American University Student Government and International Student Services celebrate spring with culture festival

By: Lauren Patetta

WASHINGTON —  American University’s student government has partnered with International Student and Scholar Services to host a Spring Cultural Festival Saturday afternoon.

The festival will be a celebration of both the return of spring and the many cultural backgrounds of students at AU. Initially, it was planned to take place on the quad, but given the recent wintery weather, the event was moved to the School of International Service atrium.

Director of ISSS and organizer of the festival Senem Bakar believed that this event will provide AU students with an opportunity to celebrate different cultures and unite as one community.

“This weekend’s spring festival is all about diverse cultures at AU, who make AU,” said Bakar via email. “It aims to connect students from foreign backgrounds, whether they are here on a visa or they are undocumented or DACA and so forth.”

Various student clubs that co-sponsor the event with AUSG and ISSS will be coordinating activities for students and faculty during the festival. International food will also be provided. This will give students a chance to interact in a multicultural environment and and learn about different cultures.

The event will feature music, display tables, performances, music and food from across the globe, said Bakar. Despite the snow, students should come to the SIS atrium to welcome in spring with a celebration of different cultures.

Bakar also said that the festival marks the beginning of a soon-to-be announced campaign from the ISSS.

Please contact Senem Bakar at sbakar@american.edu with any further questions.

This press release was written for my Spring 2018 Writing for Communications Class