Thousands gathered in Ford Center Plaza at noon yesterday to watch performances, enjoy displays of art and eat free food as a part of Stanford’s 9th Annual Multicultural Springfest, an event designed to celebrate the diversity of the University’s staff.

Enlarge
#gallery http://daily.stanford.edu/image/full/2767
Jenn Coyle

Stanford Thai Dancers perform at the 9th Annual Multicultural Springfest in Ford Center Plaza yesterday.

“We have over 7,000 staff members and almost 35 percent are people of color,” said LaDoris Cordell, vice provost for campus relations and one of the event’s MCs. “The administration recognizes how critical it is to recognize the contributions of staff who work so hard here, especially in light of budget cuts and the hiring freeze. Springfest is one of the ways that we let staff know that diversity and affirmative action with respect to staff hiring and promotion are of great importance to the University administration.”

From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., entertainers ranging from the Socaribbean Dancers to R.T. Carr, a folk-singing librarian — all of them members of Stanford’s staff — took the balloon-decorated stage, while staff artists displayed their work at booths and Bon Appétit offered a Carnaval-themed buffet. The event opened and closed with performances by the Stanford Soul Line Dancers, a collection of largely middle-aged women — including Cordell — dancing to songs such as Nelly’s “Hot In Herre.”

Rosa Gonzalez, director of the Diversity and Access Office and one of the event’s main organizers, estimated that 4,000 staff members attended Springfest this year, compared to the first Springfest’s 300-person turnout. Gonzalez said she spent five months organizing the event, assisted by a staff of approximately 100 volunteers.

“It started out as a way to bring staff groups together, and has just grown enormously every year — to the point now when we have people from all seven University staff groups,” she said.

Both event volunteers and attendees said that this year’s Springfest was the best yet.

“It gets better and better every year,” said Carol Skladany, an employee of the Work-Life Office and a Springfest volunteer. “More people show up and the quality of the performances and food improves. It’s great to see everybody coming out and contributing.”

Hattie Roy, a Green Library employee, agreed.

“I’ve been to all of the Springfests, and this one is the best,” she said. “The music and entertainment were fantastic!”

Sunder Ramkumar, a researcher with Kosmetzky Global Collaboratory, a University research group, said, “It was a great opportunity to see the amazing talent that Stanford’s multicultural staff has.”

Gonzalez noted that despite Stanford’s current financial difficulties, she did not have to cut back on any of the planned activities.

“I think that it’s especially worth noting that in the toughest of times, the University is still committed to this event,” Gonzalez said.

Cordell said that she was extremely pleased with this year’s Springfest, but added, “I’d like for staff to be able to attend this event without having to rush back to work at 1 p.m. Ideally, Springfest would start at noon and go for the afternoon so that people could attend and at the end just head on home. Maybe next year.”

Springfest was sponsored by the Diversity and Access Office, the office of Campus Relations, Human Resources Services, the African American Staff Group, American Indian Staff Forum, Asian Staff Forum, Disability Staff Forum, Filipino American Community at Stanford, La Raza Staff Association and Stanford Staffers.