by Tia Calvin | Mar 13, 2020 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
As a part of the annual WOW (Welcome to Our World) Week, students organized Henna Night to bring the unique ceremonies and cuisines of Arab, Indian and Middle Eastern cultures to campus. “I want people to know that it’s [henna is] so much more than just decoration,” said Kiana Rafiei, a student organizer for Lipscomb’s Office of Intercultural Development. “Yes, it’s beautiful, but there’s a meaning behind why my culture does this.” During the event, students hired a local henna artist to give interested students the chance to experience the tradition. Henna is a natural flowering plant that is ground into a thick paste and then piped directly on the skin. The wet paste is left on for 15 to 20 minutes until it dries and can be removed, leaving behind a light red or brown tattoo. This temporary body art can last anywhere from a few days to two weeks depending on how dark the stain is. In recent years, henna has evolved into Western fair entertainment and the design, called mehndi, is often mimicked in permanent tattoos. But, as Rafiei noted, the application of henna itself is a deeply rooted art form across many cultures. “I’m Persian, but we do henna as decoration during Eid, the Islamic New Year, as well,” Rafiei said. “It means good luck and prosperity so it’s really important that we apply it with our family. It’s also applied as a pre-wedding tradition in some countries. Usually, the night before a wedding, the bride is given really detailed henna as a symbol of her devotion.” The swirls and swoops of a henna design...
by Madeline Smith | Apr 8, 2015 | News Slider
Lipscomb’s campus experienced a whole new world this week. Sponsored by Lipscomb’s intercultural development department, the second annual Welcome to Our Worlds Week celebrated different cultures on campus. “This week is to encourage camaraderie amongst students and kind of get them out of their comfort zone,” said Mariah Lester, vice president of Kappa Iota Theta. KIT’s talent show kicked off the week showcasing performances from mimes to dancers. Tino Liu, a freshman who performed a Jason Mraz mashup, said that there was one thing that united all cultures during the week. “It’s really all about spreading love,” said Liu. “Everyone needs a little bit of love, so spread it.” WOW week also put a spotlight on flags from around the world outside the student center. Thursday afternoon food trucks lined the Allen Arena mall so that students could try food from different cultures. “It’s cool to see different kinds of food on campus,” sophomore Karli Whitson said. “It brings people out and about on campus.” The trucks brought in the community and broke up the normal food court options. “I am slightly overwhelmed with all the choices, but it’s exciting to have options,” senior Matt Brown said. “I was going to eat at Au Bon Pain, but then I saw food trucks, so that’s a nice change of pace.” Other activities for the week like live music, fashion and dancing allowed for unusual opportunities for students. “It [WOW week] helps students get engaged in the community and helps them learn about the different cultures at Lipscomb,” Lester...
