Welcome Back Days' Wednesday event aimed to prepare students for the real world by making them aware of cultural and women's issues.
Susi Knoblauch of the International Programs and Studies Department said traveling abroad to experience culture is an opportunity students shouldn't miss.
"We have three different parts - one is the study abroad program, where students can travel abroad using their tuition and scholarships to study abroad," she said. "Another is the direct exchange program, where a UNM student goes abroad, and a student from their destination comes over to UNM for a year. SELAG is the third program, where international students are taught English."
Knoblauch said students who have international experience on their résumés increase their career opportunities upon graduation.
"It is essential these days for students to go abroad and to experience cultures other than their own," she said. "We've recently had 250 international students start at UNM this term, and it's very exciting for the campus and the community."
Josh Martinez, president of Destinos at UNM, said the organization holds fellowship and Bible study events for students.
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"We represent the Christian Latino culture but welcome anyone to join us," he said. "We meet with Hispanics that come from the same background and culture where we're on the same level and understand each other in a very real way."
The multicultural organizations worked alongside those giving information about women's issues, including the Women's Resource Center and Greek organizations such as Kappa Delta Chi and Chi Omega.
Adria Cordova, of Kappa Delta Chi, said her sorority strives to represent women of all cultures.
"As a community-service based sorority, we strive for unity, honesty, integrity and leadership, which are our sacraments," she said. "We work a lot with other multicultural organizations on campus, such as El Centro de la Raza, and are members of the Multicultural Greek Council."
Sarah Winter, a member of Chi Omega, a sorority on campus, said the group encourages sisterhood, community service, scholarship and career and personal development.
"We're not a multicultural sorority, but we have a very wide range of cultures. Everyone is very diverse in our organization," she said. "We're here because we're a women's organization and we're doing open recruitment right now."
Debbie Morris, director of the Student Activities Center, said Women's and Cultural Day is a staple of Welcome Back Days, which began as a celebration of New Mexican culture.
"It literally started with a few big containers of green chile stew out on Johnson Field many years ago, and this is what it's grown to," she said. "Green chile was the staple that got Welcome Back Days started."
