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TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

    Vietnamese Student Association set to host “Amazing Vietnam” program

    Vietnamese+Student+Association+set+to+host+Amazing+Vietnam+program

    The Vietnamese Student Association hopes to strengthen the TCU mission statement and raise awareness about diversity on campus in their debut event, Amazing Vietnam: Journey to the Motherland.

    It will be an opportunity for students, faculty and friends to learn about the Vietnamese culture through a showcase of musical acts on Friday night in the Brown Lupton University Union.

    Ken Nhan, junior business information systems and supply change management double major and president and founder of VSA, said that he wants to live out the mission statement by helping expand the presence of other cultures on TCU’s campus.

    “I want to help educate people to become ethical leaders and to have a broad perspective that they can use when they work with people of different cultures,” said Nanh.

    After being served traditional Vietnamese food, the audience will embark on a journey with a fictional character, Viet. They will travel through four major Vietnamese cities, including Hanoi, Hue, Saigon and Can Tho.

    Viet is an American-born Vietnamese character, traveling to Vietnam for the first time on a Fulbright scholarship.

    In each city, Viet will have a musical experience unique to that region, letting the audience see the culture through his eyes, said Mia Dinh, sophomore marketing and accounting double major and member of VSA.

    “His experience is the audience’s experience as well. We want Viet to become their eyes as he explores different cities and understands the culture present in each place,” said Dinh.

    The event will include Vietnamese songs, skits, a fashion show and a final performance by the VSA members, representing many cultures.

    “VSA is not just for Vietnamese students. What ties us together is the culture, and whoever is interested in Vietnamese culture can be part of the organization and the show,” said Nhan.

    Rachel Sandfort, sophomore child development major and member of VSA, is an American student who will be singing a Vietnamese song in the event.

    Sandfort said that even though it was a challenge to learn how to pronounce the Vietnamese words, she “learned that you don’t have to have previous experience with a culture to feel connected to the people in it.”

    “Learning a new culture is half the fun. I have actually learned as much about my culture as the Vietnamese culture in spending time with my Vietnamese friends on this production,” said Sandfort.

    Lieu Nguyen, a former Sodexo employee, is from Vietnam and will be showcased in the fashion show in the Ao Dai, the Vietnamese national costume.

    The musical showcase will take place in the BLUU Ballroom on Friday, March 28. The food will be served at 7 p.m. and the show will start at 7:45 p.m.

    Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $15 at the door. Email [email protected] to order tickets.

    “All nations are united under one simple Horned Frog identity,” said Nguyen.