UNT's International Week begins April 7

Students from more than 120 countries will be represented as UNT observes International Week April 7-11.

Activities for the week include an international food fair, a world cultures fair and market, screening of a foreign film, international sports competitions and a daily art exhibit featuring artists from around the world. Other activities include the Children's World Cultures Playground, benefiting children who attend Tomas Rivera Elementary School in Denton; the World Cultures Performance and Fashion Festival; and the sixth annual International Education Committee Awards Banquet.

The week's festivities begin at noon April 7 in the Shrader Pavilion with Denton Mayor Euline Brock and UNT President Norval Pohl presenting the opening ceremony, which includes percussive rhythms by the Afrikina Cultural Troupe. Hailing from Ghana, West Africa, the group is led by Gideon Alorwoyie, UNT associate professor of music. Simultaneously, the first day of the World Cultures Fair and Market will be taking place on the Library Mall.

Every day during International Week, the work of nine international student artists will be exhibited in the Union Gallery. An opening reception will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. April 7 in the gallery.

Events on April 8 start with the second day of the World Cultures Fair and Market, this time in the University Union's One O'Clock Lounge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The fair will include crafts, products from other countries and an international book display.

Those looking for a foreign experience without leaving the comfort of air-conditioning can watch the Russian film Anna from 12:30 to 2 p.m. April 8 in Room 103 of Kendall Hall.

The International Education Committee Awards Banquet will take place at 7 p.m. April 8 in the University Union Silver Eagle Suite. It is co-sponsored by the Office of Equity and Diversity. The event will include ethnic food, a violin duet performed by students of the College of Music, awards, scholarships, a live auction featuring precious objects from around the world, and an address by Joe Lake, the former U.S. ambassador to Mongolia and Albania.

Reservations for the banquet are required.

On April 9 students from Tomas Rivera Elementary in Denton will be whisked away to 15 different countries as part of the Children's World Cultures Playground. From 8 to 11 a.m., more than 200 fourth- and fifth-graders will experience multiculturalism visually and aurally. Their "passports" will be stamped by a group of UNT's international students, transporting the children from region to region as they experience the native language, music and traditional dress.

From 2 to 5 p.m., a "How to Get Fulbright Fellowships" workshop will take place in the Gateway Center. It will be followed by a reception. The highlighted speaker of the event is Harriette Fulbright, wife of the foundation's founder.

From 4 to 7 p.m., an international volleyball and soccer tournament will take place at Kerr Hall Beach. The event is sponsored by the Eagle's Nest, an inter-organizational student council, and includes prizes from Tony Roma's. International students will be playing on teams representing their respective countries.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 10, the International Food Fair will be presented in the Baptist Student Center. Tickets cost 25 cents each and can be purchased at the door. Participants will be able to taste dishes from around the world. The traditional flavor of at least 25 countries will be available.

From 7 to 9 p.m. in the Union Lyceum, the World Cultures Performance and Fashion Festival will present 14 acts, including Indian dancers and singers, a Colombian music group, Argentinean guitar players, Pan-African dancers, Tae-Kwon-Do performers and a violin duo featuring an Uzbekistani student and an American student. Though the event is free, those attending will be asked to contribute a $1 donation toward a fund for international scholarships.

For more information about International Week events, call (940) 369-8625 or e-mail Olga Grieco at olga@isp.admin.unt.edu.

BY PETER HOFSTAD paiswri2@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• Board of Regents authorizes $31.5 million to finance residence hall
• EDS contributes $6.25 million software to UNT
• Parking lot 10 scheduled to close in May
• UNT departments on the move
• Staff Council elects replacement officer
• Nutrition course assisting US Army Reservists
• 2003-04 Staff Council elections are this spring
• Outstanding staff, department awards presented at March 5 sack lunch
• Rafes gives Faculty Senate a campus development report

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