build a better understanding of the culture in an enjoyable way. The MSA mission is to build a community of Muslims that strives to increase students’ understanding of Islam. Freshman Maha Rana founded the club, and had the following to share: “Our mission is to build a genuine Islamic community where anyone can come to learn, grow, and embrace Islam. Our goal with this club is to provide a supportive community for Muslim students. We meet about every 2-3 weeks for 20-30 minutes. Dr. Ross is the advisor for the Muslim Student Association.” If you have any questions, you can e-mail Dr. Ross. Make sure to stop by, and help Ramapo build a diverse cultural community. The MSA wants to provide a safe and welcoming community for anyone who wants to be a part of or learn about Islamic and Muslim culture.
Culture clubs are helping make Ramapo a more connected and open community. Whether students are interested in learning about a different culture, exploring new traditions, or meeting people from different backgrounds, these clubs can offer something for everyone. By joining these clubs, students can contribute to helping Ramapo build a stronger environment that values cultural diversity.
