Taste of UIC savors unity among students - Chicago Flame - Features

Chicago flame carries a article with some highlights on us

Thanks to samantha joseph and all who had supported our stall...
and we got some good publicity thanks to some wonderful comments by our general secretary shruthi...

and thanks to Maria Cristina Gardner-Lara for mentioning us...

-------------

Here is the actual article...

Taste of UIC savors unity among students

By Maria Cristina Gardner-Lara
Published: Monday, September 26, 2005
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1

Last Wednesday, Sept. 21, The Taste of UIC kept students from lining up for the usual fast food in Student Center East. Instead, many were anxiously waiting for the ethnic and favorite dishes prepared and provided by 27 student organizations celebrating Unity Month.

The goal of Unity Month is "to unite the distinctive diversity of the campus with the diverse communities of Chicago," which Taste of UIC accomplishes by combining various dishes. SCE's first floor was packed with food vendors lined up with various foods like sweet potato, egg rolls, kabobs, gilabi and other dishes made by organization members or catered from other restaurants.

Throughout the day, the student vendors were more than happy to guide unsure students through unfamiliar foods and answer any questions that came up.

"[Taste of UIC] is a way to promote organizations and raise funds for their events," Shruti Karbhari, a graduate student in electrical engineering of the Indian Graduate Student, explained.

Vendors ranged from various sororities and fraternities, dance groups, ethnic based organizations, to political groups.

Samantha Joseph, an art and design major, loved the hearty servings and the chance to try different dishes like the Batata Wada, a stuffed potato cake with chic peas shell, served by the Indian Graduate students.

Nancy Lara, psychology major, ate standing while savoring the sweet potatoes that were served by the National Society of Black Engineers.

Student organizations participated in the event for many reasons. Many organizations named making money as one of the reasons for participating.

"Participating in the event was an opportunity for organizations to come together, and a true bonding experience for me and my [sorority] sisters," Terri Chin, third year chemistry major, said.

The fair was a good chance for students to discover new foods and for others to find comfort in seeing familiar foods on campus. It was also an opportunity for students to learn more about the different organizations.

Ghassan D. Adhami, an electrical engineering major from the Muslim Student Association said, "Everyone has a good time. Those who already know it and those who are from another culture enjoy the food."