The Facts: The Office of International Affairs organized many campus events, screenings and programs this week as part of its International Education Week.
Our Opinion: International Education Week exposes students to a broad range of cultures and educational opportunities to enrich their university experience. Students should make an effort to engage the many options the week avails them.
This week students have been treated to many events during the University’s International Education Week.
The Office of International Affairs organized the informational week, which concludes Friday with the presentation of “It’s A Wonderful Life, a live radio play” in Thompson Hall’s Titmus Theatre.
Students should try and take something away from the many events of the week and consider the effect a diverse range of culture can have on the university experience.
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences had its study abroad fair Monday and there was a Study Abroad Symposium, featuring stories from several students and faculty members, Wednesday.
Studying abroad is not right for everyone and most students will not go overseas during their undergraduate education, as evidenced by the fact that only 4,000 students have studied abroad during the last five years.
Nonetheless, the program at the University is rather large and offers many different opportunities to students. At the least, students with an interest in going abroad should visit the Study Abroad Office, or its Web site, and consider their options.
In an increasingly globally connected world, the importance for students with an international perspective has never been so great. The week’s programs, exhibitions and films provide students with a great opportunity to learn about other cultures even if they have no intention to study abroad.
The week isn’t over yet, though, and students should remember to attend the programs taking place Thursday and Friday.
For students with an interest in film, the second part of the Latin American film festival will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. in Witherspoon Student Center. History buffs and political science majors might consider going to a lecture on the fall of the Berlin Wall from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the Erdahl-Cloyd Auditorium.
There will also be a Native American cultural night Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Washington Sankofa Room in Witherspoon Student Center. This is an especially good opportunity seeing as November is Native American Awareness Month.
And for those of you who are graduating and don’t have jobs — there should be quite a few there — consider attending the Peace Corps information session Thursday.
International Education Week provides students with a great opportunity to learn about the diverse cultural community at the University and the many opportunities for students to engage it. Take a lesson from this week and learn a little more about your surrounding culture.
