Culture
OU’s International Week To Be held April 9-16
< < Back toOhio University’s International Week will be held April 9-16 and will feature a wide range of cultural events, dynamic speakers and the always-popular International Street Fair.
One of the highlights of this year’s International Week will be the Keynote Speech, “Life Without Basketball,” by Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, the founder of Muslim Girls Hoop Too. The Keynote Speech, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12 in the Baker Theater.
Abdul-Qaadir is a former standout high school and college basketball player who was denied a professional basketball career due to the ban on hijabs by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). According to FIBA rules, the hijab is considered a safety issue.
Putting her dream of being a professional basketball player aside, Abdul-Qaadir decided to take an active stance to pave the way for female Muslim athletes who may encounter similar issues in the future. By founding the Muslim Girls Hoop Too organization, Abdul-Qaadir raises awareness for the issue at hand and tries to make possible for others what was denied to her.
The Keynote Speech promises to be educational, entertaining and inspirational for people of all ages.
One new International Week event this year will be a special ceremony on Monday, Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. when the international flags are placed on the College Green. The flags are an annual highlight of spring in Athens, and this year a ceremony will be held to commemorate this important event.
The International Street Fair will be on Saturday, April 15 featuring delicious foods, talented performers and entertaining activities throughout the day.
International Week will be filled with events for people of all ages and backgrounds, and organizers are hoping to attract large crowds of students, faculty, staff and areas residents. Here are a few of the events on each of the days of International Week:
· Sunday, April 9 will feature the World Cup soccer tournament beginning at 11 a.m. in the Walter Fieldhouse and the Salam Neighbor Screening beginning at 3 p.m. in Bentley 124.
· Monday, April 10 will feature the Flags Kick-Off event at 9 a.m. on the College Green and then the Global Scoop ice cream event at 2 p.m. at the Bobcat Student Lounge in the Baker University Center.
· Tuesday, April 11 activities will include the Women’s Coffee Hour at 4 p.m. at the Women’s Center in the Baker University Center, the Talent Show at 6:30 p.m. in the Athena Cinema and a Vegan Cooking event at the United Campus Ministry building on College Street in Athens.
· Wednesday, April 12 will include the Flavor of the Week event at noon in the Bobcat Student Lounge and the Keynote Address at 7 p.m. in the Baker Theater.
· Thursday, April 13 will feature the Around the World event at 2 p.m. in the Walter Hall Rotunda and then a Holocaust Remembrance event beginning at 7 p.m. in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room in the Baker University Center.
· On Friday, April 14, the events will begin with the Diversity Abroad Panel at 2 p.m. in Baker 231, when students share their international experiences. At 10 p.m., the International Dance Night Will be held at Casa Nueva in uptown Athens.
· On Saturday, April 15, the International Street Fair will begin at 11 a.m. on Court Street. This traditional event brings international food, music and cultural activities to Court Street. The Street Fair begins with remarks from university and city leaders and the parade of flags.
· On Sunday, April 16, International Week will finish with the championship of the World Cup soccer tournament. Soccer will begin at 11 a.m. inside the Walter Fieldhouse.
For more information on International Week at Ohio University, please visit www.ohio.edu/internationalweek.