International Fair 2005 - Knox College News

Knox students combine fun with fund-raising, celebrating cultures worldwide and raising money for Asian flood relief

January 10, 2005

The 24th annual Knox College International Fair on January 29 will combine fun with fund-raising -- as Knox students present an exploration of cultures from around the world, while they raise money for South Asian flood relief.

Students in the International Club, which sponsors the annual festival of food and entertainment, voted to donate part of this year's proceeds towards tsunami relief through Oxfam International, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Ritinjali, an Indian disaster relief, education, and community development organization.

The fair draws hundreds of visitors to campus for an international buffet lunch in Seymour Union from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by cultural displays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and entertainment from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., in Ford Center for the Fine Arts.

This year's featured entertainment is Shoba Natarajan and Samskriti, a classical Indian dance group from Chicago. The troupe has performed throughout the United States, India, Russia, and Southeast Asia.

Admission to the fair is $5 per person for adults, $3 per person for groups of five or more, and free for children under 6. Tickets are available at the door.

Founded in 1837, Knox is a national liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, with students from 46 states and 50 nations. Knox's "Old Main" is a National Historic Landmark and the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.

2005 International Fair Schedule
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Food Fair. Oak Room, Seymour Union
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Cultural Booths. Lobby, Ford Center for the Fine Arts
3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Parade of Flags, followed by Shoba Natarajan and the Samskriti dance group. Kresge Hall, Ford Center for the Fine Arts

More about the Featured Entertainment
The Samskriti Foundation of Chicago is a non-profit organization that presents the traditional performing arts of India, primarily classical music and dance, both in concert and through educational programs. Shoba Natarajan, founder and artistic director, is a master performer of two classical Indian dance styles, Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam.

Acknowledgements
The International Club of Knox College thanks Charity Hofert, Justice St. Rain, and the staff of Special Ideas, Inc. for their permission to use artwork for Knox I-Fair 2005.