Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Rachel Stone Student officers organized dinner and entertainment.

Media Credit: Rachel Stone The EKU Capoeria group demonstrates the Brazilian art form.

Media Credit: Rachel Stone President Whitlock samples bulgogi, a traditional dish from South Korea.

In celebration of global diversity, Eastern celebrated the 24th annual International Banquet on Saturday. The banquet is a long-standing event on campus that celebrates the global diversity represented by students, faculty and staff members.

Guests lined the steps of the Keen Johnson Building adorned in their native dress and colorful festive attire for an evening of fellowship, fun and ethnic food from around the world.

The banquet, which was sponsored by the International Student Organization, started with Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson expressing her excitement for the event.

"This is always one of my favorite events out of everything that happens in Richmond," Lawson said. "I get excited just seeing the beautiful costumes and clothes."

President Doug Whitlock was also there to share his gratitude for the banquet and the international students on campus. He said his goal is to stress the value that international students bring to campus.

"Being able to travel to another country is a life changing experience and I hope that the international students that come to Eastern experience that life change," Whitlock said.

Eastern currently has about 230 international students from 60 countries. The International Student Organization has eight officers, all representing countries such as The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and India. The mistress of ceremonies was Janita Schoonderwoerd from the Netherlands, currently President of the International Student Organization. Avinash Conda, secretary of the ISO from India, was the master of ceremonies.

Soft music, provided by the Eastern percussion ensemble lingered in the background as guests treated themselves to the delicious array of ethnic food from around the world, prepared by the students.

Appetizers like Tabbouleh, a Middle Eastern salad and green pea soup from the Netherlands started the meal. Guests enjoyed entrees ranging from spicy chicken ko chwela from Nepal to savory braised beef with potatoes, a native dish of China. To wrap up the meal and fulfill guests' sweet tooth cravings, appelbeignets, a sweet bread pudding from the Netherlands was served.

After the guests' bellies were full, entertainment was provided by the International students, Eastern's Dance Theatre and the Eastern Capoeira Group.

Students danced, sang and hosted an International fashion runway show that displayed beautiful garments from their native countries.

At the end of the evening, several students performed a dance to "Jai Ho", a popular song from Slumdog Millionaire. The song, translated as "Victory to You" in Hindi, was a celebration of the diversity on campus and the victory that we all have inside to inspire change.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools