‘Asian/Caribbean Festival’ and ‘Festival of Nations:’ A diverse combination
FAU‘s Office of International Student and Scholar Services and the University Galleries will present the combined Asian/Caribbean Festival and the Festival of Nations events, on Saturday, April 6, from 4 p.m. – midnight, at the Schmidt Performing Arts Center’s amphitheater and in Schmidt Center Gallery. Both festivals are free and open to the public.
The festivals will feature Caribbean and Asian performing art groups, and is being presented in association with the University Gallery’s current contemporary art exhibition “EXCHANGE: Korea/Japan/USA,” featuring the works of six artists from these countries.
Family entertainment from 4 to 6 p.m. will include storytelling by the troupe Cric Crac, a traditional Haitian story telling along with drumming, and dancing; the area’s only professional Taiko drum troupe, Fushu Daiko, who have performed at the Morakami Museum’s Japanese festivals and at the Miami Heat basketball team’s home games. Also performing will be a Chinese Lion’s Dance – by members of the South Florida Hun Gar Association, and the Bahamian ensemble Junkanoo Sensation, of Riviera Beach, who will drum and dance in their full carnival regalia.
The Festival of Nations is an annual event celebrating international cultures through food tasting and cultural presentations. The activities have been organized by FAU student clubs representing world cultures, and by the university’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services. Some of these groups will also perform in the evening, when each participating club will sponsor an ethnic fashion show and stage events, some of which include performances by club members.
Additional music and dance groups scheduled to perform from 6 to10 p.m. include, the Miami Steel Percussion Orchestra, led by FAU’s Brad Watson; Ayabomnbe, a high energy Haitian dance and music ensemble; Zon Cubano, a band from Miami that plays a wide array of Latin and Afro-Cuban club music; and Visions, a South Florida Reggae band.
An exciting aspect of the Festival of Nations is the international food tasting at 8 p.m. Organized and provided by the student clubs and Student Government, each club represents a different world culture and that diversity is made evident in the array of dishes and tastes offered for this celebration.
FAU’s Women’s Studies Center presents daylong celebratory conference
FAU’s Women’s Studies Center, in conjunction with the South Palm Beach Chapter of NOW (SPBCNOW) and the Veteran Feminists of America, will present a day-long celebratory conference, “Women Speak Out — Now, Defining the Past, Confronting the Present, and Shaping the Future,” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday, April 6, in the Live Oak Pavilion on the Boca Raton campus.
The celebration is in recognition of the 16th anniversary of FAU‘s Women’s Studies Center, and the 30th anniversary of both SPBCNOW and of Title IX – prohibiting sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding, resulting in expanding educational and sports opportunities for women. Also, it’s the 10th anniversary of Veteran Feminists of America.
Highlighting the past of women’s efforts for equal rights, the morning session of the conference features a performance by playwright and actress Elizabeth Perry in excerpts of her historical play “Sun Flower – the Life and Loves of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.”
Following the performance will be roundtable discussions on issues selected from a list of 15 major topics with numerous subtopics, ranging from “Work and Family,” “Violence Against Women,” “Spirituality/Religion,” “Sports and Title IX,” “Racism & Sexism” and “Women in Politics.”
Setting the scene for the afternoon session will be a screening of Barbara Kaster’s 1972 film “Making Policy, Not Coffee,” on the role of feminists at the 1972 Republican and Democratic party conventions in Miami Beach. This to be followed by a second roundtable session with participants addressing additional issues and concerns of women and their roles in all aspects of life. Each discussion group will include a facilitator, recorder; veteran of the 1960s and 70s activism on the topic and someone working on the issue today; a young feminist, facilitating fruitful discussions.
The conference is free to FAU students, however, pre-registration is $20 in advance or $25 at the door for the general public. Space is limited and registration will be first-come first-served. Call 561/487-9878 to register or 561/297-3865 for more information. Also, visit the website at www.fau.edu/divdept/schmidt.
OSD holds Volunteer banquet
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is hosting a banquet to honor our volunteers for the 2001-2002 academic year. Volunteers who have assisted the OSD during the year, and those who may be interested in volunteering in the future, are invited to attend-and are welcomed.
We will be feasting New Orleans style, with a Mardi Gras theme, on Wednesday, April 10, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Live Oak Pavilion. Volunteers who plan to attend need to RSVP the OSD by calling 561/297-3880, or emailing [email protected].
Spring and Fall 2002 Registration for degree-seeking students
Registration for Summer/Fall, 2002 begins on April 8. The schedule of courses is available at www.fau.edu/academic/registrar/schedule.htm.
Call OwlLink at 561/338-1630 to check for your appointment time and to see if you have any holds.
The first Orientation and registration for NEW STUDENTS will be April 12. It would be to your advantage to register prior to the new students. Classes will begin to fill quickly so please register as soon as possible.
Summer A, B, C: Phone registration runs from April 8 until 8 p.m. on May 17. In person registration May 10-17, until 5 p.m. Fees are due by May 17.
Summer B: Phone registration June 26 through July 5, until 6 p.m. In person registration is June 26 through July until 5 p.m. Fees are due no by July 5.
Fall: Phone registration runs from April 8 through August 30, until 8 p.m. In person registration is Aug. 19-30, until 5 p.m. Fees are due by Aug. 30.
–The Office of the Registrar sent this information in a mass email to students.
