International student festival celebrates cultural diversity on campus
(From left to right) Freshman Jiashuo Han, Jiawen Zhang and Clara Qi, represent China dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. Photo By: Alexis Ancel
By Alexis Ancel, News Editor//
Due to High Point University’s recent growth in population of international students on campus, on April 16 the International Club was able to host its International Festival for the first time in nine years.
“It’s the first real festival that we’ve put on, and hopefully next year it will continue to expand,” said HPU freshman Yasmene Dergham, one of the heads of the International Club. “We’re trying to get the international community known more. You get to know them and learn about their culture and what they’re like.”
Having gone through several years with a very small population of international students, the festival was designed to be a celebration of HPU’s cultural diversity. There are currently 188 international and internationally affiliated students representing over 50 countries enrolled at HPU, whereas only 20 international students attended during the 2013-2014 school year.
The festival was organized by 25 volunteers from the International Club, but the club also collaborated with other organizations on campus including members and faculty advisors of the Italian and Spanish clubs.
“It’s a chance for Americans to experience other food and another language and just experience new things,” said international student Diane Ruckstuhl.
Tables were set up for each of the 11 countries represented including France, Italy, China, Lebanon, and more. Each table offered information, music, artwork and food samples from their respective countries, and participating students also wore traditional clothing from their native countries. Other activities included Chinese character drawings, martial arts demonstrations and a henna artist giving free henna tattoos.
“I would like for everyone in the HPU community to embrace more fully our cultural diversity,” said Dr. Marjorie Church, director of international student services. “To not just be aware that we have international students on campus, but to become interested in learning about their countries, their cultures and their traditions and grow as a result.”
The event was ultimately successful for its first year, but the club plans to host this event annually and aims to expand it even further each year. In the future, the club hopes to gain participation from nearly all countries represented on campus.
“I think it’s a really good idea to bring other cultures together and show people what there is out in the world and also educate them in an interesting way,” said international student Iris Bitzinger. “That’s how you remember stuff more than just being given facts.”
“A lot of the time people think about international students coming to the states to study and to learn about American culture, and that’s only half of the reason for having international students on campus,” Church said. “If you’re never going to travel to all these countries that we have represented here, then you have the chance to meet someone from that country, learn about their culture and broaden your perspective.”