4/29/97 Contact: David Tilahun, International Student and Faculty Services, 614/593-4330

ATHENS, Ohio -- Ohio University's International Week activities, with the theme of "Celebrating a Tapestry of Cultures," begin May 12 and will include, for the first time, a homecoming celebration for international graduates of the university.

The week of academic discussions and entertainment concludes May 17 with the traditional International Street Fair on Court Street in Downtown Athens. The Street Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be followed by the International Homecoming Welcome Back Reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Zachary's, 30 N. Court St. The reception, free and open to the public like most International Week events, is sponsored by the International Student Union.

More than 40 campus and community groups are expected to take part in the Street Fair celebration of music, dance and arts and crafts from around the world. More than 4,000 people have attended the event in the past.

Rick Sarre (pronounced SAR), an associate professor and head of the School of Law and Legal Practice at the University of South Australia, will deliver the keynote address titled "Refugees: Concern and Issues of Justice Around the World," at 8 p.m. May 15 in 194 Irvine Auditorium on the West Green. His discussion will review the general failure of many countries to incorporate international human rights law into refugee policies and practices. Sarre is a visiting professor at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa.

Other International Week events will take place across campus throughout the week, including:

May 12: A presentation on study abroad opportunities in Africa will take place at 3 p.m. in 332 Baker Center; the movie "Thunderheart" is screened at 7 p.m. in 237 Morton Hall in an event sponsored by the Native American Awareness Coalition.

May 13: Ohio University's Thomas Walker, professor of political science and director of Latin American Studies Program, will discuss his book, Nicaragua Without Illusions: Regime Transition and Adjustment in the '90s, at 5 p.m. in 327 Baker Center; "One Land-Common Ground?", a forum dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, takes place at 7 p.m in the Front Room of Baker Center.

May 14: A presentation on study abroad opportunities in Asia will begin at 3 p.m. in 327 Baker Center; an address by Villanova University's Tom Ricks, a distinguished scholar in Middle Eastern Studies, begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Friends of the Library Room, 319 Alden Library. The speech is titled "Overseas Learning in Study Abroad: Creating International Educational Learning Environments."

May 15: Besides Sarre's keynote speech, a meeting discussing study abroad opportunities in Latin America takes place at 3 p.m. in 327 Baker Center; a French movie La Ceremonie" will be screened by the International Film Society at 8:30 p.m. in 321 Lindley Hall.

May 16: The Different World of Ohio University: A Multicultural Panel Speaks on How Race Affects Them" will begin at 5 p.m. in Anderson Auditorium of Scripps Hall; an international community dinner, free and open to the public, will be held at the Islamic Center of Athens beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The International Street Fair schedule on May 17 is as follows:
10 a.m.: Music from around the world
10:30: Slavic Songs and Dances: The Russian Club
10:45: Traditional Mexican Dances: Sigma Delta Pi
11:00: Remarks by University President Robert Glidden and Athens Mayor Ric Abel
11:30: Pow-Wow & Singers and Drummers: Native American Awareness Coalition
11:45: Burmese Dances: Free Burma Coalition
12:30 p.m.: Indian Folk Dance: Indian Student Association
1:10: Midnight Cloggers
1:30: Chili Pepper Eating Contest: Alpha Lambda 2:15: City Clickers
2:45: Merengue & Salsa Dance: The Unity Board of Hocking College
3:00: Best Table Contest Awards
3:30: Dance to the Music around the World

For more information, contact the International Student and Faculty Services Office at 593-4330. The week is sponsored by the International Student Union, in cooperation with International Student and Faculty Services, Kennedy Lecture Series, Office of Alumni Relations, University Program Council, Athens area merchants and the city of Athens.