International students, CMU celebrate Saudi National Day in UC
International students, CMU celebrate Saudi National Day in UC
By Andrea Peck, Senior Reporter
With an influx of new international students at Central Michigan University, many of them many of them from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, American students have the chance to learn all they can about different cultures on campus.
On Friday, nearly 300 students of all races gathered to learn about the Middle Eastern country during the university’s celebration of Saudi National Day.
The event, which was hosted for the second year in the Bovee University Center rotunda, was put on by the Saudi Student Club. The registered student organization helps Saudi students and their families acclimate to campus and work to share Saudi Arabian culture with the community of Mount Pleasant.
Aziz Ghandorah, who was in charge of the event, is the public relations officer for the RSO. He explained the event as a mechanism for education, especially as more attention is placed on the middle east in the media.
“We decided to host Saudi National Day to help people know more about the culture and experience it a little bit (in a different way),” Ghandorah said.
The event began with a reading from the Quran and the Saudi Arabian national anthem. Afterward, two students gave a presentation that covered some facts about Saudi Arabia, including the country’s history. Facts from the presentation were used in trivia questions that gave attendees the chance to win gift cards from local businesses.
Tables at the event helped attendees learn more about the different regions of Saudi Arabia, women’s issues and traditional food. There was also a henna table set up.
The group also served a traditional Saudi meal used to exalt distinguished guests. It included lamb, a traditional Saudi rice dish and a salad with slices of lemon.
Reem Khodhari (look in directory), who gave a presentation, said she chose to become involved in the event to help others gain a better understanding of her heritage.
“I want people to know what Saudi Arabia is,” she said. “People all over the world have stereotypes about Saudi Arabia and I want to help dispel some of them.”
Demetrius McCloud, a Detroit senior, said the experience offered by the event was formative.
“This event is great because it helps people step outside of their comfort zone and gain a new understanding of a different culture,” he said.
Chelsea Roland, a graduate student for Harrison, attended the event as part of her graduate program.
“I’m hoping to learn about the culture, but also about the experiences of individuals in the culture so I can maybe understand where they’re coming from,” she said.
Ghandorah said he hoped Western students of CMU learned a lot at the event.
“Saudis are a kind group of people and we have a lot of pride being Saudis,” he said.
