ANAS seeks diversity on campus

The Association of Native American Students is a student organization at WSU that primarily focuses on generating awareness of Native American culture by promoting student exposure to Native American heritage from both the past and present. Each quarter the ANAS hosts fun and creative cultural events for it’s members and for the general campus in order to spread information and develop relationships with students. This past month ANAS hosted a film festival event, in which students were able to view a documentary and interact with local Native Americans. ANAS Vice President Anna Foster was very excited and had high hopes for student involvement at the film festival. “Culture is a part of our history and students need to be exposed to it. My hope is that students would come to learn about individual heritages and become well rounded people because of it.” The film festival event included guest speakers and interactive and social activities for students to do before the film started. The event served as a fantastic networking event, which benefited students as well. ANAS offers volunteer opportunities for students to enhance leadership skills and to prepare students for a diversified workforce after they graduate. The ANAS website http://www.wright.edu/studentorgs/nas/ is available for students to check on upcoming events. According to the website the ANAS events include: “sponsor guest lectures, movies, excursions, workshops, and direct participation in local Native American communities.” Regular meeting times can be found on the website as well. The organization is a part of the Asian/Hispanic/Native American Center at WSU, which offers a broad variety of opportunities for students, giving students a chance to learn more about other cultures. April was Asian Heritage Month, in which both the AHNA hosted many events spanning several different Asian cultures, giving students the chance to interact and discuss thoughts and views on each culture. Students are encouraged to get involved with ANAS or AHNA and are welcome to check out lists of upcoming events and meetings by contacting the Asian/Hispanic/Native American Center at (937) 775-2798 or visiting http://www.wright.edu/administration/ahna/ for more information. The AHNA Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 154 Millett Hall.

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