By JEANETTE JOHANSSON
September 18, 2006

Last year the International Student Club had a rather slow year, but this year we are looking for new changes, new members, and to add some new activities.

The club is not too well known around the school, but has been here for many years. Common misconceptions concerning the International Student club are that it is only for non-Americans, and that it has no purpose. On the contrary, it invites both Americans and non-Americans to attend its monthly meetings (usually held upstairs from the cafeteria in the Mezzanine). Its purpose is to allow people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds to meet and learn more about each other. The club also works with different charities that focus on third world countries or victims of natural catastrophes as the Tsunami or Katrina.

So are you a person who would like to help out and do something so corny as “make a difference” in the world? Then the International Club will help you do exactly that!

The International Student Club actually has two major events each year: Operation Christmas Child and The International Festival. Operation Christmas Child involves collecting toys and hard candy for Christmas gifts to kids between 4 and 14 years old who live in South America and Africa. This year we hope to beat our old record of collecting 250 boxes worth of toys and candy.

The International Student Festival was not held last year but will be coming back in full force this year. It is an event that last an entire day, bringing together people from the community and the students to participate in a festival held in the Haid. Each country that is represented in the school will be sharing bits and pieces of their culture via musical performances, dancing, food, pictures, and art.

This year we have some news of an additional planned project, something called the Reaching Out Project. It is a project that involves students collecting money to send through a specific organization to a child in a third world country. This child will be given shelter, clothes, and education through our help. It is going to be a project that is going to be ongoing through the year and, hopefully, one day even expand.

If you’re interested in any of the above or have even more ideas for what the International Student Club can do, don’t hesitate to stop by one of our meetings. You can also see our International Student Advisor, Ana Litchfield in Stowe 308C.

Do you want to make a difference? Here is your chance!