“Lunch with an International Flavor”
Features Indian Food and Fashion Show
By Cathie McCormick
for The Capital Times
The largest crowd on record for “Lunch with
an International Flavor” clogged Olmsted’s second
floor auditorium and hallway Oct. 28 to sample
Indian culture and food.
An informal collaboration of PSH stu
dents from India, their Indian-American counter
parts and supporters from the local Indian commu
nity dazzled an estimated 200 visitors with music,
dance and food
“Before this, we thought a success was 20
people,” said Donna Howard, coordinator of stu
dent services for non-traditional students. “The
restaurant owner said he brought food for 200.”
Howard’s office helps international appli
cants negotiate the student Visa process and cam
pus orientation and encourages them to share their
culture with the PSH community once they are
here. She minimized her role in the Indian event.
“The students took care of everything,” she said.
Jinesh Varia, an Information Systems
graduate student, applauded the motivation and
mutual support of the individuals involved. Varia
introduced Payal Parekh, traditional Indian dancer
and PSH MBA candidate from Bombay with,
“Bombay and smart go together like Paris and
wine.”
A presentation of Indian history and cul
ture, albeit with an unsynchronized power-point
slide show, followed Parekh’s colorful introductory
perfonnance. The event included a fashion show of
traditional clothing from various regions and then
adjourned to an adjacent room for a sampling of
Indian food provided by Harrisburg restaurant
Passage To India.
Varia said the Indian student community
Jk | | Photos by Steve Standridge
rt-\LL r 2002 Design by Pete Strella
Fall Fest 2002 was held on Oct. 30 and 31 in Olmsted. Day one fea
tured a pumpkin decorating contest, free food, and the music of Boost
(a local cover band). Day two featured featured more free stuff.
Lion sports witch's hat and plots on
scaring people.
began discussing an educational event during the
spring semester but decided to wait for the number of
Indian students to increase. Several Indian students
from other Penn State campuses arrived this fall, Varia
Payal Parek kicked off the festivities with an
Indian dance, which preceded the fashion show
Boost treats spectators with covers of Lit,
Blink 182, Sublime, and Everclear.
SGA Junior Senator for the School of
Business Manish Vigh transferred from Penn State
Berks. He has been in the United States for four years,
has applied for U.S. citizenship and plans to make
the United States his permanent home. At PSH,
Vigh carries a double major in Information Systems
and Finance and a minor in International Business.
Vigh and Varia are both involved with the
process of creating a new campus organization to
address the needs of Indian students and continue
sharing Indian culture with the larger community. A
possible affiliation with the University Park Indian
Student Association is being discussed, but Vigh
emphasized the new club’s desire to be inclusive. “I
want as many students as possible to share their cul
ture,” he said.
The PSH community this semester
includes 82 international students; 13 from India,
“The PSH community this
semester includes 82 inter
national students; 13 from
India, Howard said.”
Howard said. Howard said the international students
want more interaction with the students from the
United States. They tend to disappear in the diverse
PSH community, Howard said. Events like the
“Lunch with an International Flavor” series are
designed to encourage the mix.
Vigh said the new organization hopes to
obtain SGA sanction by next semester and encour
ages interested students to contact him. His e-mail
address is msvlll@psu.edu.
The giant 97-pound pumpkin
chills and plans a way to take
over the school once students
leave. Chris Patterson won
the weight-guessing contest
with a guess of 97.6 pounds.