Arabian Night Kicks Off 2017 Cultural Nights

The fourth annual Arabian Night, celebrating Middle Eastern culture, kicks off the first of six Cultural Nights put on by the Intercultural Center (IC) Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Soda Center.

This year’s theme, “Celebrate the Night,” was chosen “to counteract the negativity we typically hear about the Middle East on the news,” said Nicole Nino ’19, who is in her second year on the Arabian Night’s executive team. She joined last year to get more involved on campus. “What better way to get involved than informing and celebrating the culture you grew up in?” she said. “We hope that this year's theme is uplifting and shows the many beautiful layers this culture has among food, family, traditions, music, and dance.”

The annual Cultural Nights highlight the historical milestones, customs, and contemporary issues of six historically underrepresented and traditionally marginalized groups. Through spoken word, theatrical pieces, music, food, dance, and other creative media, students express their individual and collective identities.

“Celebrate the Night” is a “complete 180” compared to last year’s Arabian Night, according to Nino. Last year’s event was titled “The Middle East Uncovered,” which focused on war and hardship throughout the region.

The goal this year is to great more of a “positive atmosphere,” said Catherine Jaber ’19, another executive team member. “There is a lot of controversy surrounding Middle Eastern culture, as often portrayed by the media, and we look forward for the opportunity to show people the beautiful aspects of the culture,” she stated.

Jaber joined this year’s executive team because of a positive experience she had at last year’s Arabian Night, participating in a Middle Eastern dance called the dabke.

“It is very important that the IC hosts Arabian Nights, as well as all of the other Cultural Nights, because it gives people a chance to experience and celebrate other cultures that people may not be otherwise exposed to,” said Jaber.

Nino added, “Arabian Night is important in particular… because of how small the community of Arabs is on campus.”

One thing the executive team is striving for is eliminating the Middle Eastern religious stereotype. “Most people assume that all Arabs are religious Muslims, when the Arab World is a common place for Jews, Christians, and Muslims,” Nino said.

“There is a lot of pressure associated with being the first Cultural Night of the year, but our passion and vision for the night helps alleviate a lot of this stress,” said Jaber.

Tickets, sold at the door, are $4 for Saint Mary’s students, $6 for faculty, staff, and alumni, and $8 for everyone else. Children 5 and under are free. Make sure to bring cash or a check, payable to Saint Mary’s College of California.