Ettihad Cultural Center

ABOUT US

Ettihad means "unity" or “alliance” in multiple languages from the Ettihad Cultural Center’s community including Farsi, Urdu, Hebrew and Arabic. The Ettihad Cultural Center is inclusive of communities from the Horn of Africa, North Africa, West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia. The ECC initially established itself as a student organization in the spring of 2012 and then eventually became a Cultural Resource Center. The center is now housed in Student Experience Center suite 380.

The ECC focuses on hosting cultural events throughout the year that are educational, entertaining, and encourage cross-cultural understanding. Their signature event, the annual Ettihad Cultural Festival started on May 19, 2013. Each spring, the festival celebrates the immense diversity of the Ettihad community through music, dance, art, performances, traditional dress and amazing food (and more). The ECC is delighted that the festival has attracted thousands of attendees annually.

The term “ettihad” is the central principle for the center. The Ettihad Cultural Center prides itself in being a space for community members to embrace their cultures, histories, struggles, and triumphs.

Our Resources

Our space and resources we offer are open to all students, faculty, staff, and OSU community.

Computer lab
Lounge & TV
Guitar & piano
Video games & board games
Study area
Microwave
Library with textbooks and INTO OSU curriculum
Quiet space

Spaces for Spirituality

Student Experience Center, 3rd Floor, spiritualty suite & foot washing station
International Living-Learning Center (ILLC), 4th floor, spiritualty suite & foot washing station
Quiet rooms in each Cultural Resource Center
Spiritual Life @ OSU

Black and white outline of the Ettihad Cultural Center

Community at ECC

For the majority of students who work at ECC or spend time in the main gathering hall, Ettihad is not only a Cultural Resource Center—it offers a taste of family and community. It is a family of diverse individuals who encourage curiosity about others, who believe in trying new experiences, and forming lasting friendships with individuals across racial or ethnic divides. In the past few years; ECC has already shown immense maturity and growth, both as a community of campus leaders and as committed social justice advocates.

Thanks to mentoring and support from DCE and OSU leadership in general, ECC is now fully functional as a cultural and resource center that organizes year-round programs. Some of the signature events for the ECC are as follows:

The Ettihad Cultural Festival occurs every spring term. Last year’s event successfully drew in around 5000 attendees to celebrate the Ettihad community.
The Women in Action forum in winter term features highly accomplished women from the Ettihad region and invites a guest speaker to enhance campus learning.
Fall term features an Ettihad talent show that presents unique individual talents among our students with a focus on raising cultural awareness.
ECC has committed to an annual humanitarian agenda. This year the focus will be to support Syrian refugees through a winter clothing drive.