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Diverse Cultures Showcased on the Runway During International Week
< < Back toOhio University celebrates International Week this week with the theme, “A Promise with No Boundaries.”
Nearly 1,800 international students from more than 110 countries, speaking close to 60 different languages attend OU.
Mohammad Hashim Pashutm, president of the International Student Union, says I-Week is crucial to promoting a unified campus.
“Our identities are not differences; our identities unite us,” he said.
OU has been celebrating International Week since 1969. ISU funds, plans, and carries out many of I-Week’s programs.
According to Pashutm, ISU has two major responsibilities.
“One is to be a home to international students, to represent them and give them an opportunity to celebrate their culture,” Pashutm said. “But at the same time, we must try to attract domestic students to explore those countries.”
ISU, an umbrella to nearly 30 different organizations, manages the funding and programming for more than 100 events each year, including Monday’s International Fashion and Talent Show.
“We had way more people than we thought,” said ISU Programming Director Alena Klimas, speaking of the Fashion and Talent Show. “I think the audience really enjoyed it and I know the participants love doing it every year.”
“I love this kind of environment because it reminds me of my country,” said performer Saynni Banerjee.
She stressed the importance of communication between cultures.
“It is so important because through communication we can share our knowledge,” Banerjee added.
International week continues through Saturday.