Video package prepared by Sarah Plumb, Newsbeat Reporter.
BY HELEN HEADLEE
TIGER TV ONLINE REPORTER
LSU is celebrating International Education Week with a variety of activities exploring different cultures in an effort to teach students about other ways of life.
Student Activities Board, Student Government, LSU International Programs, International Cultural Center and International Student Association have come together to expose LSU students to the different cultures represented by international students.
“We want international students to share their experiences with us; most people don’t know they’re here,” Multicultural Awareness Committee chair for SAB RaKeema Thomas said. “We need to get to know them.”
This week is also International Education Week for the United States as a whole.
The activities were kicked off on Monday with Tower of Babel, an event highlighting each language represented at LSU.
“Tower of Babel went really well since it’s new and advertising didn’t go up until last week,” Thomas said. “Popularity will depend on the publicizing.”
Tuesday will feature two events. The first is a panel discussion of socialized health care to take place at 4 p.m. in the Red River room. The second is Culture Shock, another panel discussion about different cultural experiences including living in other countries and the challenges it comes with from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Howe Russell.
Thomas said the event will feature a panel of international students and American students who have studied abroad to discuss different cultural environments. The audience will also be encouraged to share their experiences.
Melting Pot is taking place Wednesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Free Speech Plaza. It will feature food from seven different cultures for students to try.
Thursday’s event is a fashion show of called Global Threads to take place at 7 p.m. in the Live Oak Lounge. International students will have the chance show other students what they would wear in their native countries.
International Education Week will finish on Friday with the International Cultural Center hosting Groovin’ It: International Style. Eight or nine international student groups will perform dances from their native countries and other students attending will have a chance to try the dances out for themselves.
Thomas said the goal for IEW is to open our minds to the cultures around us.
“There’s a very small percentage of international students and sometimes we don’t see what they have to offer,” Thomas said. “We need to open our minds up to experience new things.”
