By Sullivan McGee\/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monday will mark the beginning of Hood College\u2019s Fourth Annual International Education Week, a series of events where students can learn about and celebrate different cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe want people to know that we are a diverse community and a college that respects people from diverse backgrounds, and we like to celebrate everyone\u2019s traditions,\u201d said Amani Al-Dajane, the director of International Student Services at Hood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the activities during International Education Week, students can learn about other cultures through hands-on experiences instead of through research, lectures or texts, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Al-Dajane said that events like International Education Week are more important than ever. \u201cWe live in a very globalized economy,\u201d she said. \u201cThese kinds of events will increase someone\u2019s cultural competence, which is very important for every single person to be successful in today\u2019s economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weeklong celebration demonstrates to students that Hood respects them and brings the community together, which is what Hood is all about, she said. \u201cInternational Education Week will tell our people from diverse backgrounds that we respect you,\u201d she said. \u201cSo it\u2019s a message by itself about Hood and Hood\u2019s culture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event celebrates world cultures despite international tensions. For example, Al-Dajane said that Hood\u2019s parade of flags on Monday will feature both the Ukrainian and Russian flags. \u201cEveryone is accepted here at Hood College regardless of your background, nationality, religion, ethnic, gender, so that\u2019s the whole message,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tanith Fowler Corsi, the director of Graduate Admission, first proposed hosting International Education Week at Hood in 2019. She had been involved with the event at previous universities, and said, It was always a popular and fun campus-wide celebration showcasing unity in diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
April Boulton, the dean of Graduate School, was very excited about the prospect of having International Education Week at Hood, and she worked with Corsi in the summer of 2019 and formed a planning committee. \u201cWe hope to continue to make this event a Hood annual tradition,\u201d Corsi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each day of the week will feature a different event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, there will be the parade of flags at 4 p.m. at Rosemont Gate and the opening ceremony at 4:30 p.m. at Coblentz Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tuesday will feature the international student lunch at 1 p.m. in the Coblentz Seminar Room. RSVP is required for this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wednesday will feature a Diwali celebration at 4:30 p.m. in Room 220 at the Whitaker Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Thursday there will be the Susan Crate documentary and dinner from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Coblentz Seminar Room (RSVP required) and the international bingo and desserts at 8 p.m. in the Coblentz Seminar Room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Friday will feature the global party at 10 p.m. in the Whitaker Commuter Lounge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Students interested in joining the planning committee for next year\u2019s events should contact Al-Dajane at al-dajane@hood.edu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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