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Sandra Britton
Leo R. Dowling International Center
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Last modified: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

IU World's Fare set for Nov. 11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 4, 2009

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University will celebrate its international breadth with the third annual IU World's Fare, featuring international food, song, dance, exhibits and conversation on Nov. 11 (Wednesday) at 5 p.m. in the Indiana Memorial Union's Alumni Hall.

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The Filipino Student Association performing the traditional "Tinikling Dance" at World's Fare 2008.

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Faculty, staff, students and members of the Bloomington community are welcome to join the festivities. There is no admission fee for IU students who show their university-issued identification card. Others from the university and Bloomington communities who wish to attend can purchase a ticket at the door for $4.

"With more than 4,000 students and 1,500 scholars, IU has one of the largest international academic communities in the U.S.," said Patrick O'Meara, vice president for international affairs.

"The international community has become so important at IU, that we expect an international perspective in the classroom and in all of the activities and work of the university. The IU World's Fare provides an excellent opportunity to see just how much our local world is expanded by the participation of so many individuals from around the world," O'Meara said.

The IU Steel Pan Ensemble and the Afro Cuban Ensemble from the Jacobs School of Music will open the event with Caribbean traditional and popular music. Performers from several international student associations will compete for first, second and third place awards with demonstrations of native music and dance. Cultural displays will provide international students the opportunity to share their homelands around the word with their IU and Bloomington friends.

"Students and staff have worked for months to create this dynamic event," said Chris Viers, associate vice president for international services. "Every year I look forward to this opportunity to share with the community at large the riches we encounter every day in working with international students and scholars. It draws bigger crowds each year, and that speaks not only to the good fun of the evening but also to the increasing interest of the community in the countries and cultures our students and scholars represent."

International students have gathered recipes from home for the Indiana Memorial Union food services staff to prepare and for visitors to sample. All submitted recipes have been compiled into a recipe book, and a complimentary copy will be given to the first 450 guests.

"It has been exciting for me to be a part of the process and to watch the students' enthusiasm as they prepare for the World's Fare," said Sandy Britton. As director of the Leo R. Dowling International Center, Britton has been at the center of the planning for several months along with Union Board, the Office of International Services and 19 international student associations.

The IU World's Fare is a prelude to a series of special programs marking International Education Week, which runs from Nov.16-20 at IU, and at other universities across the United States and around the world.