N.E.W.S. / Issue 4

Winter // Issue 4 // 1

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4N. E. W. S.

4Issue 4 // Winter 2014 // March

PhotographersEsther KimIhn Que Lee

ModelsMehdi Salahdine (cover)Amy LiNegina PirzadRenee ArnettLeigh ScheffeyMichele Aggrey

Content EditorsAlejandra GutierrezIna SongNegina Pirzad

Layout DesignerIna Song

iSA Team2013-14

DirectorHung Mai

Program TeamLeigh ScheffeySandra BennySteven RaoRenee ArnettDustin JungCecilia Xu

Office TeamNajod AlrasheedChristina ParkAshley Liu

Fundraising TeamLuca LinKevin NgoJess ChenAmy LiCatherine Li

Publicity TeamLily ChenHillary FowlerIhn Que LeeEsther KimAlejandra GutierrezIna SongNegina PirzadEthan KimMegan GarlandJoshua LeeStacey Goldberg

No.

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CON

TEN

T

44Winter Formal

Mardi Gras

Coffee Talk with Alana

International Women's Day

Daylight Savings Time

Surviving the Dead Week

St.Patrick’s Day

Spring Break Guide

iParty

ISG Meeting Time

March Calendar

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05

06

09

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If you attended our Winter Formal then you know what a huge success it was! Once students walked under the beautiful golden-black balloon arch, they became engulfed in the music and ambiance and they danced the night away. Delicious snacks and treats covered the entire table

and delighted all who ate them. With a glass of bubbling cider in one hand along with the great music that was blasting through the speakers, everyone was smiling, laughing and busting out their best moves out on the dance floor. When the clock struck 10 it was time to sadly bring a

great night to an end. Everyone left with a smile on their face and some people left with bran new henna tattoos. There was no better way to end a Saturday Night.

Winter Formal

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by Alejandra Gutierrez


Mardi GrasIf you walked through the French Quarter on Tuesday, and you witnessed crowds of people drinking and partying, wearing costumes of gold, purple, and green, and saw women flashing their breasts for beaded necklaces, you would’ve found yourself in the infamous Mardi Gras celebrations of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the last day of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season in the Catholic religion, which begins forty-six days before Easter on Ash Wednesday. Many countries around the world refer to Mardi Gras as “Carnival Season” because the day is often filled with pure extravagance in every aspect. Some countries that are

known for their grand Mardi Gras celebrations are Brazil, Belgium, France, and of course, the US.

Any holiday that gives people a reason to celebrate life and indulge themselves is a commonly celebrated one, especially on a college campus, and Mardi Gras is no exception. This year, Mardi Gras was on Tuesday, March 4th, and Eugene had several Fat Tuesday events around town like the Pink Buffalo’s Mardi Gras 5K and Reach Activity Center’s Mardi Gras Masquerade Party. And on campus, Newman Catholic hosted Mardi Gras festivities as a fundraiser for its alternative spring break program to work at the St. Therese HIV/AIDS outreach center in Henderson, Nevada.

Beer, Beads, and Bourbon StreetMarch 4th

By Negina Pirzad

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Alana McKenzieCoffee Talk with...


Alana McKenzieCoffee Talk with...

What are you studying at UO?I’m studying German and Political Science. Still not too sure which is the major and which is the minor.

How did you decide to study German? Well, I’m in love with Germany and I’m really interested in politics, and although I don’t want to go into it, it’s a good direction to go if you want to study cultures and international things.

When did your language studying begin?It really began when I was in first grade where Spanish and German were both required at my school. But I didn’t really get into it until I was thirteen and went to France where I decided to learn French, which I didn’t ever learn.

How many languages do you know? Well, fluently I only speak English and German, and then I’m communicative in Spanish, and I’ve also studied Russian and Romanian.

And you’re studying Romanian right now with the self-study program?Yes, I am. It’s a great program.

Can you tell me more about your international experiences?The first time I went abroad was when I was eighteen months old and my parents took me to Ecuador. But the first time I went on my own was when I was thirteen. My grandma, who’s a college professor, took me to France on one of her study abroad trips and that’s when I fell in love with Europe. I stayed there for four months with a really great family and became pretty good at German. Then after high school, I decided to go back and spend a year there as an au pair and really solidify my German.

By Alejandra Gutierrez & Negina Pirzad

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How have your language abilities help you with your travels and with your studies?Language is pretty much what I live for in terms of academics and having a good time. I love intercultural anything and interlinguistic anything, and I’m just really fascinated by language and all the different things that make it up.

Have you taken any classes in linguistics?I took Language and Power, which was really cool. But I realized that if I studied linguistics, that would not necessarily lead me to international work, unless I went into research or more academia. So, I settled on international studies or political science instead. Then I can still study languages, but also be getting all the politics and intercultural communication stuff, instead of just syntax and grammar.

How important do you think intercultural dialogues and bridges are in our society today?Really important. In America, it’s kind of like a micro-merge of languages and cultures that have to function together, which doesn’t always work. But especially now, in the world at large, I guess we say the world is getting

smaller. So, it’s really important to at least have intercultural understanding even if you don’t know another language.

What are your future plans after your undergraduate studies?What I’m hoping to do is to go to grad school in Germany for intercultural communication through a program in Heidelberg. But if that doesn’t pan out, I might do something like the Peace Corps, or try to do an internship in Washington, D.C. working with foreign cultures.

Aside from political science and language what are your other interests? Music. It’s one of my favorite languages. And I like working out too. I dance Zumba. And I just like being with friends and meeting new people.

So do you play an instrument?I’m a singer. I attempt to play piano and guitar, but I should just stick to being singer.

Ecuador France Germany


International Women'sDayMarch 8th

As a junior studying Accounting, Shirui Zhang also juggles the role as the ASUO Women’s Center’s International

Student Advocate. The Women’s Center is considered to be a safe space for women of any and all backgrounds to visit, to volunteer with, and to work with, in order to create the best educational and working environment for UO’s female population. As International Student Advocate, Zhang mostly prioritizes the international women on campus, whom she believes need a lot of assistance and counseling.

“I am an international student, so I know all the problems the women have. And a lot of the time, they don’t know how to deal with their problems or if there is anyone out there to support them,” Zhang said. “Homesickness is very common, and sexual violence too, so sometimes they are scared to find someone to help them. They often don’t ask for legal support, so those are the kind of women I’m trying to help and let them know they should share their experiences to help

others.”

In addition to working with the international women on campus, Zhang is working with women abroad for International Women’s Day, which is March 8th.

“A project we’re doing is a geographical display. We will interview females from different countries to see how they celebrate International Women’s Day,” Zhang said. “We want UO students to learn more about women from different cultures and how they live.”

Zhang hopes to continue on with her work next year with the Women’s Center and with women from all around the world, either as the International Student Advocate again, or as a student volunteer.

The ASUO Women’s Center is located in the EMU in Suite 3. For more information about the organization, visit their website at pages.uoregon.edu/women/index.html or email them at [email protected].


By Negina Pirzad

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The history, purpose, and practice of Daylight Savings Time (DST) have all been disputed by the world for hundreds of years. Some say Christopher Columbus invented it while on vacation in Paris. Others say it was the American farmers of the colonial period who first set clocks back. The actual observing of DST has also been questioned in history, but it isn’t as confusing as people may think. In the US, time is set one hour ahead on the last Sunday of March, and set one hour back on the last Sunday of November. This is why we have longer days during summertime than in the winter.

With no idea of the actual history of DST, it wasn’t until World War I when Germany brought the theory

back into the international community. The world has implemented the practice off and on, and often in different ways, depending on the country and its seasons. DST is observed in over seventy countries today, all for which daylight hours are savored from March and into November. Some regions of the world that observe DST during their appropriate “summer” time are the US (excluding a few states and territories), Paraguay, Haiti, Germany, Turkey, Egypt, and Australia.

This year in the US, DST will begin on March 14th, and it will end on November 30th.

Daylight Savings TimeSpring Forward, Fall Back

March 14th

Surviving the Dead Week

By Negina Pirzad


Surviving the Dead WeekAre exams and homework knocking you down?-Here’s what you need to fight back!

Although the UO is fantastic, it does have one downside: its under the quarter system. That means that we will all be swamped by two set of midterms, finals and papers from week 2 to finals week. With all that amount of work and knowledge that you have to absorb you have to stay on top of your game!

Even if we do not realize it or feel it, our body is under a lot of stress constantly and if we don’t help it out a little bit,

it will definitely crash and you’ll be constantly exhausted. Even though you are young and you are in the prime of your life, sleep is something that you absolutely cannot skip, unlike your philosophy 101 class. Without enough

sleep, your mind and body cannot function properly. Which means that you will struggle to stay awake in class, it will be hard to study and you might even get headaches. Your body won’t have the energy to keep up with

all your activities such as school, going to the gym or even playing basketball with your friends. Talk to any senior you know and they will tell you that sleep is a beautiful sleep and that you should sleep as much as

you can.

Apart from sleeping, you need to keep your body energized and not by eating cup noodles and drinking Redbull. Be sure that you are getting enough nutrients from protein, juices, veggies

and fruits, etc. Not only will you feel better, you will be able to do so much more, since your body will have the nutrition it needs. If you eat right you won’t need any energy drinks

and lets face it, actual food is way better than cup noodles. Try to limit the amount of coffee, pepsi and energy drinks you consume and try tea instead. It also has a decent

amount of caffeine and its better for you.

Regarding studying, try to find a quiet place with few distractions in order to finish your homework quickly. As much as you try to convince

yourself, you actually can’t multitask. Just turn off the TV, and turn you’re your loud music and focus on your assignments. The faster

you get your homework out of the way, the more free time you have to actually to fun things.

If you ever need help or more helpful tips, just swing by

the Health Center and they will be more than happy to help you out and give you a little care package

that contains tea, ear plugs, cough drops and more. You can do it! Just focus and power

through.


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St. Patrick’s

Also known as Feast of Saint Patrick is a religious and cultural holiday that is celebrated on March 17th. As its name suggests, this day is named after one of the patron saints of Ireland, Saint Patrick. This holiday was created in order to celebrate Christianity becoming a part of Ireland. Therefore, it’s a day that is associated and that celebrates Ireland and its culture. The Irish celebrated this day since before the 9th century by having a great feast that gathered family and friends. Also, there is always a religious procession which commemorates the historic event and Saint Patrick himself. However, as the years passed by, St. Patrick’s Day slowly began to be celebrated in different ways. Although it is still associated with the Irish, it became a tradition that on March 17th everyone must wear a piece of green clothing. If a person fails to do so, they will get pinched by everyone else. Hundreds of people will be wearing green shirts, shoes, funky pants and hats, so yes, you will definitely stand out if you are not wearing green. So not only do people wear green, they also go out and celebrate while taking a few drinks with their friends. What children are told is that during this day, little leprechauns come out of hiding and go search for golden coins. That is why its become a tradition in some places to handout and receive golden chocolate coins. Some children build little leprechaun traps in their classrooms in the hope of catching one of those little guys. Last but not least, the color green is associated with good luck and with the four-leaf clovers which will bring you even more luck. Which is why people when people find some, they keep them as lucky charms. Even if you find one of these clovers, go and buy yourself something green because not even all the luck in the world will save you from all the pinches you might get if you don’t wear that green shirt.

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Patrick’sDayAlso known as Feast of Saint Patrick is a religious and cultural holiday that is

celebrated on March 17th. As its name suggests, this day is named after one of the patron saints of Ireland, Saint Patrick. This holiday was created in order to celebrate Christianity becoming a part of Ireland. Therefore, it’s a day that is associated and that celebrates Ireland and its culture. The Irish celebrated this day since before the 9th century by having a great feast that gathered family and friends. Also, there is always a religious procession which commemorates the historic event and Saint Patrick himself. However, as the years passed by, St. Patrick’s Day slowly began to be celebrated in different ways. Although it is still associated with the Irish, it became a tradition that on March 17th everyone must wear a piece of green clothing. If a person fails to do so, they will get pinched by everyone else. Hundreds of people will be wearing green shirts, shoes, funky pants and hats, so yes, you will definitely stand out if you are not wearing green. So not only do people wear green, they also go out and celebrate while taking a few drinks with their friends. What children are told is that during this day, little leprechauns come out of hiding and go search for golden coins. That is why its become a tradition in some places to handout and receive golden chocolate coins. Some children build little leprechaun traps in their classrooms in the hope of catching one of those little guys. Last but not least, the color green is associated with good luck and with the four-leaf clovers which will bring you even more luck. Which is why people when people find some, they keep them as lucky charms. Even if you find one of these clovers, go and buy yourself something green because not even all the luck in the world will save you from all the pinches you might get if you don’t wear that green shirt.


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SpringBreakGuideYou don’t have to watch from your bedroom window as countless cars pull out from their drive way and head towards the airport or the highway. Your neighbors and classmates may be heading to sunny California, Boston or Vancouver, which makes you think that there is nothing to do in Oregon during your break. You could take the train or bus and go to California or Vancouver, but you would miss out on all the things that Oregon has to offer, which are many.

You can wake up early one morning with your friends, drive to Spencer’s Butte and watch the sunrise. The idea of getting up early during your break might not sound too appealing, but it is worth it. As soon as you reach the top, you overlook the entire city of Eugene and all you can see is a sea of clouds stretching over a beautiful. You can take a little container with hot chocolate and you can hangout with your friends until the sun rises from behind the mountains in front of you. As the sun peaks out, its bright colors slowly start to illuminate all your surroundings which creates a breathtaking view.

There are also kayaking tours on Waldo Lake, which is one of the cleanest lakes in the entire U.S . You can also go hiking to Crater Lake and be blown away by the beauty of the landscape. There are also several natural hotsprings that you can go visit. Whether you go in the morning or afternoon, you will leave feeling rejuvenated and cleansed. You will be so relaxed that you will sleep like a rock the moment your head touches your pillow. The coast is also a great place to visit, and there are of course the sand dunes and the sea lion caves.

If you decide to simply stay in Eugene, there are many things to do as well. There are great local breweries, many restaurants with fantastic food, You can go to Zany Zoo, the Raptor Center, the Willamette bike trail, Smith Rock, Amazon Park, museums, parks, theaters, laser tag, mini golf, arcades, bowling and more.


There are also kayaking tours on Waldo Lake, which is one of the cleanest lakes in the entire U.S . You can also go hiking to Crater Lake and be blown away by the beauty of the landscape. There are also several natural hotsprings that you can go visit. Whether you go in the morning or afternoon, you will leave feeling rejuvenated and cleansed. You will be so relaxed that you will sleep like a rock the moment your head touches your pillow. The coast is also a great place to visit, and there are of course the sand dunes and the sea lion caves.

If you want other trips that don’t involve so many outdoor activities, you can go to Portland and tour around their immense Saturday market. You can check out all the stores and shopping malls that you can’t find in Eugene. You can go to the Rose Garden, the Oregon Zoo, the Waterfront and countless other places.

So if you are staying in Oregon for Spring Break, do not worry about a thing. You have the option of doing fun stuff and going to amazing places. Not only will you safe a lot of money and time by not buying a train ticket and spending 11 hours on a train ride, you will get to see the true beauty of Oregon.

If you decide to simply stay in Eugene, there are many things to do as well. There are great local breweries, many restaurants with fantastic food, You can go to Zany Zoo, the Raptor Center, the Willamette bike trail, Smith Rock, Amazon Park, museums, parks, theaters, laser tag, mini golf, arcades, bowling and more.


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CELEBR

ATIONS THROU

GHOUT THE NATIONSAre you interested in learning

more about cultures from around the world? Or tasting foods from different continents? Or possibly even showcasing your culture to the campus community at large? If you are, then you’re right where you’re supposed to be. Come see the world in a different light than you are already used to, and experience different cultures without the need for a passport during the upcoming International Week and Night (IWN) this year!IWN is an annual international cultural festival based at the University of Oregon in Eugene, devoted to promote and celebrate global culture diversity. International Week and Night is hosted by the International Student Association (ISA) at the University of Oregon, and will be held Week 6 (May 5th – May 9th), this upcoming spring. IWN is the largest cultural event on campus. International Week is filled with events that promote awareness and appreciation of our international community, with International Night (May 6th) kick-starting the weeklong event with an evening of cultural performances, exhibitions and food from different parts of the world! ISA is committed to celebrating the diversity of the campus and community, and nothing will be more exciting than

going out of your comfort zone to

meet people from different cultures as

you on a week that has been strategically planned out

for you to do so! This is a chance for everyone to celebrate individuality

and cultural differences that makes the UO an enriched and inclusive environment, and for students to take part in fun activities as well as learning about the importance of a diverse society at the same time. We aim to promote understanding and integration between all students alike and just like every year, IWN is an event ISA looks forward to hosting, and we want you to look forward to it just as much as we do as well!If you have even the slightest urge to perform or volunteer with us, please feel free to contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Megan Garland at [email protected], or stop by the ISA office anytime! We are located conveniently next to the Mills International Centre in the EMU, and we will be more than happy to have any of your questions answered by our hardworking and friendly interns! Even if you didn’t have a question for us, feel free to stop by to say hi! We would love to get to know you more!Come join us for a week and night of fun, whilst immersing yourself in an array of cultures! You don’t want to miss out!

by Sandra Benny Director of International Week and Night, 2014


Winter, 2014..........Club MeetingsClub Name Time Location

ASA (African Student Association) M / 6PM Willamette 112

KP (Kultura Pilipinas) T / 5PM MIC (Mills)

VSA (Vietnamese Student Association) T / 6PM MIC (Mills)

HKSA (Hong Kong Student Association) T / 7PM River Room

TWSA (Taiwan Student Association) T / 7PM EMU Skylight

IBEC (International Business and Economics Club) W / 6PM Lills 232

JSO (Japanese Student Organization) R / 6PM Pacific 16


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Event Calendar..........Mar., 2014• Important Dates • Campus Events • Community Events

M T W R F S Sv

27 28 29 30 31 1 2VITA -- Free Tax Preparation Service12pm / Lillis

Spring Registration

3 4 5 6 7 8 9Stress Less2pm / EMU

Language Circle4pm/EMU

Italian Conversation Group730pm / La Perla Pizzeria

Mardi Gras

Job Shadow Pro-gram Info Session12pm/Lillis


Ducks After Dark Double Feature: Bridesmaids & Hangover Part III830pm / PLC Hall

Course Offering for Summer 2014 AvailableOnline Course Evaluations for Winter 2014 Begins

iSA Coffe Hourwith Jewish Stu-dent Union4pm / MIC

VITA -- Free Tax Preparation Service12pm / Lillis

Future Music Oregon7pm/Forhnmayer Music Building

International Women’s Day

Daylight Saving Time Begins

Spring Registration

10 11 12 13 14 15 16Stress Less2pm / EMU

Language Circle4pm/EMU

Italian Conversation Group730pm / La Perla Pizzeria


iSA Coffe Hourwith VSA & Mind the Gap4pm / MIC

Application Deadline: CFMA Scholarship

Last Day to Pro-cess a complete withdrawal from all courses

Dead Week

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

St.Patrics Day

Final’s Week

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Spring Break


CHANGE IS IN THE AIR

From this issue, N.E.W.S. is officially changed from UOiSA Newsletter to UOiSA Magazine.

N.E.W.S., stands for North, East, West, & South, published it’s first issue in October, 2013. With the goal of bridging the gap between the international

community and the domestic community on University of Oregon campus, we have been publishing articles that introduce both globle and local news and issues.

We appreciate our readers, for you are the motivation behind this magazine.

Thank you for all the love and support in the past!

If you have any suggestions or feedbakcs, please contact us at:[email protected]

Check out past issues of N.E.W.S. Magazine at:issuu.com/uoisanews


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BE CLOSE.CLOSE TO CAMPUS. CLOSE TO NATURE. CLOSE TO EVERYTHING.

universityhouse.com 541.344.1660

PREMIER FULLY-FURNISHED STUDENT APARTMENTS2 BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS

• Located in the Arena District at 15th Ave. & Walnut St.

• Individual leases per person

• Designer floorplans with upgraded finishes

• Eco-friendly furniture, cable and Internet included

• Exceptional amenities and green features

N.E.W.S. is looking for Volunteer Models.Sign up at UOiSA office [EMU, M148] or Email us at [email protected]

N.E.W.S. / Issue 4

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