About 60 students, sprawled around the EMU Amphitheater, watched a team of glass-flame workers shape glossy, vibrant colored glass Wednesday. Glass tiles with black spirals and holes in the middle and a variety of brown and green ceramic bowls were on display, as well.
This occasion was a great way for students to experience the 43rd Annual International Week and Night, said Jodie White, an instructor at the University’s Craft Center.
The International Student Association, together with the Craft Center, hosted the demonstration. Similar events have been taking place all week.
A parade down East 13th Avenue kicked off ISA’s celebration Monday with this year’s new theme: Aperture, meant to symbolize the widening of students’ cultural perspectives.
“We want to bring new perspectives of other cultures to students on campus and to community members,” said Nalupan Thavorngulpachai, a co-director of International Week and an economics major.
During the next few days, students can drop in on several free events. Friday at noon in the EMU Amphitheater will be the 2nd annual Food Factor competition. Last year students ate chocolate-covered bugs and cow tongues. This year the event allows students to taste 10 different food dishes from around the world, including foods from Japan, Korea and India prepared by international students.
Through the rest of the week, students can also enjoy more than just the taste of foreign foods. They can learn more about the many cultures on campus.
Concluding the week’s activities is International Night in the EMU Ballroom. Dinner for the event is served at 5 p.m. Music and dance performances begin at 7 p.m. Tickets, available at the EMU Ticket Office, are $8 for students and $12 for non-students.
Mai Yanagishima, an Asian studies major, said she looked forward to events such as these because she gets to know more about other cultures.
“For foreigners, International Week is a good chance to learn about Chinese and Japanese cultures,” she said. “It’s a good way to become interested in Asian cultures.”
Mari Mizobe, a co-director of International Week and an international studies major, said a purpose of ISA and of this year’s festivities is to offer an opportunity for students and community members to look more closely at different cultures.
“Every year we try to keep the traditions going because the University and community look forward to International Week,” she said. “We try to bring people together to celebrate international cultural diversity.”
Dylan Haney, who said he works in Eugene, took part in the International Friends of Foreign Students program, which offers community members a chance to meet, greet and become friends with new international students at the University.
“The meeting was very informative and very interesting,” Haney said. “It looks like a well spent amount of time and money.”
For further questions or volunteer opportunities on International Week and Night, ISA encourages students and community members to contact the group at 346-4387 in Suite 206 in the EMU, or access its Web site for more information and updated events at [email protected].
Activities widen ‘aperture’ of attitudes
Daily Emerald
April 19, 2006
Kai Yonezawa, right, and Debbie Cheung, set up a pottery wheel in the EMU Amphitheater.
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