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WMU celebrates International Education WeekNov. 3, 2005 KALAMAZOO--The United Nations; foreign movies, music and dance; overseas learning experiences; world geography; and African culture all will be showcased Monday through Saturday, Nov. 14-19, during Western Michigan University's celebration of International Education Week. The events are being organized by WMU's Haenicke Institute for Global Education in conjunction with the annual observance of International Education Week. All events are open to the public. Most are free and take place on the main WMU campus in Kalamazoo. "The week is an opportunity for us to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide," says Barbara Shouse of the Haenicke Institute. "We've planned a series of events that give people several opportunities to enliven their week and enrich their understanding of other countries and cultures." International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education. It serves in part to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and to attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States. Last year, events took place in all 50 U.S. states and more than 100 countries. For more information about WMU's celebration, contact Shouse at barb.shouse@wmich.edu or (269) 387-5865. More information about the national observance is available at iew.state.gov. Related story International Education Week events at WMUMonday, Nov. 14 Lecture--United Nations theme, 3:30 to 5 p.m., Room 3301, Friedmann Hall. Richard T. Miller, deputy assistant secretary of state for economic and global issues in the U.S. Department of State will speak. Miller is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and previously was executive assistant to the under secretary for arms control and international security. He also has served in several positions related to the United Nations as well as economic, development and trade issues. Sponsored by Colleagues International of Kalamazoo and WMU's Department of Political Science. Contacts: Colleagues International's Jennifer Lang, (269) 341-9494, jlang@colleaguesinternational.com, or WMU's Dr. Gunther Hega, (269) 387-5885, gunther.hega@wmich.edu. German film--"Wings of Desire," English subtitles, 8 p.m., 3021 Brown Hall. Wim Wenders directed and co-wrote the screenplay for this 1987 film about gentle angels in the skies above war-scarred Berlin who try to comfort the tortured mortals below. After falling in love with a beautiful trapeze artist, the angel Damiel wishes to become mortal. Peter Falk, who plays himself, assists in the angel's transformation by explaining the simple joys of a human experience. This multi-award winning movie earned Wenders the Best Director honor at Cannes 1987 and was remade into 1998's "City of Angels" starring Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan. Sponsored by WMU's Department of Foreign Languages. Contact: Dr. Olivia Gabor, (269) 387-3036, olivia.gabor@wmich.edu. Tuesday, Nov. 15 Lecture--"Volunteering for the Peace Corps," 5 to 7 p.m., 3301 Friedmann Hall. Courtney Cunningham, regional Peace Corps recruiter, will present this informational talk. Sponsored by WMU's Department of Political Science. Contact: Dr. Gunther Hega, (269) 387-5885, gunther.hega@wmich.edu. Music session--Performance and tutorial, 7 to 9 p.m., Dalton Recital Hall. Open session on Middle Eastern music. Applied percussion performance, practice and techniques. Contact: John McFarland, (269) 267-3986. Russian Film--"Brother," English subtitles, some violence, 8 p.m., 1021 Brown Hall. Alexey Balabanov wrote and directed this highly regarded 1997 film that tells the story of a young discharged soldier in contemporary St. Petersburg. The soldier returns home from a humiliating war and struggles to find his place in society. He is drawn into the brutal world of his gangster brother and becomes a contract killer, albeit with a conscience. The film possesses all the formal marks of a typical criminal drama, while depicting a new Russia in which the ideas of nationality, morality, honor and family are reevaluated and reconfigured. Sponsored by WMU's Department of Foreign Languages. Contact: Dr. Dasha Nisula, (269) 387-3005, dasha.nisula@wmich.edu. Wednesday, Nov. 16 Concert--Mosaic Trio and dancer, 8:15 p.m., Dalton Center Recital Hall. The trio represents musicians from the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble, which performs traditional instrumental music from the Arabic, Sephardic, Egyptian, Levantine, Turkish and Armenian repertoire. Core members are Hicham Chami, a Moroccan-born qanun (zither) performer; Kim Sopata, a flutist and educator; and Karim Nagi Mohammed, a percussionist and educator. Cost: $10, $5 students and senior citizens; tickets available at the door and the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office. Sponsored by WMU's School of Music Dalton Series and Haenicke Institute for Global Education. Contact: Anders Dahlberg, (269) 387-4704, anders.dahlberg@wmich.edu. Reception--Honoring the Mosaic Trio, immediately following the Mosaic Trio concert, Dalton Center. Sponsored by Tiffany's Wine and Spirit Shoppe and the American-Arab Anti- Discrimination Committee of Greater Kalamazoo. Thursday, Nov. 17 Student contest--Geography Bowl, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Davis Hall Lounge. WMU students are invited to test their knowledge of world geography while celebrating National Geography Week as well as International Education Week. Quiz questions are being provided by geography department faculty members. Sponsored by WMU's Department of Geography and Haenicke Institute for Global Education. Contact: Barbara Shouse, (269) 387-5865, barb.shouse@wmich.edu. Friday, Nov. 18 International and hip hop experience--"Hawaiian 05: HARMONIZED LOGIC," 9 to 11 p.m., indoor tennis courts, Student Recreation Center. Dance performances (Tahitian and breakdance), a luau (shish kabobs and nonalcoholic beverages), and opportunities to show off your hip hop dancing skills and learn new techniques. Cost: $3; tickets go on sale Oct. 31. Sponsored by Elements of Hip Hop at WMU. Contact: John Q, rso_ehh@wmich.edu. Saturday, Nov. 19 Cultural activities--Africa Day, 3 to 5:30 p.m., Student Recreation Center. Taste African food and check out displays of African garments and curios. Cost: $10, includes Africa Night admission. Sponsored by WMU's African Student Association. Contact: Boaz Were, envoybw@yahoo.com. Lecture and cultural activities--Africa Night, 6 to 9 p.m., West Ballroom, Bernhard Center. Dr. Ababu Namwamba, Fulbright Scholar from American University and chief counsel of Kenya's Chambers of Justice, will present a talk titled "Reflections on the Relationship between USA and her Legions of Foreign Students. Activities scheduled include poetry, a short African play, an African parade of flags and the Kassumi African Dance Group. Cost: $10, includes Africa Day admission. Sponsored by WMU's African Student Association and Western Student Association. Contact: Boaz Were, envoybw@yahoo.com. Dance party--African theme, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., Holiday Lanes (next to the Holiday Inn), 2747 S. 11th St., Kalamazoo. Sponsored by WMU's African Student Association. Contact: Boaz Were, envoybw@yahoo.com. Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu WMU News |
