Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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If » M £ N ou; Ioolt what you»De done WANNA DANCE? A crowd gathers to watch a group of students perform a traditional Chinese dance The street fair ran from 10 to 4 on May 21 . Athens had the whole world in its hands just for a day as the 7th An- nual International Street Fair took over Court Street. More than ?0 student organizations and 80 nationalities were repre- sented in the collection of native food, dancing, costumes and crafts. Alan Boyd, director of international student and faculty services, said about 900 people attended the 6-hour fair. The fair was the culmination often days of events during International Week. Many foreign student organizations sponsored festivities that were an attempt to inform and enrich Americans about the culture and tradi- tions of other countries around the world. Senior Dawn Strahler commented, The International Street Fair brought culture to Athens. It was exciting to watch the different countries perform their native dances. I teel the fair offered a potpourri of things for people of all races, creeds and religions. I found the event to be fun and exciting, said senior Dell Robinson. International Week opened with the Indonesian Food Festival, sponsored by PERMIAS — Indonesian Students Association, which featured native food, a slide show, and dance. Ticket sale proceeds were donated to the Athens county Children ' s Services. The Muslim Student Association sponsored an Islamic Center open house to create better communication about the Islamic religion. The open house commemo- rated the Muslim holy month, in which a partial fast is observed, followed by a sampling of Muslim food. Paintings, books, crafts and stamps were displayed at the Chinese Cul- tural Exhibit and Sale, which was sponsored by the Chinese Student and Visiting Scholar Club. India Night featured songs, folk dances, a slide show, and as a special treat, a dramatization of an Indian Wedding was performed. Darwin Loftan, a sophomore, com- mented, It was really enlightening to see things of a different culture being displayed here at OU. The International Street Fair really showed the diversity and pride of OU ' s international students. Senior Regina Randall stated, I thought it was extremely interest- ing and I learned a lot. You get a real sense of the world when you are around all of those different nationalities. You want to be like them and experience their world. The African Student Union put on a dazzling display during its African Cultural Show. Members performed an ancient war dance called Sibaca, which was once a ritual in Swaziland to excite warriors before battle. Today the dance is purely athletic and is performed in competition an- nually. Despite a brief shower that cleansed the fair and all its participants, the day was a perfect opportunity tor Athenians to experience other culture ' s traditions and beliefs in a very authentic way. Each year, International Week festivities bring the diversity of the world ' s cultures and its people a little closer together. By Erin Powell

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PICK-UP STICKS Performing the Dandiaras, an Indian marriage dance, is Anita Amla and Sandip Kaushal. It was the first time Amla performed the dance. at the Street Fair Every year I look forward to the Internation Week because I know that it ends with the fabu- lous food fair so I can pig out on the best food. There ' s so much to choose from, and it really makes you appreciate the diversity here. — David Karl FIRE! Chorpaka Kaewyai (R) and Wiset Cha- reonsuk, of the Thailand Student Association, cook pork on a stick. The rain didn ' t keep away the crowds. HEADS UP! While others sample foods at the Street Fair, Debbie Davis tries on an Oriental headress. Over five oriental countries were represented. International Week • m

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AT THE MOVIES While her younger sister chats with the ticket sellers, Adelle Ortego buys two tickets to the film Gremlins. The cost was $2 per person. on Sibs ' Weekend AHH. ' What was I gonna do with my little sib? Well, whatever it was had to watch what I said or did be- cause the informer sib still had to retu rn home. Oh well, it wasn ' t so bad; we didn ' t fight once all weekend. Gina MacFrederick THE LINEUP Sibs pile off buses on a rainy Friday night. The bus arrived at 8:30, an hour late. — D. Engle BLACKJACK David Ross, senior, and his sib Chris Cruze play a hand of Blackjack with Monica Franz at West Vegas. The West Green-sponsored event featured prizes such as autographed hockey sticks and T-shirts. 24 Sibs Weekend