February 23, 2009

Windsor Dining Court to host cultural nights

At the event, Windsor Dining Court's international station will feature African dishes like chicken jollof rice from West Africa, peri peri chicken from Southern Africa, maize and spinach from Tanzania, akara from West Africa, and mfumbwa from Cameroon and the Congo region.

During the dinner, which is from 5-7 p.m., information tables will highlight the contributions of African-Americans to American society.

"We arrange these cultural nights to provide a new learning experience for students and to promote diversity on campus," said Wilfrido Cruz, cultural programs administrator with Purdue's Housing and Food Services. "Through a 2005 student survey, we were able to identify the need to provide additional cultural opportunities to students that were informal in nature but engaging in content.

"Our first event took place in September 2007, and since then we've had eight cultural nights."

The next cultural night at Windsor Dining Court takes place March 11, honoring Women's History Month. The third one is on April 8 celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander Month.

Other dining courts at Purdue also celebrate diversity through international foods. Ford Dining Court, for instance, will feature Polynesian dishes on March 11 and Mexican food in April, said Dining Court Manager Barb Maughmer.

Hillenbrand Dining Court also hosted a cultural night last fall celebrating the Italian-American Heritage Month, Cruz said.

Writer: Soumitro Sen, (765) 496-9711, ssen@purdue.edu

Sources: Wilfrido Cruz, (765) 494-9418, wcruz@purdue.edu

Barb Maughmer, (765) 496-2054, bkmaughmer@purdue.edu

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

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