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Purdue plans first International
Awareness Week
By John Wakefield
Staff Writer
Purdue has the largest number of international
students out of all the public universities and has the fifth largest
international enrollment out of all universities in the nation.
In recognition of these students, next week will
be Purdue's first International Awareness Week. It was started with
the hope that the various activities will expose students to different
cultures and customs.
The chief person responsible for organizing International
Awareness Week is the director of the Office of International Students
and Scholars, Michael Brzezinski.
Brzezinski began pursuing the idea last summer
after a member of his staff, Betta Risa, came up with the idea. He thought
the idea would be of interest to everyone at Purdue.
Several months later, International Awareness Week
is the result of his and his collaborators' work.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for all of
Purdue to explore, and celebrate the very many cultures at Purdue,"
said Brzezinski.
Since September, he and his staff have been organizing
this week to fill each day with activities for students. "We really
hope that this will become an annual event."
Some of the week’s highlights will include
dance presentations, various international cuisines at the residence
halls, art exhibits and several lectures.
The culmination of the week will be the annual
International Food Bazaar, which offers a convention style atmosphere
where people can sample foods from many countries.
International students around campus are looking
forward to the events. Brazilian Michael Miller, a sophomore in the
School of Agriculture, said, "It’s a really great idea to
spread around the cultural individualities and expose local people to
different cultures and customs."
Javier Diaz, who is from Mexico and is a junior
in the School of Management, said, "I’m really excited for
it but I think in the future the University should do more to inform
the student body of it; neither me or my friends have heard anything
about it."
Maggie Zhao, a Chinese graduate student and one
of Brzazinski’s staff members, said, "I feel excited about
this activity. I would say (International Awareness Week) offers a wonderful
opportunity for people to acknowledge and appreciate the different cultures
in a nutshell format. It could open their eyes and minds to explore
and celebrate the diverse world cultures."
B. Frederique Samuel, an instructor and collaborator
with Brzazinski on the event, said the goals of the week are for Purdue
American undergraduate students to appreciate the fact that this is
an international University in a global world. "Nearly every company
that students will work for after graduation will have global connections,
it would definitely help to introduce them to new cultures now,"
he said.
For more information about the event, students
can access the Web site at
http://international-awareness.shorturl.com,
or they can contact Brzezinksi at 494-7084 or mab@iss.purdue.edu.
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Fans
should not take attention from team
Students,
city officials discuss parking, traffic
Director
to talk about alcohol
Purdue
plans first International Awareness Week
Event
to inform about women in technology
Correction
CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
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Campus editor:
Laura Pelner
Assistant campus
editors: Kurt Esposito,
Dave Stephens
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