Clayton Rosa ’09 closes his eyes and half-reads, half-raps one of his poems before a captivated audience celebrating Diversity Week on campus.

Clayton Rosa ’09 closes his eyes and half-reads, half-raps one of his poems before a captivated audience celebrating Diversity Week on campus. The rhythm is soothing, but the meaning of the words — strung together in a rush of riotous rhymes — is just the opposite. There is violence, and encounters with racism and hatred, but there is also hope and love.

It’s evident that the spoken word poet has found his voice here at McDaniel while sharing his perspective about growing up as a black Latino on the tough city streets of Boston.

At McDaniel, there are many opportunities for diverse groups of students to step outside their comfort zones and learn more about one another. The Black Student Union, Asian Community Coalition, Hispano-Latino Alliance and International Club encourage students from all ethnic backgrounds to become members. Popular annual events include the African film series, performances by Step Afrika, Sangmele , and Music From China, a fashion show, and the annual feast featuring cuisine from around the globe.

Sankofa, a peer mentoring program that pairs upperclass students of color with freshman, helps with the transition to college life. Clayton recalls the night he knew he could achieve great things at McDaniel. “I sat on a bench by the football field and looked up at the sky and I have never seen so many stars in my life. It took me out of myself and the city I grew up in. I had to call somebody and say ‘I didn’t know there were that many stars in the universe.’”