STUDENTS GATHERED IN the stands and on the floor of Uni gym Thursday for the second multicultural panel of the year.

They braved the rainy passage from Uni to hear from Cynthia Oliver, a professor in the University of Illinois department of dance, and Namsoo Hyong, a master of tae kwon do. Hyong is the head of the HMD Academy of Tae Kwon Do, located in Savoy.

Oliver spoke of her work in calypso dance, into which a few students inserted an example of the Time Warp dance from the musical “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Hyong’s presentation dealt with his experiences in tae kwon do competitions and his preference for self-improvement over intense competition between combatants.

The speakers were introduced by freshman Kahlilah Cooke and junior Caroline Brown, respectively. The climate subcommittee of the Multicultural Parent Advisory Committee sponsored the panel.

Students were excused from class from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in order to hear the speakers.

"The idea around these panels and this work is to both examine how culture has an impact in people's lives, how culture has an impact in the lives of students, and then to also acknowledge and respect culture and people's cultures and to see that as a part of who we all are and who students are," said guidance counselor Sam Smith.

The panel was organized by the school climate subcommittee of the Multicultural Parent Advisory Group. The format was similar to the panel held on Oct. 24, with speakers answering questions from students and having a discussion.

During that event, panelists Dr. Sanjiv Jain, Franklin Middle School Principal Angela Smith, and U of I Prof. Mikhail Lyubansky gave their thoughts on cultural identity.

Thursday's panel is the latest in a series of Uni events designed to explore and celebrate cultural diversity. Besides the fall panel, Uni had its second annual all-school cultural fair on Oct. 12. The inaugural cultural fair was held on May 18 last year.

Photos: Second Multicultural Panel

Guest speaker Namsoo Hyong addresses the audience. Gargoyle photos by Sindha Agha (click any photo to create your own slideshow)

Guest speaker Cynthia Oliver.

Guest speaker Namsoo Hyong came wearing cowboy attire.

Sophomore Tianna Pittenger (left) and senior Erin Hayes were among the students who demonstrated the Time Warp dance from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" during Oliver's talk.

Sophomore Anna Gooler dances the Time Warp.

Pittenger and Hayes got it goin' on.