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March 21, 2003

Purdue celebrates International Awareness Week

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - More than 5,000 students and nearly 700 faculty and staff from 132 countries work or attend school at Purdue University.

Purdue will celebrate that ethnic diversity with the third annual International Awareness Week April 4-12 on the West Lafayette campus.

Michael Brzezinski, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, says the community will have a unique opportunity to experience the diverse cultures that interact at Purdue.

"I encourage the community to take advantage of this festive week to acknowledge, appreciate, explore and celebrate the many cultures represented by our international students and international visiting scholars," Brzezinski says.

The weeklong event will include international films, live entertainment and artistic demonstrations, special meals, discussion panels on world events and issues, and informational forums on study abroad programs. Participating partners include the Office of Programs for Study Abroad, University Residences and the International Center of Greater Lafayette Inc.

Among the highlights is the International Friendship Festival from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, April 6, in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom. The festival features live performances, games and prizes. It will be followed at 7 p.m. by an International Dance Till You Drop. The celebration wraps up Saturday, April 12, with the International Food Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University Church, 320 N. St., followed by a showing of the Chinese film "Yi Ge Dou Bu Neng Shao" ("Not One Less") at 7 p.m. in Stanley Coulter Hall, Room 239.

A complete list of International Awareness Week activities can be found on the Web at https://www.iss.purdue.edu/iaw. All events are open to the public, and many are free. A few events require reservations and a small fee.

CONTACT: Brzezinski, (765) 494-7084, mab@iss.purdue.edu; Elizabeth V. Risa, event organizer, (765) 496-3538, brisa@purdue.edu.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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