Multicultural theme of campus speeches

    The broad topic of multiculturalism was woven into five student speeches on SE Campus last week.

   The peculiarity of arranged marriages to American culture and the repercussions to the individual typified third-place winner Christie Lynch’s speech, A Stranger in the Aisle.

   The Second Annual Speech Contest: Multiculturalism offered on-the-spot cash prizes to the winners.

   First prize was granted to sophomore education major Percella McKinney, who chose her topic on a personal interest.

   “I wanted to find out for myself about women in other cultures,” she said.

   McKinney’s speech—Women’s Roles or Rules?—focused on the differences between women’s work and marriage in the Mid-East and Africa. She was awarded $150.

   McKinney said she discovered that the majority of women killed in Africa died because their husbands were displeased with the amount of the dowry from the bride’s parents.

   “With Christmas around the corner, I plan to use the prize money to buy a few more presents for my 3-year-old son,” she said.

   Other participants and their speeches included second place winner Chris Howell, Multiculturalism 911; Josh McDonnell, Everywhere; and Dustin McKnight, Religious Perspectives of God.