Students of diversity stand united

While some Ocean View High School students walked out of class to protest proposed immigration legislation Monday, others were dancing to island beats on campus.

The school is holding its annual International Week to celebrate cultural diversity, organized by the Associated Student Body. The student government has hosted the series of events for over 15 years, and activities director Kevin Fairman said the event is always a success.

Every day is dedicated to a particular culture. Monday centered on Jamaica. Students listened to Steel Parade, a steel-drum band that has played at parties for celebrities including Brad Pitt and Paul Newman. Steel Parade has played International Week for three years and continues to come back because members believe in the message.

“A lot of conflict and tension in adult life comes from a lack of communication and understanding people have,” said Steel Parade frontman Phil J. Carillo. “Southern California is one of the most diverse places around.”

In January, Ocean View reported its student body was 35% white, 36% Latino, 19% Asian American and 10% students who claimed they belonged to another race, Fairman said.

“I think it’s [International Week] good because we get to know about each other,” said student Ismail Jaber, 17.

Students tasted an array of multicultural cuisine during the week’s food-fair days. Today is the second day of the smorgasbord, with 20 school clubs whipping up dishes like tamales, hummus, lasagna and fried chicken.

Although Ocean View High School is a closed campus ? the students are not allowed to leave campus for lunch ? student government commissioners said some students do sneak off campus to buy a fast-food meal. During the food fair, however, most students tend to stick around.

“A lot of items sell out,” said senior commissioner Jessica Mendoza.

On Monday, Steel Parade played a cover of a Bob Marley tune, and the students cheered and sang along as they ate their cafeteria lunch. Carillo even passed out bottles of soap bubbles before he and his bandmates played the Don Ho classic, “Tiny Bubbles.”

Although the school is diverse, many of the students have never heard the music or seen the dances of the featured cultures.

“It’s like an introduction to travel,” said junior Megan Ostovarpour, co-chair of International Week.

The day also gives the event’s planners a chance to get some real-world experience when booking the talent. The two co-chairs, with the help of their peers, begin the planning process in September at the start of the school year. Megan and her co-chair, Katherine Kosearas, are responsible for putting on the event.

“We kind of get the feeling of the entertainment business,” Katherine said.

They research cultures and find entertainment that fits. This year there were two new acts added to the lineup: An Indian dancer and a Boy Scout troop that performed a Native American dance. The school also played host to Irish and Polynesian dancers, who have appeared before. As the band’s set ended with cheers from the audience, Carillo left the students with a message: “Celebrate your unity and diversity.”

hbi.30-itc-BPhotoInfoNC1PDLQK20060330iwv590knLINDA NGUYEN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Andrew Van, Kira Tomlinson ? with oven mitt ? and Jordan Todd, all aged 16, of the Graphic Novel Club prepare a batch of ramen for International Food Day at Ocean View High School.