International Fair 2012

Knox College -- one of the "most international" liberal arts colleges in the nation -- will host its 31st annual  International Fair on Saturday, January 28. Along with international dining and entertainment, the College's International Club will host free, public events on this year's theme, "Growing Up International," providing insights from students and faculty who grew up outside the United States.

The fair on Saturday, January 28 features an international buffet lunch at 11 a.m., followed by educational and cultural events in Ford Center for the Fine Arts. Admission is $6 per person.

The fair caps a week of internationally focused events on the Knox campus. On Tuesday, January 24, Visiting Associate Professor of Spanish Julio Noriega will discuss authors -- Ernest Hemingway, Mario Vargas Llosa, Vladimir Nabokov and Gerald Brenan -- who found fame outside their native countries.

A student-faculty panel discussion on Thursday, January 26, will include professors Emre Sencer, Gail Ferguson and Ryohei "Mat" Matsuda, who came to the U.S. from Germany, Jamaica and Japan, respectively.

"The ten years I spent in India have definitely influenced the person I am today," wrote first-year student Armor Wisler in an article in the 2012 edition of "IMag," a magazine produced by the International Club that will be distributed at the fair. The magazine features 16 articles written and illustrated by students.

"As a Malaysian-Chinese girl born in England and raised in the Philippines and Hong Kong, it would not be farfetched to say that I have struggled with my identity," wrote sophomore Amanda Shiew. Preparing for International Fair "has been a reminder to be culturally sensitive to other people," Shiew wrote.

Students in Knox's International Club created International Fair in 1982.

With 16 percent of this year's entering class and seven percent of the total student body coming from outside the United States, Knox is one of the most internationally diverse liberal arts colleges in the nation. Knox is 28th among the top 50 for Most International Students in the 2012 US News & World Report rankings of National Liberal Arts Colleges.

International Week 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 7 p.m.
"Becoming Writers Away from Home" --Faculty Lecture by Julio Noreiga, visiting associate professor of Spanish.
Ferris Lounge, Seymour Union

Thursday, January 26, 7 p.m.
"Growing Up International" -- A Student/Faculty Forum with faculty members Emre Sencer, Gail Ferguson, and Ryohei Matsuda
Ferris Lounge, Seymour Union

Saturday, January 28
31st International Fair
Admission $6

11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
International Buffet Lunch
Oak Room and Lincoln Room, Seymour Union

1:30-2:30 p.m. and 4:30-5:30 p.m.
International Booths
Lobby, Ford Center for Fine Arts

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Student Performances
Kresge Hall, Ford Center for Fine Arts