“The richness of multiculturalism”: New Paltz celebrates international programs at end-of-year festival

Year after year, SUNY New Paltz welcomes hundreds of international students from all over the world, and each semester the College’s International Student Union (ISU) hosts a Multicultural Festival to bring the many contributes to our diverse campus culture together in one room.

The festival, held on Dec. 6 at the Student Union, was an opportunity for cultural exchange between international students as well as their faculty and friends, who enjoyed the food and took in the traditions of their homelands.

“Seeing so many of you here makes me happy,” said ISU President Emely Jorge ’22 (History), who is originally from the Dominican Republic. “I love that you came to celebrate and enjoy the richness of multiculturalism on campus.”

Also there to welcome the gathered crowd of students, both international and domestic, and their professors was President Darrell P. Wheeler, who reflected on how a student can benefit from experiencing college life in another country.

“If you can, you must take this opportunity to learn from one another,” he said. “The one thing I have learned is that the answers to the complex questions we ask ourselves don’t exist in one culture. It’s going to take those of you who have the bravery to venture out of your domain to answer these questions for yourself.”

 

 

The event welcomes domestic students as well, and never fails to generate excitement in studying abroad. International travel continues to rebound from the temporary disruption of the pandemic, and attendees at this year’s fair had ample opportunities to learn more about the world of programs that are available.

“I would encourage you to challenge yourself and think about an opportunity to go abroad,” said Beth Vargas, executive director of the Center for International Programs. “We do have an amazing group of international students who come every semester, and you may have an opportunity to go to one of their countries.”

More information about international opportunities for students here and abroad is available from the Center for International Programs at SUNY New Paltz.