W.O.W. Week 2018 kicks off March 19-23, brings awareness to more than 50 cultures represented on campus
Lacey Klotz |
With nearly 25 percent of its student body hailing from more than 50 nations, Lipscomb University hosts Welcome to Our Worlds Week each year to celebrate and bring awareness to the diverse cultures represented on campus.
This year, from March 19-23, Lipscomb’s Office of Intercultural Development will host a series of events to celebrate W.O.W. Week 2018 as well as to introduce students, faculty and staff to the many vibrant cultures, traditions, cuisine and history of nearly 52 nations on campus, said Dolly DeLong, program coordinator of the OID.
“We are so excited to celebrate W.O.W. Week 2018 on campus March 19-23,” said DeLong. “This is such a special week for our Lipscomb community and a unique opportunity to learn about the different cultures that so many of our students come from. We are also so excited to have five Lipscomb students step up and help plan this year’s event as iLead ambassadors.”
Since 2015, the OID has implemented a leadership development program called iLead that engages students in unique opportunities to grow their leadership skills.
“We have a group of awesome iLead team leaders who are working very hard to make sure W.O.W. Week is both fun and educational,” DeLong continued. “Each student has been given a W.O.W. Week event to plan, promote and execute, and our OID office is coming along side each one to support them as needed. We are very thankful for each of these students and the way they desire to grow in their leadership capabilities as well as their desire to help other students learn about the wonderful cultures we have represented at Lipscomb. We are so excited about this year’s WOW week!”
On Monday, March 19, iLead ambassadors Jocelyn Hernandez, a junior psychology major, and Jamelun Crutchfield, a junior psychology major, will host Sweet Treats, an opportunity for the Lipscomb Community to sample treats from all over the world, in the Bennett Campus Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Tuesday, March 20, Lipscomb alumnus Angad Madra (’16) will speak in the Gathering chapel about his journey from India to Lipscomb, before an International Tea event, which is coordinated by junior psychology major and iLead ambassador Jacqueline Herrera, takes place in Zebi’s Lounge for the Lipscomb community to enjoy. From 2-4 p.m., students, faculty and staff are invited to come and sample various flavors of tea from around the world and mingle with the students who represent each of the nations associated with each tea.
On Wednesday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m., Lipscomb’s HumanDocs Film Series will host a screening of DIFRET in Shamblin Theatre. The screening, which is coordinated by iLead ambassador and junior health sciences major Sena Seged, is free and open to the public, and Lipscomb students receive chapel credit.
From executive producer Angelina Jolie Pitt comes the award-winning drama DIFRET, based on the inspirational true story of a young Ethiopian girl and a tenacious lawyer embroiled in a life-or-death clash between cultural traditions and their country’s advancement of equal rights. When 14-year-old Hirut is abducted in her rural village’s tradition of kidnapping women for marriage, she fights back, accidentally killing her captor and intended husband. Local law demands a death sentence for Hirut, but Meaza, a tough and passionate lawyer from a women’s legal aide practice, steps in to fight for her. With both Hirut’s life and the future of the practice at stake the two women must make their case for self-defense against one of Ethiopia’s oldest and most deeply-rooted traditions. DIFRET paints a portrait of a country in a time of great transformation and the brave individuals ready to help shape it.
HumanDocs is a series of social-justice documentaries at Lipscomb University, which emerged from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ desire to develop students personally, encourage lifelong learning and inspire service in a changing world. The series is presented in partnership with the Nashville Film Festival and the Lipscomb Honors College.
On Thursday, March 22, a special Multicultural Awareness, Skills and Knowledge (M.A.S.K.) chapel will feature an international student panel moderated by College of Bible professor Terry Briley and featuring Lipscomb student speakers Krishna Patel, Sena Seged, Q Beyaneh and Zuriel Godinez from 10:55 a.m. to 11:35 a.m. in Shamblin Theatre.
Later that evening, an International Fashion Show, which is coordinated by junior law, justice & society major Paulina Martinez, will feature an array of international clothing and music from 7-9 p.m. in Shamblin Theatre.
W.O.W. Week will conclude on Friday, March 23, with an International Food Truck Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Food from various food trucks will line Lipscomb’s Allen Arena Mall and the community is invited to bring friends to share in the fun and share some international cuisine.
Food trucks featured at this year’s event include: Itty Bitty Doughnuts; King Tut; Busan Bop; Et Viola; Taco Maria; Laovin It; Bao Down and more.
"With events ranging from sharing food from around the world or watching a thought provoking film on diversity – the Lipscomb community is guaranteed to learn something from WOW Week,” Crutchfield added. “I am hoping that we can enjoy the unique qualities from different cultures around the world while coming together to celebrate our differences, and commonality, in our Lipscomb community."
The Office of Intercultural Development provides support for the academic, professional, social and spiritual development for all intercultural students (and those interested in different cultures), while promoting cultural awareness and understanding for faculty, students and students. All OID activities and event touch one or more of these Student Life cornerstones: God honoring excellence, God honoring relationships, Faith and Service. Click here to learn more about W.O.W. Week and the Office of Intercultural Development at Lipscomb.