Last week instead of being productive, I was circulating through my iTunes, reminiscing about the first time I had heard each particular song. I clicked through some Michael Jackson, Eminem, Jay-Z, a female soprano voice with a haunting flute playing in the background and an entire repertoire of Metallica. Although I pride my taste as being “cultured,” it’s not as if I consider myself a music connoisseur compared to the average listener. In fact, I’d guess that most of us can appreciate various forms of music, perhaps with tendencies towards one or two genres.
Well, if that’s the case, let me ask a question: when was the last time you and I translated this appreciation for various forms of music to people? I don’t mean liking different types of people, whatever lens you define “different” through. Rather, I mean appreciating those different things people like to appreciate — getting to know what makes that strange dude in your dorm tick; or why the girl you see walking to Kay Spiritual Life Center on Sunday mornings while most everyone else is asleep is so adamant in her devotion. I’m talking about appreciating and truly understanding religious traditions, cultural phenomena, holidays, ethnic food, etc.
You know that standard closer in those event announcements in the Today@AU e-mail, “all are welcome?” Why not put that to the test? What’s the worst that could happen from a little self-culturing? Afraid you might not fit in with the rest of the students at the weekly Buddhist chanting because you haven’t yet purchased your Dalai Lama-esque tan robe? No worries, they won’t laugh at you.
This university was founded by two Methodist bishops who intentionally did not push their own agenda onto their enrolled student body. Instead they embraced a different philosophy, inviting all to learn at a private, internationally-minded center of higher education and research in the nation’s capital. How ecumenical! However, the Methodists do have a club that meets regularly in Kay, and they invite all to attend. Their slogan: “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors.” Sounds pretty accepting to me, and they feed you pizza, too.
Or we can all get out there and experience this great city. Nothing needs to be mentioned of D.C.’s political heartbeat, and you know that we have landmarks on just about every corner of every block. But how about actually testifying to our cultural heartbeat? Those Smithsonian museums, Busboys and Poets, Ben’s Chili Bowl, Chinatown, all the other (not as) great universities, our vast underground of nightlife. How are you going to fit all this in over four years?
Movies are screened on campus all the time by various groups — for free! Sometimes these are “chill movies,” i.e. Hollywood blockbusters, and other times independent films with an underlying moral. Besides learning something new, this is usually a great time for socialization around a specific topic. Especially with the indies that center around a social justice theme, these screenings can call us to action and, perhaps not as visibly, get us to know one another. So don’t fret about having to see the same people and discuss the same subject matters at AU — we have lots of people to get to know and lots of opportunities to get involved.
Out of our thousands of students and 220 clubs, there is surely something for everyone on campus to become more cultured. Don’t be afraid to go out and explore.
Parvez Khan is a graduate student in the School of Public Affairs and the religion and international affairs columnist for The Eagle. You can reach him at edpage@theeagleonline.com.
