International Bazaar brings culture to campus

The International Advisory Committee will soon allow local public school students to experience world culture without looking any further than the OU campus.  The South Oval will be filled with cultural displays as part of the IAC’s International Bazaar on Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“This year we’re trying to reach out to more public schools, and we want to get students to come as a field trip,” Cassi Toney, IAC president, said.

Toney emphasized the importance of involving the local community in this year’s bazaar.

“I think it’s really cool for the kids to see the cultural diversity on campus so close to their homes because I don’t think a lot of the Norman population realizes how many international students we have on campus,” Toney said.

Toney said the bazaar will cater to the young students with activities like a scavenger hunt and a name sheet, where the children can have their names signed in several different languages.

Aside from the changes involving the local public schools, Toney said the bazaar will follow the same format as in the past.  Different student organizations will set up booths to showcase or sell items from their countries.  The sale will serve as a fundraiser for the groups to raise money for their events throughout the year.

“A lot of the things are handmade by the student organizations or brought from their countries specifically for this purpose,” Toney said.  “Some booths sell services like henna art for your hands or writing your name in different languages.”

Above all, Toney said she hopes the International Bazaar will be an opportunity for younger students to gain cultural experience.

“It makes the kids just more aware that there are different people in the world and not everyone looks like you and not everyone speaks the same language as you,” Toney said.  “It makes them more aware which also makes them less afraid.”