Saturday night's Parade of Nations Fashion and Talent Extravaganza - both to be held in Cohen Auditorium - will mark the culmination of the weeklong Tufts Intercultural Festival, which kicked off on Valentine's Day with parties at Boston-area nightclubs.
Sponsored by the International Club and the International Center, its purpose is to bring together the University's different culture groups and teach people about the different cultures on campus.
The Parade of Nations Extravaganza allows various culture clubs to sing, dance, act, and model clothing from around the world. Sean McDermott, former president of the International Club and organizer of last year's Festival, said that about 18 different groups performed approximately 20 acts last year.
The Parade garners the highest level of participation of all the week's events. "There are so many culture groups on campus and it's great to see them all together," McDermott said. Last year the extravaganza had standing room only because of the high turnout. In all likelihood, this year's Parade will gather a similarly high number of attendees.
The Oliver Chapman Award for Leadership and Community Service will also be presented during the show on behalf of the International Center and the International Club. The award has been given out to a Tufts senior who has made exceptional contributions to either the on-campus or off-campus international community since then- senior Chapman passed away seven years ago.
McDermott said that the amount participants take away from the festival is equal to what they put in. Some groups choose to attend certain events, and some events are better attended than others, but McDermott says that "the Festival successfully promotes cultural interchange" no matter how large or small the venue.
The International Club sponsored Valentine's Day parties at Boston nightclubs Avalon, Embassy, and The Modern. According to International Club Uphill Representative Nicolas Chaset, the evening was a success. Despite complications with the buses that drove students to the clubs, all of the attendees were transported to their destinations. "We had over 200 Tufts students attend the event," Chaset said. "It worked out better than we had expected."
As part of the Festival, the Tufts Institute for Leadership and International Perspective (TILIP) sponsored a four-day symposium entitled China: Dimensions of Security. According to TILIP Director Sherman Teichman, the event encouraged "a free exchange of ideas" about China's role in today's world, focusing on such topics as human rights, international cooperation, and personal security.
The club also sponsored World Cup Playoffs and Finals, held Monday and Tuesday nights, in which independent six-person teams played in the Gantcher Center and Cousens Gymnasium. Both nights were well attended, and teams were loosely formed so that the event resembled the actual World Cup. "There was an Arab team, a French team, a Greek team," Chaset said.
More events will take place this week before the closing Parade, including the International House Pancake Night, the Faculty Waits on You Dinner and Auction, and the ONYX Black History Month Celebration.
International Club President Eli Levin-Goldstein and Vice-President Maria Eugena Garcia planned this year's events. "So far it's going really well; obviously the next few days are when we have all our main events," Goldstein said. "I'm happy with it so far and just keep your eyes peeled for international events this week."
