Students will get a taste of different cultures today at Unity in the Community, CULTURES Welcome Night.

“The main purpose is to welcome all students to come out and enjoy the activities and to kick off Latino Heritage Month,” said Van Amos, program coordinator at the Center for Black Studies.

The event is free and includes food from many cultures on campus. There will also be live music from Dan Voll, Combo Loco and disc jockey Nephetis from POWER 92.3 FM of Chicago.

NIU’s Black Choir, Miss Black NIU and Miss Latino NIU will also make appearances at the event, Amos said.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to step out of the box and learn something new,” said Quinette Sterling, a senior sociology major and member of the Black Student Union.

CULTURES Welcome Night has been held since 1988, and for the last five years a taste of a different culture has been featured.”I attended the event last year. It was great, and it had a little bit of everything,” said Monica Treviño, Assistant Director at University Resources for Latinos.

The Welcome Night is sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Jewel Osco and numerous campus organizations, including B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S., the Center for Black Studies, Center for Latino Studies, N.A.T.I.O.N.S. and others.

“We would like to thank all of our sponsors from the bottom of our heart, because without them, we would be unable to hold the event,” Amos said.

CULTURES

Welcome Night

Where: Central Park, between Stevenson and Grant Towers

When: Today

Cost: Free