Adelphi University held various events during International Education Week to promote global awareness and cultural exchange. These events included lectures, a language lunch featuring international cuisine, and a panel discussion on different faiths. The weeklong events saw growing attendance and helped students learn how to market their international experiences to potential employers. Currently, over 400 international students study at Adelphi while dozens of Adelphi students study abroad each semester.
1. News
Adelphi Goes Global for International Education Week
During the week of Nov. 17, Adelphi got in sync with the world.
Eighteen university departments collaborated to sponsor this year’s In-
ternational Education Week. The week consisted of a variety of cultural
events that included informative lectures, a language lunch and an inter-
faith dialogue.
“The events were well attended, with the Language and Culture
Lunch mid-week and East meets West as the closing event being the
biggest draws for students,” said Gregory Bruhn, Interim Director of the
Center for International Education. “For the first time, we used the entire
UC Ballroom for the lunch, in fact.”
Also, there was an international reception and study abroad photo
exhibit that was attended by 100 students, faculty members and adminis-
tration, demonstrating people’s interest in the program.
“As a life-long advocate of international exchange, I think that
this annual week of events is an important way to highlight all of the
good work being done at Adelphi,” said Bruhn. “It allows any student to
come into contact with the wide range of international students and vari-
ous cultures present on campus.”
As the International Education Week attendance continues to
grow, so will the amount of events. This year a workshop was included
that taught students how to market their study abroad experiences both
on their resume and in interviews.
By Eileen Interiano
Page 6
“This is vital for the job market as international experience can
really be the needed ‘foot in the door,’” said Bruhn. “Students need to be
ready to articulate their experiences well by pointing to the specific skills
gained and how that can translate to their chosen career. Next year, we’d
like to add a series of mock interviews to help students be prepared with
their own specific narratives.”
Furthermore, there has been a significant growth in the amount of
students studying abroad and international students studying at Adelphi.
“We currently have 423 international students studying at Adelphi
in degree seeking programs,” said Wendy Badala, Director of Interna-
tional Student Services and the Interfaith Center, as well as the coordina-
tor of the events for International Education Week.
“Twenty-four current Adelphi students are currently studying
aboard for the fall semester and 18 students plan to study abroad for the
spring semester,” Badala added.
The international offices will continue to work on getting more
awareness of the international efforts at Adelphi. This year’s events
turned out successfully which showed how much the department is grow-
ing.
“I am thankful to be part of a university that dedicates its time
and energy on international education and exchange,” said Badala. “I
feel our university departments, student organizations and community
partners have worked together seamlessly to provide wonderful events
and opportunities to all.”
By Victoria Chiesa
Campus Community Rallies to Fight Discrimination
Chants of “No justice, no peace!” and “Hands up, don’t shoot!”
rang out outside the Ruth S. Harley University Center on Monday, Dec. 1
as the Adelphi community came together in a peaceful protest. The group
gathered to demonstrate against the decision of a Ferguson, Mo. grand jury
not to indict Darren Wilson, a police officer, in the August shooting death
of Michael Brown, an unarmed African-American teenager.
“[A day after the indictment], I walked into the African, Black and
Carribean Studies department...and I said, ‘What can we do?’,” said Trev-
ena Goulbourne, a graduate student who helped organize the event. “I’m
upset and I want to channel my anger in the correct way. And if I’m upset,
there are countless other people on campus who are upset.”
Beginning with a four-and-a-half minute moment of silence, the
rally featured numerous guest speakers, including Associate Provost for
Faculty Affairs and Institutional Diversity Perry Greene; Dr. Marsha Dar-
ling, director and professor in the African, Black and Carribean Studies
department; and university President Dr. Robert Scott. Other students and
staff in attendance were encouraged to climb up onto the bench outside the
entrance to the UC to speak out and share their views. While those who
spoke out didn’t always see eye-to-eye, the forum was a respectful one and
all opinions were heard.
“I think on this campus, we have a culture of diversity and a culture
of greater acceptance,” said Darling. “I was very, very glad to see that this
was...student initiated and student led. A small number of students came
to a few of us last week...and they wanted to do something immediately to
bring a community of concern together. I think that’s what happened today
and I’m optimistic that momentum will keep moving.”
To further raise awareness following a Staten Island grand jury de-
cision not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner, the Criminal
Justice program, Collaboration Project and Criminal Justice Club hosted
a presentation and discussion on “Race, Police Use of Force and the Law:
From Mike Brown to Eric Garner and Beyond” on Monday, Dec. 8. The
event featured remarks from Alex Vitale, an associate professor of sociol-
ogy at Brooklyn College, who is a noted expert in police use of force.
“Dr. Alex Vitale gave a wonderful talk on the larger structural
problem with policing in the United States, and how ‘broken windows’
policies and ‘quality of life’ policing strategies, embraced by so many cit-
ies, is the real problem leading to such incidents,” said Stephanie Lake,
director of the criminal justice program. “We need to change how we think
about policing in this country and what we see as the role of police.”
Events such as these have helped promote discourse in the campus
community, connecting students to events happening to the world at large.
“Democracy is about all the voices,” said Darling. “Any time we
crush voices, we start crushing democracy.”
Students pose with their hands up during the rally on Dec. 1. Photo by Victoria Chiesa