In the afternoon of Sept. 9, LaShonda Gurley and the Office of Multicultural Development hosted their annual ‘Opening the Way’ reception at the Dicke Hall Atrium. This was the second year that Gurley, the director of multicultural development, hosted the event.
“The event is for first-year multicultural or international students,” Gurley said. “It allows them to meet students like themselves, [as well as] upperclassman multicultural students.”
President Dan DiBiasio and Dean of Students Adriane Thompson-Bradshaw gave opening remarks and were followed by several other speakers.
Students were invited to meet with representatives from the eight multicultural student organizations on campus.
Among these organizations was the Asian American Student Union, Black Student Union, Gospel Ensemble, Indian Student Association, Latino Student Union, Muslim Student Association, Open Doors and World Student Organization.
Approximately 100 students attended the reception, which was complete with snacks, drinks, and general mingling.
“[The reception] gives students the opportunity to forge relationships with others like them,” Gurley said. “It shows them who will be here to lead the way during their time here.”