President Jo Ann Gora and Ball State Women's Club International Women's Interest Group honored international students and visiting faculty at a dinner Friday
Gora said that international students bring tremendous benefits to Ball State.
"Many studies show that Indiana residents do not travel abroad," Gora said. "International students help by bringing diversity to Ball State and help our students understand other cultures."
Cyrus Reed, assistant provost for international education, was the master of ceremonies. Speakers included Roy Budd, Kim Caristi, Gora, Deb Goens, Nishiit Somaiya, Don Park and Hope Robinson.
The food provided by Ball State's Banquet and Catering was a variety of Mediterranean foods.
"The food and the interaction [with students from other countries] is what I like best about this event," junior Jenny Lyn Almazan, an architecture student from the Philippines, said.
International students at Ball State represent 87 different countries, and students from India make up the largest percent of Ball State's international population.
"Ball State provides traditional standards with a great environment with friendly students," Vamshi Yedulla, an Indian graduate student, said.
Mandy Chattopadhyay and Sweta Basnet came to the event dressed in traditional and casual Indian women's attire. Chattopadhyay, whose husband is a visiting scholar, wore a pink and gold sari. Basnet, a grad student from Nepal, wore a red lenga. A sari wraps around the body, and a lenga is more casual with a longer dress and a scarf.
Rahmatullah Imon is a visiting scholar from Bangladesh. He said that Ball State is like his university back home in terms of size and the college-town environment.
"Ball State, compared to other schools, seemed what I was looking for because it was challenging yet rewarding. It has exceeded my expectations," Beauclaire Leslie, a graduate student studying actuarial science, said.
After dinner, the guests attended a dance featuring international music.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
