Students participate in a percussive performance by a musical group at Montclair Culturs' Cultur-ella event.
Allen Macaraeg | The Montclarion
On Thursday, Feb 24, Montclair State University Culturs hosted “Cultur-ella,” in the Student Center Ballrooms, an event which highlighted appreciating diversity for students.
Montclair State Culturs is a project of the school’s Public Relations Student Society of the America chapter as a part of the Bateman Case Study Competition to create a merged communications campaign in collaboration with Culturs Magazine.
The event hosted many activities and performances by JerseyyJoe, Daniel the Dee Jay and other performers.
Kaylee Seitz, a junior social media and public relations major, helped research for the project and run a social media campaign for Montclair Culturs.
Allen Macaraeg | The Montclarion
Junior social media and public relations major Kaylee Seitz serves as the Content Strategist for Montclair State Culturs. She spoke about the PRSSA’s project and what it entails.
“We were tasked by our client, Culturs Magazine, to create a campaign to get Gen Z involved in knowing who [they are],” Seitz said. “Through research on campus, we found students wanted a place to connect with each other and share cultural stories… this whole campaign is about creating connections, creating a community and just embracing who you are.”
Students pose for a photo at Cultur-ella, hosted by Montclair Culturs.
Allen Macaraeg | The Montclarion
One of the most important parts of event planning and outreach was demographic research, Seitz explained.
“The research [phase of the project started] last semester in the fall… We asked [students] where they were from, what cultures they identify with, if they were first generation… [the results were] unbelievable with how many cultures there were,” Seitz said.
The event included activities to celebrate cultural diversity, such as crafting custom bracelets reflecting national heritage with colored beads, a trend inspired by fans of Taylor Swift.
Attendees were treated to musical performances by students, a captivating drum circle that engaged the entire room and a bustling dance floor shared by JerseyyJoe, Rocky the Red Hawk and campus police, among many others.
Several ethnic organizations from across campus also held tabling at the event, further expanding the event’s range of representation.
Professor Mary Scott oversees the PRSSA's Bateman Case Study Competition project. Allen Macaraeg | The Montclarion
Mary Scott, an assistant professor in the School of Communication and Media and faculty director for Montclair Culturs, spoke about the team and its process leading up to the event.
“In essence, they are doing what they might do for an agency or company [as an employee],” Scott explained. “They are starting from beginning to end, going through research, planning, strategy, creative execution and then measurement… the students get real world experience that they can [use] to go get internships or jobs. It’s a really great program.”
A musician performs Frank Sinatra's "Fly Me to the Moon" at Cultur-ella.
Allen Macaraeg | The Montclarion
Scott emphasized that the benefit of promoting Culturs Magazine was the ability to both advance the project and champion diversity on campus.
“I think the beauty of why we love this particular assignment is we have such great campus diversity,” Scott said. “So we just felt like we wanted to celebrate that diversity, bring people together, [and] create a community… bringing [students] together and fostering community connection.”
Sophmore visual arts major Walaa Shaabneh enjoyed the event's activities and performances, and thought it represented a wide range of cultures. Allen Macaraeg | The Montclarion
Walaa Shaabneh, a sophomore visual arts major, believes the event was important because it celebrated cultural diversity.
“[The Cultur-ella event] is very important because Montclair [State] is a very diverse place,” Shaabneh said. “We’re here to celebrate culture and [the fact that] everyone is from different places with different backgrounds. It’s good to connect everyone.”
Members of Montclair State's PRSSA pose for a photo with JerseyyJoe. Allen Macaraeg | The Montclarion
Scott explained the event was a culmination of months of hard work from the students.
“I am so proud of these students,” Scott said. “They’ve had no experience and have come together like a team. I don’t care if we win or not. I just am so proud of all the experience and what they’re gonna take from this and seeing them grow.”
Rocky the Red Hawk leads a group dance. Allen Macaraeg | The Montclarion
