The DU community has the opportunity to learn about different cultural traditions through Global Education Week, which is organized by the Festival of Nations planning board made up of students, faculty and staff. The education week began yesterday and ends on April 13 with the Festival of Nations event at the Ritchie Center Concourse at 4 p.m.
Global Education Week is inspired by the Department of Education Initiative and International Education Week, which is held in November, according to Nancy Lien, chemistry major and member of the Festival of Nations planning board. She explained that because International Education Week is held during the end of fall quarter, DU decided to organize its education week during a less hectic time for students.
“It is dedicated to the exploration and celebration of our global connections, cultures, and intercultural education and exchange,” said Lien. “It provides participants with an opportunity to support global citizenship, recognize our interconnectedness and foster a broader understanding and appreciation of diverse histories, cultures and languages as well as global issues, research and developments.”
Events kicked off yesterday and included the lecture “Guantanamo Bay in Diplomacy and International Law,” put on by the International Legal Studies Program at the Sturm College of Law. According to the events description, Michael Strauss, a professor of International Relations at the Paris-based Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies, spoke at 12 p.m yesterday in the Ricketson Law Building, on Guantanamo Bay and how it relates to territorial leases between states. He specifically spoke on Guantanamo Bay’s “black hole,” which refers to prisoners who are held there without due process.
“This lecture [was] a great addition to Global Education Week because Professor Strauss is discussing an area of law and diplomacy which is rarely studied—and yet it is super important to historical and present relations between states,” said Karlyn Shorb, the Administrative Director of the DU Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law.
Upcoming events include the WhatTRIBE Exhibit, which features artwork by Douglas Miles in the Museum of Anthropology, every day this week from 9 a.m – 4 p.m, Hatha Yoga Class held today in studios A and B in the Ritchie Center from noon to 1 p.m. and the film screening of “Girl Rising” in Sturm Hall tomorrow from 7-8:30 p.m.
“[The screening of “Girl Rising”] is an event that is sponsored by the Festival of Nations,” said Elizabeth Robertson, a graduate student on the planning board. “This is a movie on the education of nine different women in nine different countries.”
The Festival of Nations will conclude the Global Education Week with a culminating celebration of different cultures and traditions through music, food, art, stories, and much more.
“As of right now, there are 14 performances and there is a good mix between DU and the community.” said Robertson, “They include 10,000 Villages and Natij and Projects Manjacaze.
According to Robertson, these two events will be presented as booths by members of the DU community.
“The world is now a global village,” Lien said. “It is important to inform ourselves on different cultures and communities around us. Festival of Nations is to encourage people to learn about this.”
Lien also said the event will have food, education and cultural sections in celebration of diverse cultures and will include performances by numerous student organizations including the Latin Dance Club, the DU Dance Team and Tango Club.
All events during Global Education Week are free to attend but money or item donations are suggested, which will go to support the African Community Center of Denver. A list of appropriate donations can be found on their website and include shampoo, laundry detergent and dish soap. For more information visit www.du.edu/intl/isss/gew.
