LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- Rider University will hold its annual celebration of International Week from Monday, March 31 through Friday, April 4. This year's theme, "Connecting Our Communities," continues the tradition of offering the community a taste of various global cultures, advancements, and ideas through the diverse backgrounds and experiences of people at Rider University.

The International Fair will serve as the opening event on Monday, March 31. Dr. Phyllis Frakt, vice president for academic affairs and provost, will read the International Week Proclamation to begin the event, which features individual and group presentations, a fashion show, music, and international foods and cultural displays by various Rider international and ethnic organizations. The entire program begins at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Center Fireside Lounge.

Always a centerpiece event during International Week, the annual Oxfam Lecture and Hunger Banquet will be held on Wednesday, April 2, at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Center Cavalla Room. This year's lecture will be presented by Dr. Lewin Williams, vice president of United Theological College in Kingston, Jamaica. The banquet, which is intended to illustrate world hunger rates, splits attendees into three groups; a few will sit at beautifully-arranged tables and enjoy a several course dinner; others will sit at bare tables and receive soup; while the majority will sit on the floor and eat rice and water.

All scheduled events are free and open to the public. Other International Week activities include:

Monday, March 31

• Film: Pandora's Box, by G.W. Pabst (Germany 1929), Multimedia Presentation Room (337 Moore Library), 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 1

• Faculty Forum: "Global Linkage and the Internet," by Dr. Bosah Ebo, communications, Multimedia Presentation Room (337 Moore Library), 11:30 a.m.
• Induction into International and Foreign Language Honor Societies: Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society for International Scholars; Phi Delta Phi, French Honor Society; Delta Phi Alpha, German Honor Society; and Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish Honor Society, Student Center Fireside Lounge, 4:30 p.m.
• Student Colloquium: "Award-Winning Student Writing and Achievement in Foreign Languages," College of Business Administration Building Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 2

• Film: Hyenas, by Djibril Dip Mambety (Senegal 1992), Multimedia Presentation Room (337 Moore Library), 6:30 p.m.
• Island Hopping IV, Student Center Fireside Lounge, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 3

• Student Panel: "Learning Culture Through Natives' Eyes," 309 Fine Arts Building, 11:30 a.m.
• Address and Video Presentation: "The Magic of Mexican Folk Art," by Marlene Kurtz, Princeton Day School, Multimedia Presentation Room (337 Moore Library), 4:30 p.m.
• National Model United Nations: "30 Years of Model United Nations at Rider," by Dr. Chau T. Phan, political science and Rider Model United Nations adviser, 263 Fine Arts Building, 6:30 p.m.
• International Business Panel: "Global Challenges," by Dr. Christine Lentz, management and human resources, B115 College of Business Administration Building, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, April 4

• Wines and Culture: An Introduction to Foreign Wines (proper ID required), Rider Pub (located in the Student Center), 4:30 p.m.

For further information on any of the programs listed here contact Rider University's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at (609) 896-5146.

Rider University's Lawrenceville campus is located five miles south of Princeton and three miles north of Trenton on Route 206 in Lawrence Township, NJ. The campus is one-half mile south of exit 7A of Interstate 95.