International Education Week 2008 offers special events

Nov. 11, 2008 -- Arkansas State University celebrates International Education Week 2008. The theme of the celebration is “Bringing the World to ASU—Taking ASU to the World.” The series of special events is sponsored by the ASU Student Activities Board, the Office of International Programs, and the Department of Languages.

The week’s first event, South Asian Movie Night, is Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 7-9 p.m. The film “Rang de Basanti” will be shown in “the Pit,” Room 203 in the College of Agriculture, 119 South Caraway Road, Jonesboro.

“Rang de Basanti,” translated as “Paint It Saffron,” was India’s official entry for the 79^th Academy Awards. Written, directed, and produced by the acclaimed Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, “Rang de Basanti” was a multiple award winner at the 2007 annual India-based Filmfare awards, winning Best Movie, Best Director, Critics’ Best Performance Award-Male, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, and R. D. Burman Award for New Music for the score by A. R. Rahman. The film also won the 2007 International Indian Film Academy awards in a host of categories, as well winning eight awards at the 2006 Global Indian Film Awards.

The film is the story of a struggling British filmmaker, Sue McKinley (played by English actress Alice Patten), who comes to India to make a film after reading the diary of her grandfather, who served as a jailer in the British Army during India’s struggle for independence. Her friend Sonia (played by Soha Ali Khan) helps her find four actors for her film—Dalit “D.J.” (Aamir Khan); Karan Singhania (Siddharth Narayan); Aslam (Kunal Kapoor); and Sukhi (Sharman Joshi)—and as the work progresses, the four young men become imbued with the spirit of the heroes they portray. This spirit, along with a tragic accident, sets the film’s characters upon an inexorable course. For more information, contact Nakeli Hendrix (nhendrix@astate.edu), Office of International Programs, at (870) 972-2329.

Two events are featured on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The first, “Taking ASU to the World: Study Abroad,” will be offered by Carl Lindquist, Office of International Programs, in the Student Union center court area from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The Student Union is located at 101 N. Caraway Road, Jonesboro. Lindquist will provide students with information about study abroad options through ASU partner schools and program providers, as well as information about summer study abroad options. For more information, contact Carl Lindquist (clindquist@astate.edu) at (870) 972-2329.

The second event on Wednesday, Nov. 19, “The African Experience,” will be presented by Kimberley Johnson, Leadership Center, from 7-9 p.m. in the Mockingbird Room, Student Union. African students and African American students will participate in an educational forum on commonalities between the two cultures. An array of topics will be presented, including family, education, politics, religion, and gender roles. For more information, contact Kimberly Johnson (krjohns@astate.edu) at (870) 972-2055.

The celebration concludes with “Multicultural Fair: Celebrating Cultures from around the World,” on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Reng Center for Student Services/Student Union, 101 N. Caraway Road, Jonesboro. The Multicultural Fair provides a forum for displays and celebrations of cultures and those cultures’ contribution to fields of study at ASU. Examples of exhibits include information about scientists and artists from other cultures; a display of herbs and natural medicine practices from Latin America; food, clothing, and images from various cultures; and sounds and rhythms associated with composers or musical styles of other cultures. Students and faculty are encouraged to contribute or perform as individuals or as groups.

For more information, or to participate in the Multicultural Fair, contact Nick Taggart (ntaggart@astate.edu), International Center for English, at (870) 972-3887, or Dr. Yvonne Unnold (yunnold@astate.edu), chair, Department of Languages, at (870) 972-3887.            

###