While students and faculty ate dishes such as curry chicken, collard greens and Mexican rice, special guest Afri-Carib played a mixture of salsa, reggae and hip-hop.

The mix attracted many dancers of all ages onto the floor and stage.

Following dinner, various organizations entertained the crowd with traditional dances, songs and poetry.

The entertainment included a traditional Indian dance performed by the Indian Student Association, poetry celebrating the Latino community and skits performed by the ASAMA Acting Troop on stereotypes and unity.

"I liked it a lot," said Griffin Oesterle (sophomore-advertising).

Griffin added he usually doesn't participate in these events but came out of curiosity. A traditional African dance by NOMMO Performing Arts Company and the voices of the United Soul Ensemble were his favorites, he said.

Student leaders of the Minorities in Agriculture and National Resources Association (MANRA) and the multicultural affairs department of USG founded and co-sponsored the event.

Debate within different organizations about how to increase multicultural awareness prompted MANRA and USG to create the event, said Ryan Williams, president of MANRA.

"We wanted to have an informal, relaxed atmosphere where people could get a bite to eat and hear groups they haven't heard before," he said.

Although the turnout wasn't as large as expected, Williams said he was happy with those who did choose to attend and attributed the low number to weather conditions.