The Caribbean countries include a diverse range of people united by a common heritage. Here, students will celebrate their common ties in an evening-long event tomorrow.

The theme of the Caribbean Student Association's 14th annual Caribbean Experience, titled "All A We A One," will promote unity among Caribbean cultures. The event's proceeds will help establish and fund an annual scholarship. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the HUB Ballroom and include traditional cuisine, dancing and music.

The Caribbean Experience will entertain and enlighten people about West Indian cultures, association secretary Arlene Laing (graduate-meteorology) said.

People can taste the traditional flavor of spicy food such as curry mutton and chicken in the main course to be prepared by CSA members. Sorrel, a traditional drink like cold herbal tea, will be offered with the meal.

Following the dinner, members will sing a folksong medley derived from countries including Jamaica, Suriname, St. Lucia and Guyana. Also, some students will perform an educational skit about reggae and soca music, a faster type of calypso.

Members will also read poems in four languages --English, Surinamese, Spanish and Haitian Creole. CSA member Carlos Andino said he will present a poem including a line that echos the event: "So many hair types. So many skin colors. So many tongues. One people."

"We want to emphasize that we're one people, one Caribbean," Andino (junior-industrial engineering) said.

Other entertainment includes Hollis Liverpool, known as "The Mighty Chalkdust," from Trinidad. Liverpool will present calypso music and also talk about its history. KC and the International Band from New York will play reggae and calypso music until midnight. Also, a 40-member children's group will perform steel pan music.

Between 9 p.m. and midnight, the event will be open to the public. Tickets for the event are being sold at the HUB basement and the Paul Robeson Center, $10 for adults and $5 for children.