December 5, 2005 The Lion's Eye Eye On Community Page 7 » Multicultural Day | uiticuitura ay S Taking the Cake! " Out Of this World Prt by: FRANK FRIDAY At left, Dr. Sophia Wisniewska, PSU- Annual Event Lends International Flavor to Campus Delco’s chancellor, poses with John Vairo, the campus’ founding director, at the 25th anniversary celebration at the By AMAR GANTI library that bears his name. Below is the Lion's Eye staff writer birthday cake that added to the day’s fes- aeg5014@psu.edu tivities. » - the event is held is to embrace and celebrate diversity as well as get- Nida Qadeer is proud of her Pakistani Heritage. "I want people to know about my culture," said Qadeer, wearing a traditional Pakistani dress at PSU-Delco's recent Multicultural Day. The event, held in the Commons Auxiliary Gym on Nov. 17, had a big turnout. Floor seats and stands were filled and the line for food and entrance backed out into the hallway. Flags from different nations were posted on the walls and used in a competition for the event. Attendees were given the opportunity to receive a prize for naming all the countries. "I think we got the meaning of Multicultural Day out," said Qadeer, who is also president of the Student Business Association. She said ting a better understanding of various cultures. Also wearing Pakistani attire at the annual event was Natalie Delva, Chairperson of Diversity, who has been participating in the multi-cul- ture celebration for a number of years. The celebration also showcased the current Ms. Penn State, T'mira Looby's hip-hop dance, which coincidentally was her talent at the Homecoming Pageant. The next portion featured former Ms. Penn State, Crystal Bowhall New ‘Grassroots’ Campus Group . Brings Book Lovers Together who displayed her vocal skills by singing a Japanese song. Delco's By GERRY DUNGAN “So we thought, let's see if there is anybody who Finest Dance Team was up next performing several hip-hop style Lion's Eye staff writer would like to just sit down and read a book," Lutz dances. The Gospel Choir then sang for the audience before the gmdI38@psu.edu said. International Fashion show began. Sean Serfoss, President of the Black Student League, acted as MC, announcing the models and describing their native costumes. The show spotlighted countries and cultures from around the world, from Pakistan and Nigeria to Vietnam. Mr. and Ms. Penn State, Ray Fredricks and T'mira Looby, wrapped up the fashion show. The International Food Buffet included cuisine from Italy, the Caribbean, China, and the United States, and was quickly consumed At the end of the semester; faculty, staff, and stu- dents alike, are hard-pressed to find what to do with what little recreational time they have to spend, even over the upcoming Winter Break. There’s a new group with a suggestion: Reading. They call themselves the Nittany Readers and they are the newest club on campus. “It just kind of happened,” said Renee Lutz, At their first meeting, there were 10 people who wanted to do just that -- five staff members and five students who showed up to choose the book that would be discussed first thing next semester. Freshman, Isiah Dixon, said he found that Nittany Readers allowed him to “meet the same people with the same hobby as we do.” “I love to read,” said Sally Ent, an advisor at the Career Center, adding that she enjoys the com- by attendees. ; campus bookstore manager. panionship of fellow book lovers and that “the » "We put a call out for people to donate food," said Deborah Erie, She was an integral in starting this group along staff love to get involved with what the students Director of Students and Enrollment Services as well as Student Life. with Frank Vaccaro, president of the Outdoors get involved in.” Multicultural Day was hosted by Penn State Delco's Student Life Club, and Dale Soring of Student Life. “The only problem I see is that students have and the Student Government Association. Other campus clubs helped Soring described this book club as a “grassroots classes or they have jobs as well,” said Nittany the event progress such as the Black Student League, Asian American organization” stressing on the no-stress recreation- ~~ Readers member Charles Sander, SGA Academic Organization, Gospel Choir, and others. al activity. Affairs Chair. "I am pretty surprised (how the event turned out)," said SGA vice She described the Nittany Readers as “just a lot So, to entice student participation, the bookstore president Crystal Bowhall. "There was a bigger turn out from last of people who would discuss books,” she said. is offering a 10 percent discount on chosen books year and faculty and staff helped out a lot." found in the “Group Member’s Picks” section of the local campus book store. Earning Credits, Will Travel: PSU's Study Abroad P dining Lreaits, viii iraveil. Ss Stuay Abroad Frogram By DAVID HARDISON Markley is offering two courses to be taken in conjunction with a trip to Rome and > Lion's Eye staff writer Sicily (May 7-18). He is offering a course in classical mythology and another course in dph5001@.psu.edu Italian culture and civilization, with special focus on the city of Rome itself. Markley said that students “make an outline of what they want to get accomplished while Let us say it is May, and the students have just finished their final exams. What are abroad, due to the relatively short amount of time that is to be spent in the country.” they going to do now? Sit at their house and watch TV? Drink beer with their buddies? Dr. Paul Greene, professor of music, has also offered courses on past trips. Well there is something more invigorating they could be doing: traveling to a foreign “I usually give students preparatory work in musical concepts and terminology,” he country. said. “During the trip, I assign work that gives the students an immersion experience, Since 1996, Penn State Delco has been sending students to countries all over the so that they can live the musical culture.” world on week-long trips. Past trips have gone to countries such as Spain, France and Some of Greene’s courses have included Irish Origins of American Music, Music Austria. : and Arts of Seville, and Musical Cultures of the French-Speaking World. The trip fees, which are much cheaper than if one were to book a trip themselves, Students are encouraged to learn basic phrases, although “the Italians are delighted cover all transportation and hotel rates. Furthermore, each trip offers a number of day- when you make an effort to speak their language,” Markley said. “Speaking the local long excursions to points of interest in and around the cities that students visit. language makes an enormous difference, and is an integral part to immersing yourself Trips are booked through Celestial Voyagers, a travel agency that works with many in the culture.” colleges. Dr. Arnold Markley, professor of English, is a veteran of these week-long Greene adds, “These trips could be some of the most significant events of your col- trips. lege experience.” : “Celestial Voyagers does a good job of finding hotels that are safe and clean,” he said. : As if the thought of foreign travel isn't enticing enough, students can earn college credit on these trips, at no extra cost. The next trip will take students to Argentina, from December 27, 2005, to January 5, 2006. Over spring break, students can go to either Paris and London (March 3-11, 2006) or Guatemala. ; For more information, go to http://www.de.psu.edu/Academics/intlprograms.htm.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers