For thirty years this school has had a tradition that helps to close some of the political and social gaps between the many nationalities that populate the school. The tradition I am speaking of is the annual “International Festival.” This festival used to be one of the highlights of the spring semester. I know I personally
looked forward to participating in the festivities, though this year I am less than happy about the direction the plans for this celebration are taking.
In the past years the festival has been a one day event divided up into two parts. The reception
with the display of all the countries represented
by individual booths put together by volunteer students from the corresponding country.
These booths were decorative and festive and the participants who were stationed behind
them showed up in their own elegant style of native dress. The booths boasted information and news from these countries and served native cuisine to give all those attending
a “taste” of what it is like being in one of these far off lands without having
to leave campus. One could literally go from Japan to Nepal by walking 20 feet.
Once everyone was fed, watered, and had done their share of walking around the world it was off to the theater in the ABC building for native performances such as songs, dances, and reenactments
of traditional stories. All in one place you could watch traditional Indian dances, Danish songs, and a wonderful enactment of an old Japanese myth or legend. It was a wonderful time had by all.
For all of you new students you may never get to see what the festival used to be in all its glory because sorry, but this great time we knew last year (and every
one before that) has been cancelled due to apathy and lack of interest. For some reason the student body has lost a bit of that national pride they once had that made them eager to represent their country and show off its culture to the rest of us. I personally am saddened
by this. Instead this year they are planning to show a movie each night for a week in the Student Center (Marina will be have the corresponding culture’s fare catered) and then have the performances on the final day. This takes away the convenience for those who do not live on campus or who do not have the ability to show up for a small portion six nights in a row.
It also takes away the chance for students to represent their country of origin the way it should be represented
and leaves all the decisions up to a single committee to represent
all regions of the world. I mean no disrespect to these wonderful people who took it upon themselves to volunteer and spend their own free time to put together this festival that seems to be just a mere shadow
of festivals in the past, but 15 people can not possibly know every nuance to a culture which they have never been a part of. It is just not possible.
Another reason that things have changed is that these type of events cost money. Money that can only be made through ticket sales which over the past year or two have been dropping off, but you can not put a price on tradition (especially in a place that has so few of them left). This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to see what it is like in other places of the world, if only just for a few minutes, and give each and every
one of us more of a global idea of what happens out there and not just what goes on in our own town or state. Tickets may be ten dollars a piece but you get food from all over and a show by some of the most talented
students at UB.
To bring the festival back to its former self people need to get out of their dorm rooms and participate. Are you proud of where you come from? Then show it. Write in to someone in charge of the committee
such as Edina Oestreicher or the advisor Dr. Ward who can be found in his office (he is the Dean of the International College, his office is on the second floor of Carlson Hall). Write how you want your chance to represent your native land the way you think it should be done. The only way we can preserve this tradition
is by participation. If you do not want to be in the limelight yourself and man a booth, carry your country’s
flag, or perform in the show, then show your support by attending
the festival and supporting all your friends who decided to do so. Tell your friends, tell your families, tell anyone you know to come and learn a little more about the world than they would by sitting home and watching television. The only way we can keep this great tradition going
is for people to start caring. Do something more with your college years than just homework and class. Show the rest of us what it is like where you come from and expand your own horizons. That is what college is all about.
University of Bridgeport
Monday, July 14, 2025