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‘Media in Focus’ theme of International Education Week
The International Education Week event “Dear World” celebrates the diversity and energy of UB through an interactive photo shoot in which faculty, staff and students share their unique stories by writing their message somewhere on their body.
By SUE WUETCHER
Published November 5, 2015 This content is archived.
“Media in Focus” is the theme of UB’s annual celebration of International Education Week Nov. 16-20, with keynote and other events bringing a global perspective to the topic.
The keynote speaker this year is longtime journalist Geneva Overholser, senior fellow in the Informed Participation Program at the Democracy Fund. Overholser will discuss “The Media Revolution: What It Means for You” at 4 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Student Union Theater, North Campus.
Building on the idea that a free press is the cornerstone of democracy, Overholser will talk about the state of America’s legacy media institutions and their increasing inability to rely on the traditional economic model of advertising to support the production of journalism. She will discuss whether emerging technologies and social media — which offer new opportunities for citizens to inform themselves and create new content — will be able to provide the information that a self-governing people require. She will explore what we’re losing, what we’re gaining and what our individual responsibilities are in today’s constantly changing media landscape.
In addition to her position with the Democracy Fund, Overholser is a senior fellow at the Center for Communication Leadership and Policy at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Previously, she was director of the School of Journalism at USC Annenberg and held the Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Reporting at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She also was editor of the Des Moines Register — leading the paper to a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service — and spent five years overseas, working and writing in Paris and Kinshasa.
The other IEW 2015 keynote event, “Dear World,” celebrates the diversity and energy of UB through an interactive photo shoot in which faculty, staff and students share their unique stories by writing their message somewhere on their body.
All members of the UB community can have their photos taken from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17 in the Student Union Lobby. Later that day, from 8-9 p.m. in the Student Union Theater, Jonah Evans, executive producer of Dear World, will talk about the national organization’s mission and how it aligns with the goals of International Education Week. Five students — preselected from those who had their portraits taken earlier in the day — will share the stories behind their individual portraits. The event will conclude with a photo release slideshow of all the portraits that were taken that day. The portraits also will be released on UB’s social media platforms for viewers to tag and share.
The idea behind the Dear World event is that “students will walk away recognizing that through our stories, there is much more that brings us together than what keeps us apart,” says Terri Budek, associate director of the Intercultural & Diversity Center and co-organizer of the Dear World event with Michael Venturiello, IDC’s student programming coordinator.
UB’s International Education Week celebration has been an annual tradition since 2001. Its goal is to highlight the university’s international student population, as well as the international efforts of UB faculty and students.
The celebration is particularly relevant at UB. With more than 6,000 international students, UB ranks in the top 20 of 2,700 accredited U.S. universities in international enrollment, according to the Institute of International Education. The university has exchange agreements with more than 80 institutions in more than 30 countries.
Besides the two keynote events, activities this year include student presentations on holidays in Vietnam, and cultural traditions and business opportunities in Egypt; career-related sessions featuring job search advice from School of Management alumni, as well as information about international service and internship opportunities for UB students; and the “World View: Study Abroad Photo Contest and Exhibition,” a display of photos taken by UB students participating in the wide range of study abroad programs offered at UB.
The “Without Borders” lecture series, taking place all week, highlights UB’s global reach, and the “World Bazaar” on Nov. 18 extols the differences and commonalities of all people, cultures and abilities with a wide range of performances, cuisine and demonstrations.
No International Education Week would be complete without the traditional dance and musical performances, and interactive displays by international student clubs. They will take place from noon to 1:10 p.m. Nov. 16 in the Student Union Lobby and feature Korean Poongmul drumming, traditional Malaysian and Bengali folk dances, a performance of “Dia de los Muertos” by the Latin American Student Association’s Alma Nanichi and a multi-themed dance exhibition featuring American and Latin dance styles.