The Office of Resident Life at Southeast Missouri State University hosted the seventh annual Carpe Diem in the Student Recreation Center-North on Oct. 22. This event showcases and celebrates the diversity on campus through dance, music and other activities.

The event started at 6 p.m. with different tables holding activities for attendees to enjoy. There were tables for henna tattoos, calligraphy, nail design and face painting. Students from different countries displayed items from their country and allowed attendees to take a look into their culture.

“I hope other students see the traditional dress and get to know people from different countries,” senior Indeewarie Upeksha Peiris Minuwampitiyage said.

“I hope other students gain experience and get to know more about the world,” junior Prabesh Amatya said.

Next to the stage there was a presentation showing videos and photos from countries including Kenya, Bangladesh, France, India, Japan, Korea and many other counties as well.

The performances started around 7 with university President Carlos Vargas, his wife Pam and other faculty lighting a candle to get the event started.

The first performance was of a group of Bangladeshi students dancing to different styles of music from their country. Brazil was the next to perform, and included two students performing two songs. One played an acoustic guitar while the other sang. One song performed was “The Only Exception” by Paramore.

The third group to perform was a group of four dancers, and they performed two dances. In between performances prizes were given. Performers from the River Campus went next. There were three performers: one sang, one played the guitar and one played a box drum. They performed three songs from India. A group of five Nepali students danced to songs from their country.

A classic Italian opera was performed by an Italian student, then another group of Bangladeshi students performed dances with “different forms of expression and energy” in traditional attire.

After that, everyone lined up to eat a variety of food that was made by the students in the event. Then there was a special performance by Vargas, who danced with a student.

The performances continued, including a skit about a “story of pain” done by two Latino students that also had singing. Next, a Chinese student performed Tai Chi, then a group of 11 students from India performed a skit while dancing.

Many students and people from the community showed up to experience this event.

“I liked the dances,” junior Morgan White said. “You don’t realize how many international students there are here and it’s fun to see them get together.”