The ISC (International Student Council at WPI) has a week full of international events in store for WPI in December, the "International Buffet", "ISC Coffee Hour" and "International Bazaar".
In a month full of international events like Latino Week, the ISC kicks off a series of events on December 7th, with the annual "International Buffet". Due to unprecedented demand for this event in previous years the ISC has for the first time moved the "International Buffet" to Alden Memorial Hall to try and satisfy the demand for tickets. The hall which has a capacity in excess of 300 people, 50% increase over last year's buffet, which was held in Founders Dinning Hall. The organizers are hoping that the extra tickets will be enough but the tickets which are priced at a mere $5.00, have all almost been sold, according to the Student Life Office.
The buffet will consist not only of ethnic food from around the world, but also a program of entertainment reminiscent of the various cultures represented on campus. The ISC said that student representatives of the countries from where the dishes are prepared in will act as ambassadors and will be ready to serve the visitors and answer any queries they may have in respect to the food or performances.
"Not from here, nor from there: Are we culturally in limbo?" is the theme to the next ISC Coffee Hour, 6:30pm, Thursday 10th December, which will be held in the Higgins House Library and is open to the whole WPI community. Professor Hector N. Torres, Sr. and Professor Gladys Rodriguez-Parker, professors at two different Massachusetts colleges are the speakers for the event.
The "ISC Coffee Hour," a social hour that the ISC initiated this year, has been held every month since September, and on the first night drew a crowd of more than 40 people. These social hours consist of a discussion topic on which a speaker is invited to share his/her experiences and knowledge, followed by a Q&A and discussion by the audience. As the name suggests it is a coffee hour and as such coffee and desserts with a theme based on the discussion or season are served. At the first coffee hour, themed "Transition in Albania", Arabic and Greek coffee was served accompanied by desserts such as Baklava, Kadeifi and other sweets from the region.
The final and newest event that the ISC has introduced this year is the "International Bazaar", which will be held in the Wedge from 10:00am to 3:00pm on Thursday, December 12. A variety of vendors representing Native American, Indian, African, Greek and other ethnic groups will setup a stand in the Wedge and sell gifts, souvenirs, artifacts, music and other items unique to the region they come from.
For more information about the ISC or these events contact the Student Life Office at 831-5201 or e-mail isc@wpi.edu.