SLU News-International Education Week

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Contact: Christina Chapple
Date: 11/4/04

SOUTHEASTERN TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK NOV. 15-19
     HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University is joining the national celebration of International Education Week Nov. 15-19.
     Eric Summers, director of Southeastern’s Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs, said the week’s events will include a variety of performances, presentations and displays showcasing the benefits of international education and exchange.
     International Education Week is an initiative of the U.S. departments of State and Education. “All of the programs,” Summers said, “are designed to prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.” The week is celebrated by schools, colleges and universities, embassies, international organizations, businesses, associations, and community organizations.
     Throughout the week, Sims Memorial Library will host a display of Oriental art and reading materials. Library hours are 7:30 a.m-11 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 7:30 a.m-4:30 p.m., Friday.
     On Monday from 10 a.m. to noon in the War Memorial Student Union mall, Southeastern’s Office of International Initiatives will sponsor an informational display on the university’s study abroad programs conducted during the summer in eight foreign countries. Each of the programs will then be showcased at noon presentations on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Student Union, room 227.
     Tuesday’s presentation will share information on the Quebec French study abroad program, the Southeastern-Salzburg International Summer School, the United Kingdom and European Study Tour, La Douce France Biology and French study abroad program, the literature program in Tuscany, and the Rome and Mediterranean Study Cruise. On Wednesday, presentations will focus on the anthropology and sociology and the medical mission programs in Honduras, the study abroad program in Brazil, and the business, sociology and criminal justice, tropical ecology, and Spanish programs in Costa Rica.
     Also on Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures will host an “International Extravaganza,” a variety show spotlighting the talents of students in university foreign language classes.
     The first of 16 acts – from songs of India performed by Southeastern student Pankaj Kothare to “Little Red Riding Hood” in French – will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Twelve Oaks. Foreign languages instructor Aileen Mootoo, who is organizing event, said it promises to be “a wonderful display of student talent.”
     International students, along with members of the foreign languages faculty, plan to wear authentic dress of their native countries, while the program’s intermission will feature a buffet of international foods donated by area restaurants.
     The event is a fund-raiser for Southeastern study abroad scholarships; admission is $5.
     Prior to the extravaganza, members of the campus and community can enjoy the university’s second annual “Celebration of the Lights.” President Randy Moffett will preside at the festive lighting of campus holiday decorations at 5 p.m. at the Pottle Performance Circle. Community members, as well as faculty, staff and students, are invited.
     On Wednesday, International Education Week will team up with the Campus Activity Board’s “Southeastern Star-2” competition. During intermission of the popular “American Idol” style program, the Lady Cubs, a student dance group, will perform a program of African dance. Southeastern Star-2 begins at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theatre.
     Summers said a “don’t miss” International Education Week event will be the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts’ concert, "Music--The Universal Language," at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium. The concert, featuring the talents of various international students, is being coordinated by voice professor Joy Ratliff.
     Ratliff said the program will include two piano solos. Christiana Iheadindu will perform a work by Brahms and Irina Kunev will present Chopin’s “Waltz in C Sharp Minor.” Iheadindu will also accompany members of the Women’s Chorale and soprano Jessica Davis, who will perform selections from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.”
     The Lyric Quartet – Serban Petrescu and Emma Lacraru, violin; Simina Renea, viola; and Ioana Velicu, cello – will perform a Schumann string quartet. Lacraru will be joined by trumpeter David Delaney and pianist Sandy Blanchard in work by Eric Ewazen.
     For more information about International Education Week events, contact the Office of Multicultural & International Students Affairs at 549-3850. A schedule of events is also available online at www.selu.edu/StudentAffairs/MISA.