Event
to celebrate education week
By Oscar Montealegre
On-line Forty-Niner
Cal
State Long Beach will celebrate International
Education Week for the second year in a
row from November 18-22.
Last year there were doubts whether International
Education Week would take place due to the
Sept. 11 attacks. However, there was a consensus
among the Center for International Education
that conducting International Week after
the tragedy gives the event more importance.
“This annual recognition of international
education was implemented in 2000 by the
U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department
of Education,” said Linda Olson Levy, special
programs coordinator of the International
Education Week Organizing Committee.
Although Long Beach is called the “International
City,” Levy feels that the school should
represent the latter.
“We
are trying very hard to bring students from
various countries to study here, but we
are doing very good in retaining the number
of international students since 9/11,” said
Levy.
International Education Week, according
to Secretary of Education Rod Page, is “intended
to emphasize the importance of increasing
student knowledge and awareness of the world’s
cultures, peoples, and languages…(and) to
encourage policies and programs that prepare
Americans for a global environment and acknowledge
the importance of building ties.”
Levy gave a similar reason involving the
significance of International Education
Week. She said, “International Education
week is to recognize international education
and raise the profile on international education.”
International Education Week consists of
a variety of activities and events. All
activities and events are free and all students
are invited.
“International Education Week is significant
to all students, both international and
domestic students,” Levy said.
“As a former international student at Cal
State Long Beach, I am glad that the university
is trying to get more students aware of
the international population at Cal State
Long Beach and trying to interest them to
different cultures,” said Daniella Antanutche.
Next year the International Education Committee
plans to enhance International Education
Week. The committee has intentions to implement
more events, panel presentation, movie screenings
and workshops that are catered for students
who have desires or interest in studying
abroad.
This year, International Education Week
will offer a variety of events to students
who attend. On Tuesday, there will be a
faculty panel presentation titled “War:
The Human Consequences.” On Wednesday, east
of the bookstore, organizations such as
the Peace Corps, Study Abroad program, Human
Dignity Program and Peace Studies program
will set up tables for students to check
out.
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