WEB PAGE TOOLS ~ Print this article ~ E-mail your opinion on this article OTHER NEWS STORIES ~ SBA election results ~ Dean responds to 'Cabaret' poster dispute ~ A look at Multicultural Week: An SCC tradition ~ Student Senate report ~ Parking Notes ~ This week in history: Campus politics heat up ~ Police Blotter ~ News Briefs Powerful finale to Multicultural Week hits SCC Michael Carter Editor-in-Chief Undoubtedly the most visible component of Multicultural Week, the Banners and Barriers project, came to a dramatic conclusion on May 2, effectively ending events and activities of the past week. Photo by D. K. Nguy SBA president, Shaun Scott, shares his thoughts with a member of the Threshold Ensemble. The project, consisting of a chicken wire enclosure displaying impediments and prejudices students felt subjected to and banners expressing pride in diversity and culture served as a finale for the week and a half of work shops, lectures and activities. With the "barriers" disassembled and displayed on the stage inside the PUB, the event kicked off with a performance from the African drum group, Adefua. The three performers of the group vigorously pounded their instruments for five minutes, producing beats that resonated through the floor, paving the way for the feature activity: a performance from the Threshold Ensemble, a group of performing artists committed to enacting personal stories. "The work we do is to honor your personal stories," a member of the ensemble said to the crowd. They then proceeded to ask for life stories from onlookers who responded by telling emotional stories; some of which were quite shocking. Photo by D. K. Nguy The African drumming group, Adefua, beats out a rhythm in the PUB. "They worked the crowd, asked questions, and the crowd asked them questions, which they acted out based on what was said," said SCC CAPS student, Mohammed Alonezi, who was involved in the Banners and Barriers project. People told stories of coming out, being raped, having loved ones killed in the recent war, drug abuse, disability or personal struggle. After patiently listening to students speak, the Threshold Ensemble, with their musician setting the mood, collectively improvised scenes, attempting to reflect an individual's emotions while answering some of life's difficult questions with actions and language, leaving some participants teary-eyed. "If you knew someone from the crowd that asked questions or expressed feelings, you found it very touchy," commented Alonezi. After performing for nearly 90 minutes, the Threshold Ensemble ended the show, leaving the stage to the rhythmic drumming of Adefua and the roar of the crowd. © 2003 Shoreline Community College™