Jacqueline Butler-Diaz, who spent two years in Thailand with the Peace Corps, is promoting interest in Southeast Asian culture



Jacqueline Butler-Diaz, who spent two years in Thailand with the Peace Corps, is promoting interest in Southeast Asian culture

Students taste culture, cuisine of Southeast Asia
Free food, musical performance part of campus event
by Shaina Levee
Sean Gulley/THE STATE PRESS
Undeclared freshman Kirstin Dvorchak models a traditional Vietnamese dress during the program for Southeast Asian Studies fashion show held on Hayden Lawn on Wednesday afternoon.

The program for Southeast Asian Studies hosted a fashion show, dance and musical performance Wednesday on Hayden Lawn to increase ASU interest in Southeast Asian culture.

More than 100 people gathered to watch the performances, which were accompanied by free Vietnamese and Thai food.

“We don’t do anything without food,” said Jacqueline Butler-Diaz, outreach coordinator for the program. Butler-Diaz represents ASU at Thailand’s national University of Laos.

She said the program’s goal was to teach participants about Southeast Asian culture.

ASU currently offers four Southeast Asian languages: Lao, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese.

“There’s a lot of variety both topographically and ethnically [in Southeast Asia],” she said. “I would say every major religion of the world is represented there.”

Cultural dances were performed in traditional gowns made of bright colors and glimmering materials. The dances stressed eye, hand and arm movement to show emotion.

About 10 groups participated in the event, including the Cambodian Students Association at ASU.

Communication senior and association member James Badger said Southeast Asia is important to the United States because of previous interactions between the two countries, including the United States’ bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War.

He said Cambodia is important now because it receives humanitarian aid from the United States, which participates in rebuilding and other projects.

Butler-Diaz, who spent two years in Thailand with the Peace Corps, said she was promoting courses and programs that ASU offers at the event.

“I think all of us need to think of our global involvement and what we can study globally that will enhance our future,” she said.

Reach the reporter at shaina.levee@asu.edu.

When this story was posted in October 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

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