Cosmo Connections, May 1999

Cosmopolitan Club Greets New International Students Each Semester

Judith Gordon and Manjula Samarasinghe.

At the beginning of each new semester, the Cosmopolitan Club is host to an international student welcoming reception. The Club has been providing this service to the international student community on campus for many years. The Office of International Student Affairs (OISA), as part of its weeklong new student orientation, ends the week with the reception as its grand finale. With help from the OISA, the University YMCA, and International Hospitality Committee members, a large buffet is prepared. The reception at the beginning of Fall semesters is held at the University YMCA in order to accommodate the over 350 attenders. The receptions for the Spring and Summer semesters are held at the Cosmo Club house, sometimes to standing room only crowds, with every room filled with international students, talking and getting to know one another in this informal, social atmosphere.

Cosmopolitan Club residents always play a big part in helping prepare the food and getting the house ready for the Spring and Summer parties. This spring, Pratik and Claudia were around to help out, along with Kata, Thomas, Manjula, Jhonny, and others who jumped in and lent a hand.

It is often at this first event of the semester that international students make friends, get acquainted, and learn about the opportunities at the Cosmo Club. Most of the new incoming students have only just arrived in the U.S. or in Champaign-Urbana within the few days prior to the Cosmo reception. They are eager to learn, to meet new people, and--of course!--to eat good food. We are proud to host this party each semester, and we are also proud that the Cosmopolitan Club plays an important role, not only during these receptions but also during all the year, of fostering international hospitality and the spirit of camaraderie.

The famous cakes.		Ivor Emmanuel, Director of the Office of International Student Affairs, and Andrea Shields, Executive Director of the Cosmpolitan Club.

New students enjoying the reception.

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