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UB to celebrate International Education Week
Program to offer a variety of lectures, films, food and cultural performances
By ERIC COMINS
Reporter Contributor
UB will join schools, colleges and universities nationwide on Nov. 15-19 to celebrate International Education Week, offering a varied program of lectures, films, cultural performances, a marketplace and other activities designed to recognize the importance of international education and exchange to the community and the nation.
An Anatolian Marketplace, dedicated to keeping alive the cultural traditions of Turkish artisans, is just one of a variety of lectures, films, cultural performances and other activities celebrating International Education Week at UB.
International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract students and scholars from abroad to study and teach in the United States.
"International Education Week is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the diversity of our campus community, celebrate the contributions of the many cultures represented at UB and highlight the many benefits of cross-cultural interaction," says Ellen Dussourd, director of International Student and Scholar Services, pointing out that there are now 3,433 international students from more than 100 countries at UB.
Among the events to be held at UB as part of International Education Week:
Washington Post editor Bob Woodward, who will lecture at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 in Alumni Arena, North Campus, as part of UB's Distinguished Speakers Series, also will serve as the International Education Week speaker. Woodward first received national prominence in the early 1970s when he and Post colleague Carl Bernstein uncovered President Nixon's connection to Watergate. Their book, "All the President's Men," detailed their account of the investigation and became a national best seller, as well as a movie. Since then, Woodward has authored several best-selling books investigating the American political arena. His most recent book, "Plan of Attack," is a behind-the-scenes account of the motivation and events leading up to President Bush's declaration of war against Iraq, as well as the actions that followed.
An Anatolian Marketplace will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of International Education Week—except Wednesday—in the Student Union Lobby. The marketplace is organized by Anatolian Artisans (AnArt), a nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping alive the rich cultural traditions of Turkish artisans. AnArt also provides development assistance to Turkish communities by promoting artisanship as a means to sustainable livelihood, particularly for women.
Several distinguished speakers will lecture as part of International Education Week. Elif Shafak, assistant professor in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona, will discuss "Contemporary Turkish Literature" and read from "The Saint of Incipient Insanities" at noon on Nov. 15 in 420 Capen Hall, North Campus. Nurhan Atasoy, professor emeritus at Istanbul University and an expert on Ottoman art, will discuss "Life, Art and Craft in 16th Century Istanbul" at noon on Nov. 16 in 420 Capen. Carolyn Forché, professor of creative writing at Skidmore College, will present a reading from her own work, and the poetry of Nazim Hakmet at noon on Nov. 17 in 420 Capen. On Nov. 18, Ali Dogramaci, rector of Bilkent University in Turkey, will offer firsthand insights into "The Changing Turkish Education System" at 4 p.m. in 330 Student Union.
Mark A. Ashwill, director of the World Languages Program and executive director of the U.S.-Indochina Educational Foundation (USIEF), will discuss "Vietnam: Past and Present" at 3 p.m. on Nov. 17 in 212 Capen. Ashwill has just published a book entitled "Vietnam Today: A Nation At a Crossroads." His presentation will include a video entitled "Vietnam Passage: Journeys from War to Peace."
The Study Abroad Programs will offer several events throughout the week. An exhibition entitled "World View: Second Annual Study Abroad Photo Contest," featuring photographs taken by UB students who studied abroad, will be on display from 4-6 p.m. on Nov. 17 in the Flag Room on the second floor of the Student Union. A program entitled "Study Abroad In Engineering: Fantastic Opportunities" will take place at 4 p.m. on Nov. 18 in 145C Student Union. A panel of past study-abroad participants will discuss "Free Money: Securing Funding For Study Abroad" at 3 p.m. on Nov. 19 in 145C Student Union.
Former Peace Corps volunteers will share their experiences as part of a session entitled "Making a Difference: Life in the Peace Corps." This panel discussion will begin at 1 p.m. on Nov. 17 in 145C Student Union.
Foods from three different countries will be available from noon to 2 p.m. during the week in the Student Union Lobby. "A Taste of Thailand" will take place on Nov. 16, and French crêpes and Chinese cuisine will be offered on Nov. 19.
Throughout the week, 14 UB student clubs will present sessions that showcase their country or culture. These include dance-and-percussion performances, films and display tables that highlight the unique aspects of their respective cultures.
The film festival will include two Turkish films, "Masumiyet" ("Innocence") and "Uzak" ("Distant"), which will be shown in the Student Union Theater. "Masumiyet" will be screened at 7 p.m. on Nov. 15 and "Uzak" will be shown at 3 p.m. on Nov. 19. A French film, "Les Visiteurs" ("The Visitors"), will be presented at 5 p.m. on Nov. 18 in 120 Clemens Hall, North Campus. A documentary, "Forgotten Wonder: Angkor Wat," will be shown at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18 in 145C Student Union. An American film entitled "Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion" will be screened twice on Nov. 19. The first showing will be at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Theater and the second showing will be at 9:30 p.m. in 2 Diefendorf Hall, South Campus. Martin McGee, a local filmmaker who released his own documentary on Tibet in 1989, and Tibetan students will provide commentary.
International Education Week 2004 is sponsored by Anatolian Artisans, Graduate Student Association, HSBC Bank, M&T Bank, Office of Special Events, Office of the Vice Provost for International Education, Office of the Vice President for Research, Turkish Cultural Foundation and University Libraries.
A full schedule of events may be viewed at http://wings.buffalo.edu/intlservices/iewflyer2004.pdf. For more information, contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at 645-2258 or intlservices@buffalo.edu.