Nariman Naghib, a Ph. D. student studying material science and engineering, is an international student who came to the University from Iran. He knows firsthand the importance of programs that provide cultural awareness to students and has found them to be quite valuable in his transition to living in the United States.

“There must be some programs to integrate international students into the culture,” Naghib said. “I found it very useful to get acquainted with different cultures.”

The Ferguson Center will soon make it easier to do just that, providing students with a chance to become acquainted with worldwide cultures during International Expressions night this Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m.

During the event, which is the result of the Ferguson Center’s collaboration with the Chinese Culture Club, students will have the chance to participate in activities that will familiarize them with Chinese characters, origami and cuisine. A martial arts demonstration is also in consideration.

“In this case, it’s very good for students who don’t have a lot of background in Chinese culture,” Naghib said. “[American students] will get acquainted with other cultures, which will give them a more broad perspective of the world in general.”

“Every spring semester, there are three events. Each event will focus on one country,” said Lauren Scoggan, a programming intern with the Ferguson Student Programming Office. Scoggan has worked closely with the planning of International Expressions, and said students can come and go to the event as they please.

The remaining two events for the Spring 2012 semester are still in development but will likely focus on a Latin American country and a Middle Eastern or African country.

Stephanie Cole, a junior studying human development, said she thinks becoming more aware of cultural diversity is a welcomed enlightenment among students.

“I think [International Expressions] is positive because there are so many different cultures on this campus that students are not aware of,” Cole said. “I think students will benefit from getting to know more about them.”

“Diversity is one of the most important aspects of education in my opinion. Interacting with people that come from different backgrounds and maintain unfamiliar beliefs or customs is the best way to learn not only about other cultures, but also about yourself,” Scoggan stated. “When preparing for your career, I believe that learning how adaptable you are with people that are different than you carries as much significance as maintaining a high grade-point average. The true strength of our country, and of several companies that students are striving to work for, lies in their diversity.”

If You Go

What: International Expressions

Where: Ferguson Center Game Room

When: Wednesday Feb. 8, from 6 to 9 p.m.