MULTICULTURAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS

With the objective to Educate, Uplift and Unite, ACACIA aims to bring about an increased sense and awareness of what is taking place in Africa, and we will continually be posting notices of our different events. To learn more about ACACIA, you can log onto, http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~acacia/.

(Photo above) ACACIA members attended the Namibian Independence Celebration in Washington DC during of March 2004

Amnesty International
Lafayette College has a chapter of Amnesty International USA. Amnesty International is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote universal human rights. In pursuit of this mission Amnesty undertakes, research, advocacy, and educational campaigns to protect human rights. Past events have included experts to speak on the violence and genocide in Darfur, students attending rallies in DC and New York against the violence in Darfur and letter writing campaigns to elected officials addressing human rights issues.

ASIAN CULTURE ASSOCIATION (ACA)
This group shares the cultural experience of Asian students studying at Lafayette with the community and educates the campus on issues important to Asian students. Besides regular monthly meetings, the group sponsors various events including a celebration of Chinese New year and an East Asian film series. They also take part in the annual International Extravaganza.

ASSOCIATION OF BLACK COLLEGIANS (ABC)
This group creates an atmosphere conducive to the intellectual, cultural, and social growth of its members and contributes to the general student body's understanding of the needs of its black members.

Through the sponsorship of cultural programs, philanthropic projects, and social events, the group helps new students adjust to a small campus atmosphere and strives to give the community a better understanding of the intellectual and cultural traditions of black culture.
ww2.lafayette.edu/~abc

(Photo above) ABC 2006-2007 board at their fall semester welcome back bash held at campus pizza. This event is open to everyone on campus and creates an environment where everyone can meet new people outside of the classroom and their dorms.

Association of Lafayette Feminist (ALF)
ALF is an organization dedicated to educating the Lafayette community about the protection and enforcement of women’s, and other minorities’, rights. The organization sponsors events like The Vagina Monologues, Take Back the Night, Love Your Body Day, and various brown bags on topics like rape/sexual assault, domestic violence, racism, women’s right to choose, and body image. We are also committed to maintaining a comfortable and safe Lafayette environment in which all members of the community may achieve their highest potential.

Brothers of Lafayette (BOL)


Brothers of Lafayette is a men’s organization that fosters personal, social, academic, intellectual, and professional development within its members. As an organization, it provides a safe and positive atmosphere for men on Lafayette College’s campus. BOL’s goal is to make it possible for its members to be strong and to be empowered with the tools needed to be successful in life.

Foundation for the Awareness and Alleviation of Poverty (FAAP)
FAAP raises awareness of the concept of Poverty throughout the Lafayette College community, and, when possible, to the rest of Easton, PA. This is aimed at developing into a continuously expanding project, from campus-wide, to city-wide, to state-wide, etc. We also aim to assist in the effort to alleviate poverty. This will be done either through self-initiated projects working with people in poverty-related situations, or working (assisting with funds, labor work, organization, planning, logistics, etc.) with organizations who do the same.
http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~faap/home.htm


Heritage of Latin America (HOLA)
The HOLA Floor was established to promote students to pursue a higher education, promote cross-culture communication on campus, leadership skills and to learn about the heritage of Latin America. The goal for the HOLA Floor is to become every year more proactive on and off campus. HOLA Floor encourages conversations in the dorms, in the cafeteria, and in the classrooms. HOLA members act as a model of cultural diversity in student life and as an agent for social change towards greater cultural diversity on the Lafayette campus.

HISPANIC SOCIETY OF LAFAYETTE (HSL)
An organization that celebrates the cultural contributions of Latino/as and Latin Americans, the society sponsors lectures, film, dances, and a series of lunches, during which students who are learning Spanish can converse with native speakers.

The group hosts activities each year during Latino Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) including a Latin Market with food and crafts. They decorate the Landis Atrium of Farinon College Center with flags of Spanish-speaking nations. Students from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru, and other Latino-American countries provide insight into their native countries as well as speaking to the experiences of Latinos in the United States. You can learn more about HSL by visiting their website, ww2.lafayette.edu/~hsl

(Photo above) Hispanic Society members participate in "Noche de Cultura" ("Night of Culture") every year. This event usually marks the end of Latin Hertiage Month with a combination of various dances, spoken word,fashion show, etc with the purpose of exhibiting various aspects of the Latin culture to the Lafayette community.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (ISA)
The student body includes representatives from about 60 countries around the world, many of whom are members of this organization.  ISA sponsors social events and lectures throughout the year, and a major week-long cultural celebration each spring called Extravaganza.  The goal of this festival is to celebrate cultural diversity and to increase awareness about the various countries represented on campus. Each day a different region is highlighted by displays, discussions, and film showings or special events.  The week concludes with the Grand Finale, which includes food tasting and a fashion/talent show.  The group also publishes World Wise magazine each spring and features an international students handbook on their web site, ww2.lafayette.edu/~isa.

(Photo above) Students have the opportunity to participate in several organizations at Lafayette that help raise awareness of and celebrate the many cultures, traditions, and differences represented in the Lafayette student body.

Lafayette African and Caribbean Students Association (LACSA)
Membership in LACSA is open to all students at Lafayette. The goals of the organization are to educate the Lafayette community about African and Caribbean culture and way of life, promote cultural diversity activities with an African or Caribbean focus,and help incoming African and Caribbean freshmen adjust to a new environment.The are able to achieve this by providing entertainment to members through activities such as movie nights, trips to museums and other organized activities as well as monthly meetings.

Le Cercle Français
The purpose of Le Cercle Francais (Lafayette's French Club) is to enable the campus community to encounter and better accept French language and culture. We organize French themed events, such as a National French Week guest lecturer, a Mardi Gras celebration, a film festival/contest for local high school students, and various other events that involve French cuisine, films, and games. We run a community outreach program to teach French to local elementary school students, and we also offer a forum for students, faculty, and staff of all skill levels to practice their French speaking.

Multicultural Women's Support Group (Nia)

NIA is an organization, which provides a forum for open discussion on prevalent issues facing multicultural women on campus, and creates a sense of support and sisterhood within the Lafayette community.

(Photo to the lef) Nia members and faculty at the yearly carnation ceremony in front of the PBCC. This is an event where new and old members gain a sense of who they can count on for support throughout and beyond their time in Lafayette.A system of big sister, little sister is established among the new and old members which strengthens the goal of a support system.

Muslim Student Association
The Muslim Student Organization (MSA) strives to provide a friendly and cooperative environment where Lafayette Muslim Students from different countries of the world will be able to interact with other student bodies on campus and other Muslims in the community. The group also aims to educate the Lafayette community regarding issues pertaining to Islam. Over the course of the year MSA organises informative lunch time talks, trips to the Allentown mosque during the holy month of Ramadan as well as an annual event to celebrate and Eid/Diwali in conjuction with the Asian Students Association.

(Photo above) Newman Association members for the academic year 2006-2007.

Questioning Established Sexual Taboos (QuEST)
Our mission is to provide Lafayette students, faculty, and staff with a neutral environment in which to discuss issues concerning sexual orientation and gender identity; to offer support to anyone struggling with these issues; to help educate members of the Lafayette community and surrounding areas on topics dealing with sexual orientation. http://ww2.lafayette.edu/~quest

(Photo above) Students took part in the "Gay fine by me" campaign by wearing t-shirts through out the day to show their support. Later that day they gathered on the quad to show unity towards the issue.

WRITING ORGANIZATION REACHING DYNAMIC STUDENTS (W.O.R.D.S.)
W.O.R.D.S. serves as an active club engaging students in personal and social programming aimed at incorporating poetry, music and art as a form of expression, and attempts to create an intellectual stimulating environment in which members can initiate conversation on political, moral, and social issues among their peers. The purpose is to reach out to students who have an interest in writing, performance, poetry, art, song, etc. Through bi-weekly Open Mics, students in the community have a chance to partake and voice their opinions through art of any kind. W.O.R.D.S. spononsors events aimed at opening the eyes and ears of Lafayette students, and encourages intellectual and social awareness. To learn more about W.O.R.D.S., you can log on to http://www.lafayette.edu/~words.

(Photo Above) W.O.R.D.S. members above perfrom during Open Night Mic, often held bi-weekly on Monday evenings.