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Southern
hosts International Party International Editor
International
people living, working or going to school in the Joplin area will have a
chance to meet each other and socialize at this year s International
Party. Missouri
Southern is hosting the party at 6:30 p.m. Friday on the third floor of
the Billingsly Student Center. The gathering is mainly for the advantage
of the international students at Southern and area high schools. The
party is a chance for students to meet many people in the area and maybe
even some people from their homelands, said Vivian Le n, director of
the Missouri Southern International Piano Competition. They
make a lot of friends in the community, she said. Southern
invites those from other countries to attend by contacting companies,
high schools and other colleges and letting them know about the event. It
is a great opportunity for us to outreach to the community, Le n
said. I think the international exchange is invaluable, especially
for our students. The
party is by invitation only and is free to those who sign up. Dinner
will be served at the party along with dancing, a talent show and
contests. Southern s
International Club is co-hosting the event. It will help to put up
decorations and posters. The club will also greet the people as they
come in and hand out name tags. Rahila Khan, sophomore physics major and
vice president of the International Club, said the party is a lot of
fun. She said during the semester it s hard for everyone to meet up
because things are so busy, but this party is a time to relax and enjoy
the company. It s
a place where people can come together, Khan said. In
2001, about 400 people from 64 different countries attended. Usually,
we can t get the students to go home, Le n said. Everyone
really enjoys the gathering and many exchange telephone numbers and make
new friends, she said. By
going to the International Party, exchange students enrolled in high
schools in the Joplin area get the chance to taste what the College is
like, Le n said. So
it also serves as a very valuable recruiting vehicle, she said.
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