TL20050425_001 "Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Monday, 4/25/05 Initiative ensures use of seat belts Ehrlich speaks to persuasion class 5 Regents discuss Towson's future 6 Local restaurants aid TeasV charity Departments Opinion 2 News 5 Paw Prints 7 Campus Calendar. 8 Arts 13 Sound Bites '. 14 Entertainment Briefs 14 Sports 20 In This Corner. 20 Face-Off. 17 Classifieds 16 Festival takes TU around globe Music, food, dancing center of 21st annual international event Sharon Leff The Towerlight The third floor of the University Union was abuzz with face painting, music and the smell of ethnic foods at the 21st annual International Festival in the Chesapeake Rooms Saturday. Flags from nations across the world served as decorations, as many campus cultural groups came out to represent themselves. The festival was free for all attendees, and included dance performances, a fashion show, and various ethnic foods from Duken Ethiopia, Thai Array and Pavsa Kabob. It was originally scheduled to take place Friday on Burdick Field, but rain pushed the event inside and rescheduled it for Saturday. The International Student Association and International Student & Scholar Office co-sponsored the event. Former ISA president Danah Tahir, a senior industrial design major, said the Chesapeake Rooms could hold 450 people, but """"I'm positive we'll have more than that."""" She was right: The festival was forced to close its doors to some attendees, after the room filled to capacity. The first two hours of the festival were devoted to cultural displays and sales. Mimi Zouine, a sophomore biology major and treasurer for ISA, was clad in Moroccan attire as she browsed the displays. """"We're bringing different cultures together. It's not a fund-raiser. We don't charge, we spent over $4,000 on food and we spent about $10,000 total,"""" Zouine said. At 7 p.m. attendees sat down to enjoy hours of cultural performances. Belly dancers, singers and a Chinese Lion Dance troupe were among the performers. Samuel Locoh-Donou, a junior biology major, acted as one of the MCs for the evening. He said international students """"bring the world to Towson."""" """"I believe in the cause of the International Student Association. International students bring more than numbers. They prepare students to be global citizens and leaders for the world of tomorrow. This can't be done if international students aren't represented,"""" Locoh-Donou said. While organizers were thrilled with the turnout for the event, Locoh-Donou explained that international students have much more to accomplish on campus. """"We still battle our way for more rights for international students,"""" Locoh-Donou said. """"SGA has been very supportive of international groups. More can be done but a lot has been done already."""" Many attendees believe the University does not Lisa Johnson/The Towerlight Senior Yukari Satake participates in a performance of """"Ama Sakura Machi no Hazure"""" with the Japanese Student Association during Saturday's International Festival in the Chesapeake Rooms. focus enough on the 800 students that make up the international student body on campus. ISA president Izaskun Urien would prefer more help from Towson's administration. """"I think the University [should] work closer with student groups. How can we expect Americans to come if representatives don't join us?"""" she said. Freshman Nadia Shokry, the ISA secretary, agreed that more involvement from Towson is definitely desired. """"We would like the administration office to come here,"""" Shokry said. Locoh-Donou suggested Towson could hold other international events throughout the year. """"We should have culture weeks and scholarships for international students,"""" he said. When foreign students arrive at Towson, they look for a place where they can get involved, Shokry explained. For many students, the ISA fulfills that need. However, the organization wishes that more students would attend cultural events. """"[International students] join in. We try to get Americans and they don't come,"""" she said. See CELEBRATING, page 7 Today High 60 Low 45 Tuesday High 68 Low 52 Wednesday High 63 Low 46 Thursday High 66 Low 48 Friday High 63 Low 48"
