International Education Week kicks off
To celebrate the diversity of countries represented at Utah State University, the Office of Global Engagement and International Student Council has set up International Education Week from Monday to Saturday.
The week will start with “Around the World Family Night,” which Marci Falvey, study abroad staff assistant in the Office of Global Engagement, said will be an awareness night of all the cultures on campus.
“Each country will have its own booth and the students will be behind the booth,” Falvey said. “And they’ll have different activities for kids.”
Though Falvey did not give specifics about which activities would be featured, she said they may include cooking. She said last year there was an origami booth.
According to a press release sent out by the Office of Global Engagement, there will be a study abroad photo contest from Monday to Thursday. It will take place in the second floor of the Taggart Student Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will be able to vote on the photos in several categories: Aggie spirit, people and places.
On Friday singer Alex Boyé will come speak at USU. Falvey said he is expected to sing that day as well.
The week will end with Mr. and Miss International on Saturday where international students will compete by showing off their culture with native dress, videos and multicultural talents.
“That’s probably the highlight of the week every year is that contest,” Falvey said. “It really puts in the forefront our international students in things that they don’t get to do here very often, which is wear their traditional clothes and do their talents from their own countries.”
Yuzhen Luo, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering and member of the International Student Council, said American students can also take part in the contest.
“America itself does, I believe, have their own culture,” Luo said. “If it’s like a mix of different cultures, if you can bring all of that on-stage, that will be brilliant.”
Falvey said the purpose of International Education Week is to promote awareness of the opportunities USU students have to study abroad and to raise awareness of the more than 90 countries represented at the school. She said having such a diversity of students is valuable for students, staff and faculty because it expands their worldview.
“Logan can sometimes be a tiny place, but they’re stretching our boundaries, they’re expanding our view, they’re bringing awareness and different cultures to the forefront here,” Falvey said. “I think it’s great.”
Luo said the events are meant to give international students a platform to share their cultures and background. He said it will help everyone know each other better.
“Once you have better knowledge about this person’s background whether it’s political, whether it’s financial, economical, whatever the case is,” Luo said. “If you feel like you know the person better, it’s probably easier to build relationships.”
International Education Week is not exclusive to USU. Schools around the country participate in it as well, Falvey said.
Falvey said people who want to know what is going on in different schools throughout the week can find out on http://eca.state.gov/programs-initiatives/international-education-week/iew-events-2014.
— topherwriter@gmail.com