Party to launch global awareness club

By Andy Greenhaw

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Students looking to broaden their cultural horizons and meet students from abroad can check out the Students for Global Awareness Winter Soiree at 6:30 tonight at the Spencer Museum of Art.

Milica Rastovic, SGA president, said the social event would serve as the launch party for the organization, which was established this semester and planned to become more active next semester.

“Students and faculty are invited to join the KU international community in celebrating the end of the semester with free food, student performances and artwork,” Rastovic said.

The SGA Winter Soiree will feature performance art from the University Dance Company, three Peruvian dance performances and multicultural music from a variety of local artists.

Local restaurants will also cater the event with free food, including hummus and baklavah from Aladdin Café, salami and imported cheeses from Au Marché, tea and Turkish purses from Nargile Lounge, and crab wontons and egg rolls from Jade Garden.

Zarda Bar-B-Q, a Kansas City catering company, will also provide two fondue chocolate fountains.

Chloe Goodgame, Austin, Texas, sophomore, is in charge of coordinating the event. She said the Winter Soiree’s purpose was to open students’ eyes to the international community on campus.

“There’s a wide range of cultures and experiences at KU, and when students overlook the international student body, they miss out on a huge part of the campus community,” Goodgame said. “Hopefully by bringing all these groups together, we can demonstrate to students what these different cultures have to offer.’”

J.J. Siler, Overland Park junior, founded Students for Global Awareness last spring with the intent of creating a forum for discussion and collaboration among globally aware student organizations.

He said 30 environmental, humanitarian and ethnic students have since joined SGA, and he expected many more to participate next semester.

“Our goal is to further the cultural, social and political growth of KU students to build a vital and thriving University community,” Stiler said. “I think that should be the goal of every student group funded by student fees.”

Siler said he hoped at least 400 students would attend the SGA Winter Soiree, which he said would become an annual event.

— — Edited by Becka Cremer

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