This week, the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center put together a series of events to celebrate International Education Week and expose students to cultural diversity.
Shaz Akram, assistant director of the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, said International Education Week is to recognize the different countries represented by students across the U.S.
“It is primarily highlighting the exchange of students, cultural exchange, and language exchange,” she said.
This week, different events were set up to promote unity among different cultures, Akram said. Monday, the study abroad office set up a booth in the Colvard Student Union to educate students about the many different programs available at MSU.
“They handed out information highlighting international travel for American students,” she said
Allison Noffsinger, study abroad coordinator, said programs are available for all majors and with planning, can be done inexpensively.
“[The information booth] is to make students aware of all the study abroad programs here at Mississippi State,” she said.
On Tuesday, Maria Echaveste, former White House Deputy of Chief of Staff under the second Clinton administration and the first Latina woman to serve in the government, spoke to students about the importance of understanding other cultures as the global community becomes more interconnected.
She is currently the Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and represents women and Mexican-Americans.
Akram said she was excited Echaveste came to MSU because she is a good influence for students.
“She’s a great role model for students to look up to,” she said.
Echaveste said she wanted to come to MSU because it was outside of her everyday routine.
“I spend most of my time in California and New York. If Mississippi State University was interested in inviting me, I was interested in coming,” she said.
Wednesday included a panel discussion of the religions of the world which focused on the major religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism.
“Few people want to go into religion; they say it’s too controversial, but we’re using it as a way of uniting everyone and uniting faiths, what is the common thread, and look at it objectively,” Akram said.
On Thursday, international students made food from different parts of the world and sold them as a fundraiser.
“We’re helping [international students]. We’re promoting [international students], yet they are finding a mode to raise funds for their organization,” Akram said.
The movie “Persepolis” was shown Thursday night.
“‘Persepolis’ is based on a young Iranian woman coming of age after the Iranian Revolution and the effects of growing up in that atmosphere,” Akram said. “It’s not depicting the riots; it depicts life for young people there.”
The movie is an animated, award-winning film made in French with English subtitles.
“It is an independent foreign movie exposing students to international media,” Akram said.
All week in the Union, flags have been on display showing each country represented on MSU’s campus by students, faculty and staff.
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the United States Department of Education formed International Education Week. It is celebrated each year the week before the U.S. Thanksgiving in over 100 countries.