PSU members share culture
Students and families discovered Polynesian culture at the USU Museum of Anthropology on Saturday through the Saturdays at the Museum program.
Aurora Durfee, Saturdays program coordinator, said, “We want people to experience the Polynesian culture through information, food and displays.”
Displays set up in the museum highlighted the islands of Hawaii, New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa. The displays included posters informing visitors of the athletics, religions, traditions, food and history of the different islands. Handouts that explained how to say words and phrases in the Tongan and Hawaiian languages were available for visitors. Pictures of tribal tattoos were displayed on the poster featuring New Zealand. Jewelry, clothing, maps and instruments native to the islands were also on display.
Durfee said the Polynesian Student Union (PSU) provided all the artifacts used and put together half of the displays.
Live music was played by members of the PSU who belong to the local Polynesian band Profetik.
Members of the PSU were at the event teaching visitors how to twirl poi balls and use rhythm sticks. They were also available to talk to visitors and answer their questions about the Polynesian culture.
The Polynesian Student Union is a cultural diversity club on campus.
“Our purpose is to diversify people and help them become more aware of the Polynesian culture and get rid of the stereotypes,” said Leanna Davis, president of PSU.
Anyone can join PSU, Davis said, and in fact, the majority of the members aren’t Polynesian. She said 85 people signed up to join at the club’s opening social, and at Day on the Quad about 100 people signed up.
PSU Vice President Darci Denney said, ” We do a lot of outreach work locally and across Utah.”
They help Polynesian students who are thinking about pursuing a higher education to become aware of all of their options and opportunities. The PSU also participates in service projects.
The club’s biggest event is a luau in March, Denney said, and there are also learning opportunities and dances.
The PSU is also participating in the street painting activity for homecoming.
“It’s a competition within a competition,” Davis said, “members present drawings and we vote on them.”
Anyone interested in joining the Polynesian Student Union can sign up in the Access and Diversity Center, located in TSC room 315. PSU can also be found on facebook under Polynesian Student Union.
“We do most of our communicating with the members through facebook and all of our contact information is there,” Davis said.
“We love everyone and everyone is welcome,” Davis said.
Durfee said usually 50-80 people come to the ‘Saturdays at the Museum’ activities, but they included food as an attempt to boost numbers. Pounders Hawaiian Island Grill provided the food because of their authentic Polynesian cuisine.
Durfee said the Saturdays at the Museum program is run solely by students and volunteers. Many of the students are involved because they are taking the class Anthropology 5800.
“We want to educate people,” Darfee said, “we get subject matter experts or have students research the topic.”
Saturday activities are funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Durfee said.
Admission to ‘Saturdays at the Museum’ is free, but a $2 donation is suggested to support future exhibits.
The public can visit the USU Museum of Anthropology in Old Main room 252 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays at the Museum are held on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. See the museum’s website anthromuseum.usu.edu for more details.
– marissa.bodily@aggiemail.usu.edu