‘We’re Surrounded by Culture’: RHA’s World’s Fair

The brown walls of Regis Hall’s Multi-Purpose Room were transformed into a vibrant cultural hub to celebrate Loyola students’ various cultures and the connections that bring them together — despite restrictions of campus resources — Tuesday, April 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. 

Led by the Residence Hall Association in collaboration with the Chinese Cultural Association, the Korean Student Organization and the Black Cultural Center, the MPR morphed into Loyola’s very own World’s Fair. 

Upon entry, students could sample foods including empanadas, potstickers, toasted ravioli and kimchi. RHA President Evan Larrison said the event tried to offer foods that reflected residents across campus. 

Larrison, a third-year sports management major, said the World’s Fair was an opportunity to show how RHA advocates for residents and provides opportunities for students to learn about their neighbors’ backgrounds. 

As a member within the Black Cultural Center, Gabrielle Paho said it’s vital for her to show up to events concerning her identity, however, she was also excited to connect with CCA and KSO. 

Paho said being a person of color at a predominately white institution has caused hardships. The computer science major said she tends to find herself being the only person of color in her classes, so the World’s Fair provided her with a space to remind herself of the diversity within Loyola’s student body.

“Yes, you might be a minority in America, and especially at Loyola — however, we have totally different experiences and cultures, so it’s really good to learn more about that,” Paho said. 

Paho said she hopes cultural events like the World’s Fair happen more often. The first-year said the event was a “sneak peek” of the cultures Loyola students have to offer. 

“We’re only in Regis MPR, so it’s really small,” Paho said. “If we’re able to have a grand space in Mundy it would make it all more special.” 

The struggle for room availability was echoed by Zyra Pelegrino, the secretary of KSO. Pelegrino said she regularly has to plead for funding and room reservations for the organization from the university.

Aside from offering a description of the organization, the KSO table provided attendees with two Korean games — ddakji and gonggi. Ddakji is a game where two folded paper tiles are used to flip each other over, while gonggi is a traditional game using five small plastic stones, Pelegrino said. 

“Loyola originally had a problem with us doing this game, saying, ‘What if people throw the stones at people?’” Pelegrino said. “But we’re college students — I’m a little confused as to why that’s their concern.” 

KSO isn’t the only organization who’s had issues getting funding or approval for cultural items. Jadyn Craig, the vice president of CCA, said they’ve tried and failed to get Pocari Sweat, an Asian drink equivalent to Gatorade, approved. Craig said the clear-liquid drink wasn’t approved by the university because they thought it was just water. 

“It’s hard getting ethnic things in general because we can only order from so many vendors or Amazon,” Craig said. “Most of them aren’t local vendors.” 

Jordan Akil, the events coordinator for BCC, reiterated the struggle to receive proper room reservations from Loyola. Akil said the BCC feels less prioritized than other, larger organizations bringing in more money or people.

“We’re the most marginalized population, but we’re the most influential,” Akil said.

The advocacy chair for BCC, Amélie Malone, said there should be a recognized space on campus for Black students, noting the BCC has been removed from Damen room 113. 

“We are deserving of a space on campus to thrive,” Malone said. “There has been nothing but reduction of Black spaces with the removal of the BCC room. We deserve more equitable resources, and opportunity within this predominantly white institution.”

First-year environmental science major Mia Obernesser said taking the time to learn about cultures outside her own is important to her. Obernesser said the event gave her the opportunity to go outside her comfort zone. 

“It’s a really good way to enrich my own life with seeing how other people live theirs,” Obernesser said. 

Coming from a Polish and Mexican family, RHA Director of External Affairs Kayla Garcia said being able to have an event with many different cultures at once feels like a representation of not only herself but the wider diversity of Loyola. 

“Being at a school in the city of Chicago, we’re surrounded by culture,” Garcia said. “With Chicago being a safe haven city, it’s important to understand the different types of people even just here on campus.”

Correction: A previous version of this article did not include photos of the World’s Fair. The article was updated April 2, 2025 to include photos of the event.