by Michelle Thornton
Assistant Features Editor
The International Student Organization (ISO) is hosting a weeklong celebration to promote cultural awareness and to honor the diversity of University of La Verne students.
International Celebration will take place March 23-27. The events for the week will be determined by a designated ethnicity.
Monday is designated as Latino Day. The activities will include a salsa eating contest, breaking of a piñata, an art exhibit, dancers, and a trio of Aztecas. Aramark will dish up a Mexican-style lunch in the University Mall, where the events will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The European Experience will be held in the Quad Tuesday at the same time. There will be booths representing the countries of Germany, Spain, France and England with displays of pictures along with arts and crafts. There will be a band and different European eatables.
In the evening, a Seder dinner will be served in the President’s Dining Room at 6 and 7 p.m. The European Experience will continue at a local pub where there will be music and dancing, and a lecture on the history of beer.
At noon Wednesday, the Middle Eastern Adventure commences with a Middle Eastern lunch from Pasadena restaurant Burger Continental and will include a belly dancer.
The Asian, Polynesian and Thai cultures will be celebrated in the University Quad with an Asian Food Fest on Thursday. A Taiwanese dancer will accompany the music that will entertain the guests as they browse through booths and tables.
On that same day, Debbie Roberts, Protestant campus minister, will hold the Peace and Justice Fair.
Between 6-7 p.m. in La Fetra Hall slides from the winter term Vietnam trip will be shown. Following the slide show there is a possibility of an oriental fireworks show at Ortmayer Stadium, if safety matters are arranged.
“I would like to see the school become aware of all the cultures we have here at La Verne. The international students are very excited. Many of them have written home to their families to have them send books and clothes for this event,” said Marcy Garcia, administrative assistant and adviser to ISO.
Concluding the week will be the African Culture Celebration. Students will have the opportunity to get their hair beaded and watch dancers perform to the sounds of the African drummers.
Stores will display their goods such as jewelry and art.
Following a guest speaker, Aramark will present soul food and African cookery.
This is the first time that this event will be held across a whole week. The Associated Student Federation (ASF) Forum is one of the co-sponsors of the featured events.
