Masuk Free Press

If you’ve ever bought lunch at Masuk or signed up for Senior Study Hall during FLEX, you’ve seen Global Culture Club’s influence on the school. Each month, the board outside of the cafeteria sports a new look, and it is thanks to this club’s devotion to raising awareness for diversity at Masuk.

“We first start with which culture or community that is being appreciated,” said Co-President of Global Culture Club, Casey Frangus. “Then we go from there, and we either find people that, currently or in the past, have made a big influence in the world. Or, we look at events, and then we do research on those events, and put together a kind of synopsis of these people. Then we design a board, and we put it up.”

The creativity behind the board fits right into the school’s atmosphere, successfully filling a niche that Masuk didn’t even know existed.

“We kind of started maybe [last] March,” said Frangus. “And then we continued to up until now.”

Co-President Kaela Christiano added, “The start of the club happened last year during me and Casey’s study hall in Mr. Castillo’s class. We helped during Native American month, making God’s eyes to decorate the board. Before the creation of the club, it was strictly the teacher’s job, I believe, under the culture community. Me and Casey enjoyed doing it, and we wanted to see how much more we can get involved. Thus, we created the club.”

Only being a year old has not stopped the club from growing; in the 12 months that Global Culture Club has existed, it has amassed just over a dozen members. Each participant devotes time and energy to brainstorming, then executes those designs for the new month. This creative addition to the halls may be a relatively recent one, but it feels as if the board has been a working part of the Masuk community for years. And although the club is still relatively young, its importance cannot be understated in our current social climate.

“The Defense Intelligence Agency ordered a pause of all activities and events related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and other ‘special observances’ to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order,” reported an NBC News article.

This order was devised with the intention of restricting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which were called “illegal and immoral discrimination programs” in the official document.

“I think that there already isn’t a lot of awareness for different cultures,” said Frangus. “And taking away these months that are used to bring awareness to these people could be detrimental, because they might not already have this awareness. Then they’re being taken away, it’s even worse.”

The greater student body at Masuk has struggled with fair treatment of peers, which is something that the Safe Climate Committe’s class meetings in January made abundantly clear. Whether it is due to the slurs shouted in the hallways or insensitive comments overheard in bathrooms, not every student feels that this establishment of education is a safe place to be. These sentiments may only get worse after the passing of Trump’s orders.

“I think it’s always been important, but I think it definitely is more important now,” said Frangus. “We’re still gonna try to embrace all cultures. It’s harder to do that when these different cultures might not have a month for themselves to show who they are.”

With the political future of special observance months so uncertain, Global Culture Club’s role at Masuk is more crucial than ever. The ability for a group of people that have been historically mistreated and oppressed to see representation is significant. The board outside the cafeteria serves as a memorial for those harmed by atrocities committed in the past. It spreads awareness for the struggles faced by those who were not allowed to speak up for themselves at the time.

“Even though it is only a board localized to Masuk students, it is still a way to keep diversity and inclusivity showing,” said Christiano. “It is important not to forget the transformation and growth the country has made throughout the years.”

Equality should be a pillar of Masuk High School. This is a post that needs fortifying. Each time that you stop to read the board, it gets stronger. Global Culture Club seeks to reinforce the community of our school, one month at a time.