Northeastern University Celebrates Diversity with the 13thISSI Carnevale! Festival

BOSTON – February 6, 2008 – The Northeastern University community represents more than 120 of the 194 countries across the globe. With such an abundance of diversity and talent, there is cause for celebration. Northeastern’s International Student and Scholar Institute (ISSI) is hosting the ISSI Carnevale!, a two-month festival that highlights the diverse cultures represented at the university and its neighboring communities through artistic demonstrations and performances. The more than 30 ISSI Carnevale! events will feature meetings with world-renowned artists, poetry readings, musical performances and fashion shows, all designed to promote meaningful cross-cultural understanding.

“At Northeastern, we take pride in programs that showcase the creative and artistic talents of our students and staff,” says Northeastern President, Joseph Aoun. “The depth of our cultural diversity is truly remarkable, and being able to provide an outlet for cultural exchange can help bring us together as a community and embrace the many differences that make us one.”

ISSI Carnevale!, now in it’s thirteenth season, began last Friday, February 1, with an open house event that featured international cuisine and intercultural activities. The Northeastern African Students Organization will celebrate Africa Week 2008 during ISSI Carnevale! with events centered around the African Renaissance. An international tour of Kyoto and Nagoya, Japan, is also planned during ISSI Carnevale!, which will allow participants to experience Japanese culture first-hand. Other upcoming events include:

2/9/08: Asian Lunar New Year Celebration – A celebration of the year of the Rat, including a lion dance and Asian cuisine. Co-sponsored by the Vietnamese Student Organization.

2/20/08: International Soccer Match – Teams of students and staff will compete against one another in one of the world’s most popular sports.

2/23/08: 12th Annual International Fashion Show – Featuring models and designs from across the globe, both classic and contemporary fashions will be showcased on the runway.

3/14/08: 11th Annual International Gala Night – With performances by the university community and its neighbors, the International Gala Night is a true cultural collaboration that will feature song, dance and fashions from countries like Peru, the Philippines and Turkey.

3/20/08: Distinguished Artist Series – “Between Two Worlds” – An Evening with Mira Nair – Renowned film director and producer Mira Nair, nominated for an Academy Award for her debut film, Salaam Bombay!, will discuss the development of her craft. Some of her other films included Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair and My Own Country.

3/28/08: Argentine Tango Night with the Bernardo Monk Jazz Quintet – Learn the tango while listening to the music of saxophonist Bernardo Monk; the quintet features Raul Jaurena and Octavio Brunetti.

ISSI Carnevale!, which ends on March 31, will also feature a weekend on Cape Cod, a Scottish Ceilidh, Tabasco and Tagalog: A Culinary Fusion of Mexico and the Philippines, and a Community Service Day. For a full schedule of events, click on the following link: http://www.northeastern.edu/issi/programs/carnevale.html

“Northeastern is very lucky to have such a diverse student population, which provides opportunities for cultural exchange,” says Scott Quint, Associate Dean for ISSI and Intercultural Programs. “ISSI Carnevale! has grown substantially over the past few years into one of the largest festivals of its kind, allowing us to celebrate the diversity at Northeastern and in the local community.”

For additional information about ISSI Carnevale!, please contact Jenny Eriksen at (617) 373-2802 or via email at j.eriksen@neu.edu.

About the International Student and Scholar Institute

The International Student & Scholar Institute, founded in 1976, embodies the University’s global vision and its commitment to meaningful cross-cultural understanding for all members of the University community, from Boston to Beijing. Northeastern is among the more culturally diverse educational institutions in the United States, and ISSI draws upon this richness to offer programs and services that foster intercultural awareness, enhance all facets of the Northeastern experience, and support immigration/regulatory compliance. Each year, ISSI serves 2,500 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, providing orientation, training and cultural exercises to promote the dialogue between domestic and foreign nationals.

About Northeastern

Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university located in the heart of Boston. Northeastern is a leader in interdisciplinary research, urban engagement, and the integration of classroom learning with real-world experience. The university’s distinctive cooperative education program, where students alternate semesters of full-time study with semesters of paid work in fields relevant to their professional interests and major, is one of the largest and most innovative in the world. The University offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in six undergraduate colleges, eight graduate schools, and two part-time divisions. For more information, please visit www.northeastern.edu.