On February 22, the Williston community came together to attend Why Not Speak Day, a day showcasing more than thirty workshops dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and community understanding. One of the clubs that played a major role in helping make this day a reality was the Multicultural Student Union (MSU). Senior Destiny Nwafor, one of the founders of MSU, gave The Willistonian an inside look on what this club is all about.

“The Multicultural Student Union,” Destiny said, “is an organization that aims to bring together and raise awareness to the many cultures and people represented on campus.” MSU’s goals and intentions are to make the Williston community more inclusive and aware of all of our diversity. “I want to change the notion that diversity is exclusive.” said Destiny, “In actuality, it is about creating a more inclusive environment.”

The club holds meetings at least once a week, with the day changing depending on the season. An average of about ten to twelve students attend each meeting. The largest crowds have come during discussions and while planning for Why Not Speak? Day.

Hosting events that represent cultural heritage, the club has held and been involved in Spanish Heritage Night, Black History Month dinners, the Block Party, Cultural Identity Discussions (CID), Post-Election Discussions, and Why Not Speak? Day.

Destiny and A’Shaela Chaires ’18 started the club, and it has been around for two years.

“Our club formed at the start of my junior year,” said Destiny. “I had begun the process of starting the club my sophomore year, but it wasn’t approved because it seemed “exclusive”. That was the opposite of my intentions. MSU formed because at the time, I didn’t feel as though the Diversity Committee was serving the purpose I had imagined it would.”

Destiny continued, “We didn’t meet very often and it did not feel like an active group. I wanted diversity on Williston’s campus to be a forward motion, not a static one. That is why I named the club the Multicultural Student Union: anyone is invited to stand in the unity of our diversity.”

Erin Davey is the MSU’s faculty advisor.

“The club couples as a support group for students of color (domestic and international) on campus,” said Davey, who also serves as Williston’s Director of Inclusion and Student Activities. “It has become a bit of a family- we always have dinner together when we meet. In the dining hall, it’s laughter, loudness, anything you can imagine. It is like a family dinner every time.”

Davey said, “The topics we talk about include the election, current events, and speakers. The first meeting we had, we looked at current events happening, like when professional athletes were kneeling for the national anthem.”

Davey resumed, “As a club, we could always do a better job, but we are gaining a little more traction as we move forward.”