International Week 2010
International Week 2010 offered a diverse mix of on-campus activities to suit just about every taste. What follows are highlights of some of the many International Week events attended by students, faculty and staff at Lehigh during the week of November 4 through November 13.
Another Lehigh first
Students were given the opportunity to learn about a brand-new Lehigh program – the International Community Service project – during a special information session held on Monday, Nov. 7 in the Ulrich Student Center. 
Sponsored by the Global Union and the Community Service Office, this not-for-credit program will afford a select group of Lehigh undergraduates with an international experience of a different sort, a 10-day service trip to Antigua and Barbuda. Service activities on the islands are expected to include collecting oral histories from the islands’ senior citizens, volunteering at an orphanage and helping at a construction site with painting and building repairs. The first-ever International Community Service project will be run from May 12 to May 21, 2011 and will cost approximately $1,500. Applications will be available online in mid-January.
Iron Chef, Lehigh-style
On Monday, Nov. 8 , the Asa Packer Dining Room in the University Center was the place to be as an assortment of Lehigh chefs demonstrated their culinary talents as part of Lehigh’s very own Iron Chef competition, modeled after the popular television show of the same name. 
Sponsored by the Global Union, Lehigh’s Iron Chef cook-off challenged participants to create both an entrée and a dessert using the secret ingredient of the day, Gorgonzola cheese. After a hard-fought battle, “Team Two,” comprised of Kappa Alpha chef Joanne Anderson, Kyle McKeown ‘11,a member of Kappa Alpha, Sofia Covarrubias ’12, Global Union vice president of social programming, and John Smeaton, vice provost for Student Affairs, were deemed the winners.
A different sort of challenge
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, International Week brought the Lehigh community a different kind challenge through a program called “Radioactive Challenge,” which asked those in attendance to discuss the potential implications of nuclear terrorism and methods to prevent nuclear resources from falling into the “wrong hands.” Radioactive Challenge is a free discussion packet produced by The Stanley Foundation to raise awareness of the issue of nuclear terrorism. The program provides a 20-minute film for students to watch and talk about with the help of discussion guides.
Thwarting the evil eye
Another important International Week lesson came on Thursday, Nov. 11, in Lamberton Hall, as part of Middle Eastern Cultural Night. In addition to getting the opportunity to sample Baklava, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made from nuts, phylo dough and honey, participants were given the opportunity to make bracelets using evil eye beads. Along with the evil eye station was an explanation of the myth of the evil eye, which goes back thousands of years. The bead is meant to reflect any evil intentions of onlookers, back onto themselves and the blue color is said to be a factor in protecting the user.
Keeping things hopping
Sinclair Auditorium was transformed into a theatre and forum for discussion of international hip-hop, on Friday, Nov. 12, when the Lehigh community had the opportunity to watch the documentary “Estilo Hiphop” and then discuss the film with its creator and one of its stars. Filmmaker Loira Limbal aka DJ Laylo, travelled to Lehigh with her husband Eli Efi, who is also one of the film’s featured artists, on an invitation from Tanya Saunders, associate professor of Sociology and Anthropology. The film follows three Latin American musicians, Efi, a Brazilian artist, Guerrillero Okulto from Chile, and Magia from Cuba, as they attempt to use hip hop music in their countries as a vehicle for social change, not just as a source of entertainment. 
Hot Fusion
On Friday, Nov. 12, audiences in Lamberton Hall experienced a mixture of singing, dancing and other artistic performance by students, through a unique program called F.U.S.I.O.N. which stands for: Fostering Unity on Stage In One Night. The Asian Cultural Society, the Black Students Union and the Chinese Culture Club organized Fusion. Performances included Chinese Yo-yo, Melismatics (an acapella group), Divinity (a trio of female African American students singing, dancing, and reading poetry), Ribbon Dance, Salsa, Modern Dance, Hip Hop, Tinikling, Chinese Traditional Folk Dance, Leela, Dancin’, and LU’s Finest Step Team.
