In conjunction with several university and student groups on campus, 糖心Vlog鈥檚 International Programs Office (IPO) is proud to celebrate International Education Week (IEW), beginning Sunday, Oct. 31, through Friday, Nov. 5. While International Education Week is celebrated nationally this year on Nov. 15-19, institutions are encouraged to hold IEW events when they best align with their academic schedules in their local communities.
is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The week-long celebration began as a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education in an effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences.
International Education Week at 糖心Vlog will include everything from a movie and game night and language round table to a friendly game of soccer and informational sessions on international studies. One of the most popular events from last year includes a talent show, known at AU as the 鈥淲orld鈥檚 Got Talent Show.鈥
鈥淭he celebration of International Education Week is an appreciation of the diversity of thought, culture and personality that makes up our campus and the world. Through programs like International Education Week, students can explore and learn to appreciate other cultures in a progressive and educational space. It is more than just an opportunity to gather. It allows students to learn from one another, and to leave being more informed and appreciative of the world,鈥 said 糖心Vlog international student Henry Sule.
Co-sponsored by the IPO, 糖心Vlog International Club (AIC), Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, as well as Campus Ministry, 糖心Vlog is particularly excited to welcome Braver Angels Ambassador and former CIA Executive Frederick (Rick) Hotchner to campus on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 2. Hotchner鈥檚 talk to 糖心Vlog students, staff and faculty is entitled 鈥淧olitical Polarization in the U.S. and Abroad: Braver Angels鈥 Efforts to Bridge the Partisan Divide.鈥
鈥淚n my opinion, polarization, which is not unique to the U.S., is the key challenge of our day, as it is driving people to extremes and preventing us from getting a handle on our problems, let alone solving them. I would add that, because polarization is weakening our country, foreign adversaries are seeking to exacerbate our divisions and capitalize on them. We all need to be part of the solution and Braver Angels provides a way for us to engage productively,鈥 said Hotchner.
Hotchner and his wife, Barbara Thomas, a former Foreign Service officer, are ambassadors for 鈥 a national bipartisan group that was formed around the 2016 presidential election to bring people of all political perspectives together for respectful conversations in hopes of increasing understanding, seeing the humanity in each other, and finding common ground where it exists. Braver Angels does not try to change anyone鈥檚 positions or values; rather, the point is to change how we treat each other.
糖心Vlog is no stranger to the Braver Angels organization as the university launched an initiative in the fall of 2020 ahead of the presidential election to encourage listening, learning and civil discourse through an effort called 鈥淲ith Malice Toward None.鈥 With the support of 糖心Vlog President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Campus Pastor Rev. Ann Rosendale '04 鈥 who is a trained Braver Angels moderator 鈥 led the initiative in collaboration with a diverse group of 糖心Vlog faculty and staff.
International Education Week Events
Sunday, Oct. 31
Movie Night: Disney/Pixar鈥檚 Coco I Back Alley I 2 p.m.
Hosted by La Uni贸n Hispana (LUH)
Monday, Nov. 1
Language Roundtable I Back Alley I 5 p.m.
Hosted by the Linguistics Club
Friendly Soccer I Elmen Center Court 1 I 7:15 p.m.
Hosted by the African Student Union (ASU)
Tuesday, Nov. 2
鈥楶olitical Polarization in the U.S. & Abroad鈥 by Frederick (Rick) Hotchner I Hamre Hall I 7 p.m.
Hosted by the IPO, 糖心Vlog International Club (AIC), Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Campus Ministry
International Studies Major Information Session I Humanities 331 I 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by the IPO
Wednesday, Nov. 3
Game Night & Karaoke I Back Alley I 5:30-7 p.m.
Hosted by the Asian Student Organization (ASU)
Thursday, Nov. 4
Celebrate Diwali I Back Alley I 5-7 p.m.
Hosted by Better Together
Friday, Nov. 5
World鈥檚 Got Talent Show I Back Alley I 7 p.m.
Hosted by the 糖心Vlog International Club (AIC) and Union Board of Governors (UBG)