April 5, 2002

International Week celebrates diversity, raise funds

Loyola University's International Student Association (ISA) and Office of International Student Affairs promoted International Week from March 11-16, sponsoring various events in order to promote the 2^nd Annual International Student Scholarship Fund. The proposed scholarship is to benefit international students on F-1 visas who can no longer afford to attend Loyola.

International Week began with a lecture given on Eastern-European journalism, and continued with a performance by the guajira band Los Vecinos in the Underground, and a public viewing of the Spanish-language precursor to Vanilla Sky titled "Abre Los Ojos" in the Residential Quad.

The ISA banquet took place on March 16, at 7 p.m. in the St. Charles Room. Sodexo-Marriott catered the banquet, and ISA members cooked foods from various countries such as Haiti, the Philippines, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. A lively addition to the banquet, the Peruvian band Rumisonko provided Andean music throughout the evening. The banquet featured guest speaker Dr. Marcus Smith of the Department of English who spoke of the importance of the International Student Scholarship as well as his experiences living around the world. Students and organizations attended along with Loyola faculty and staff; some in attendance were Loyola University Community Action Program (LUCAP), the Black Student Union (BSU), Campus Ministry, and the Student Government Association (SGA). Proceeds from the banquet benefited the International Student Scholarship Fund. The noted ISA Treasurer describes the banquet as "an auspicious step in acquainting the Loyola community with its international members."

—Khalil Jetha, A'03, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications