Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News

South Korean graduate student Seureon Seong performs a traditional South Korean Dance at International Night 2007 hosted by the CMU International Club at Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium on Monday night. [Click to enlarge]

China freshman Kristie Tianqi Lu, China graduate student Anna Hang Li and China freshman Koko Yu Deng represent China on Monday night in International Night 2007's fashion show. [Click to enlarge]

Mount Pleasant experienced a world of many shades Monday night.

About 700 people piled into Warriner Hall's Plachta Auditorium to watch 17 student and nonstudent performances that represented different cultures around the world.

Most exhibits at International Night 2007 showcased song and dance. There also was a martial arts simulation, a Chinese bartending stunt show and a fashion show with clothing from 13 different countries.

"You learn things about other people's cultures you never would have known sitting next to them in class," said Julie Wright, a Battle Creek sophomore who went to the event, hosted by the International Club.

East Lansing senior and International Club President Daniel Mayen said the theme for the event was diversity.

"The members of International Night have been working hard to bring you a program that you can't find anywhere else in the state," he said.

Guilan Wang, director of the international education, said she felt privileged to have almost 500 international students and scholars from almost 60 countries at Central Michigan University.

"They bring the whole world here," she said.

One of the opening acts was a song performed in a cappella by Manuel Rivera Ramirez and RoLando Fuentes Sanchez.

Ramirez and Fuentos, both graduate students from Nicaragua, said the experience was a first for them.

"It's a popular song about the country," Rivera said. "When you sing it, you're saying you love the country."

Luis Cadena, masters of ceremonies and South Africa freshman Zozo Goduka entertained the crowd between performances.

Goduka said the event had a good turnout.

"It gives you another perspective on the international students of CMU," he said. "It shows you what they have to offer."

After the performance, the audience was welcomed to the second floor of Warriner Hall for a buffet-style cultural food taster.

Dishes included Indonesian coconut chicken, Dnepro chicken stew and kibbeh.

Erin Herbst said there was more offered at this year's International Night than in previous years.

"It was better this year," the Westland senior said. "There was a lot more out there and it was more diverse."


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