BLACKSBURG, Va., March 25, 2005 – Virginia Tech's Council of International Student Organizations (CISO) along with the Cranwell International Center will be hosting its annual International Week, April 8-15. This will be the 46th year of the event held to promote cultural awareness and celebrate international diversity at Virginia Tech and throughout the local community.
Each spring, CISO organizes the International Week during April showcasing nations and cultures through dance, music, films, food and performances. This year’s event is themed “One World, One Family.”
Among the major events is the International Street Fair; in which international student organizations display and sell international food, crafts, and souvenirs in downtown Blacksburg. Other festivities include Opening Night, sponsored by the African Students Association; an International Film Festival, with six movies each from every continent; luncheons at Cranwell; the Parade of Nations; table tennis, a soccer tournament; and a talent show.
“Our community in Virginia Tech and Blacksburg is an example society to the world,” said Cem Yurdum, a senior majoring in industrial and systems engineering in the College of Engineering and president of CISO. “Everyone, as a family, should take this effort personally, and reach out to people they don’t know. We are living in one world, as one big family. We can show this mindset to everyone and be an example of a caring, peaceful, and diverse community in this great environment.”
The Council of International Student Organizations (CISO) is an umbrella organization to more than 35 international student organizations at Virginia Tech. Founded in 1987, its mission has been to promote cultural awareness and celebrate international diversity at Virginia Tech throughout the local community. Currently, CISO represents more than 2,500 international students from all around the world.
The calendar of events will include:
Friday, April 8
7 p.m. Opening night festivities, Commonwealth Ballroom
Saturday, April 9
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. International Street Fair, College Avenue/Draper Road
Sunday, April 10
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Table Tennis Tournament, Commonwealth Ballroom, Squires Student Center
Monday, April 11
6:30 p.m. Movie: Monsieur Ibrahim, Colonial Ballroom/Squires Student Center
8:30 p.m. Movie: Silent Waters, Colonial Ballroom/Squires Student Center
Tuesday, April 12
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. International Luncheon, Cranwell International Center
6:30 p.m. Movie: Distant, Colonial Ballroom/Squires Student Center
8:30 p.m. Movie: Hotel Rwanda, Colonial Ballroom/Squires Student Center
Wednesday, April 13
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pakistani Luncheon, Cranwell International Center
6:30 p.m. Movie: Jinnah, Colonial Ballroom/Squires Student Center
8:30 p.m. Movie: The Motorcycle Diaries, Colonial Ballroom/Squires Student
Thursday, April 14
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Turkish Luncheon, Cranwell International Center
Friday, April 15
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Bangladeshi Luncheon, Cranwell International Center
2 p.m. Parade of Nations, Squires Student Center
7 p.m. Closing night talent show, Commonwealth Ballroom/Squires Student Center
For more information, please visit the CIOS website.