International Festival 2011 Kicks Off on April 12
As part of International Festival 2011, Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College will celebrate global culture on campus.
Planned for Tuesday, April 12, through Friday, April 15, the weeklong festival is co-sponsored by the International Education Committee, International Student Organization, International Advising Office, International Friends Program and Student Government.
“The purpose of the events is to appreciate the internationalization of our campus community and to celebrate the diversity as a collaborative effort between Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community & Technical College,” said Dr. Tadashi Kato, International Programming Coordinator and faculty advisor to the International Student Organization.
Tastes of the World will kick off the week’s events from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, in the second floor Main Street area of the Falcon Center. Foods from these countries will be available for sampling: Nepal, Saudi Arabia, China, Zimbabwe, Russia and Bangladesh. The event is organized by the International Student Organization and Student Government.
An International Flag Raising Ceremony is planned for noon, Wednesday, April 13, at the flag poles at the Bryant Street entrance to campus. International flags will be raised to honor the countries represented with students at FSU and Pierpont. The event is organized by the International Advising Office.
On Thursday, April 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Conference Room One on the third floor of the Falcon Center, there will be a Cultural Identity Workshop led by Dr. Tadashi Kato.
An International Night of Dance and Music will end the celebration. Planned for 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, in Colebank Hall Gym, the stage presentation of international dance and music will feature Nepalese dance, Indian dance, Saudi Arabian dance, American belly dance, Chinese song, Nepalese song, Bangladesh song, karate and martial arts, the Ballroom Dance Club, European medieval re-enactment and more. An exhibition will showcase displays by international students and European medieval crafts. Admission is free and open to the public. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Organized by the International Student Organization and the International Education Committee, the event is sponsored by the FSU Provost’s Office.
For more information, call Dr. Tadashi Kato at (304) 367-4759 or e-mail him at Tadashi.Kato@fairmontstate.edu.
