Week highlights cultural awareness

By Jessica Cervantez
Staff Reporter

Singing, dancing and food will highlight this year’s International Week in an attempt to raise multicultural awareness on campus.

Raquel Torres, a junior e-business major and International Week chairwoman, said this week will allow international students to share their culture and customs with American students.

“This week-long event is to celebrate different aspects of culture,” said Torres, an international student from Colombia. “It is a time to bring different cultures together that are represented at TCU.”

International Week is a traditional event that began about 1955, the same year International Student Association was started. Torres said the event attracts more students, faculty and staff each year.

David Dunai/SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Eulalia Bernard-Little talks to Judy Pennywell, assistant director of ISS, Monday after International Week’s opening ceremony.

ISA, Programming Council and International Student Services are the three major organizations which participated in putting the events together.

Torres said international students come to America to learn about the United States, and this week is a time for American students to learn more about other countries.

Torres said she sometimes thinks others believe ISA does not accept American students.

“It’s just the opposite,” Torres said. “Some of the most involved students in ISA aren’t even international (students).”

Assistant Director of International Student Services Judy Pennywell said one of the main goals of International Week is to celebrate the variety of cultures that exist at TCU.

TCU recruits students from all over the world. Pennywell said there are about 425 international students representing 75 different countries.

She said a larger portion of students comes from Latin America due to the interaction of different programs TCU has with them.

“It’s not just an event American students can gain from,” Pennywell said. “International students can learn as well.”

Pennywell said this is also a time when students who fear studying abroad can learn a little more about different cultures.

Torres said one of her concerns is that American students know international students exist on campus but know little about the countries from which they came from.

“There’s an awareness of people being here, but there is not an awareness of the issues involved with other countries and the United States,” Torres said.

Different events are planned this week in celebration of the different cultures.

Torres said Taste of the World will be Wednesday in the Student Center. There will be 20 dishes from around the world free of charge.

Pepe Castro, a senior e-business and marketing major from Peru, is a chairman for the opening ceremony.

He said that as the years progress, international students are increasingly noticed, but he said he also believes there is a still a lack of knowledge of international students’ backgrounds.

Castro said this is the time for international students to make a statement on campus.

“During this week we try to present the best of our culture,” Castro said. “This is an opportunity to get closer to our roots and distinguish them for one week.”

International Week will end Saturday with a a banquet featuring a talent show, a fashion show and international foods in the Student Center Ballroom. The cost to attend is $10 for students and $12 for faculty and staff. Tickets can be purchased at the Student Center Information Desk, and meal card payments are accepted.

Jessica Cervantez
j.s.cervantez@student.tcu.edu