Kent State University at East Liverpool recently held its third annual Culture Fair, this year focusing on Asian cultures. Fifteen students presented their research, while 28 research posters were exhibited and 58 research papers were displayed for viewing.
Open to the public, the event also served as the experiential learning requirement for graduating senior Connie Suliot, who used her classroom knowledge to plan and coordinate the event. Aside from the student presentations, Suliot provided snacks so that participants could sample a variety of Asian flavors including Thai, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Pakistan and Sri Lanka cuisines.
The fair highlighted the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, The Philippines, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirate and Vietnam.
More than 50 students participated, presenting information and knowledge they each researched from more than 25 different Asian cultures. The students studied sociology through an online class and each chose to study one Asian country for his or her term project. During the event, the students shared their research with the campus and the local East Liverpool community.
Dr. Lydia Rose, assistant professor of sociology, served as Suliot’s faculty advisor. Rose is a proponent of public sociology and worked diligently over the last four years to bring students together with the local community to learn from each other.
According to Rose, public sociology works to bring sociologists and students of sociology together with a broader community audience to share and learn from each other.
“Kent State University has recognized the social responsibility of university students to their communities and to the many non-profit organizations that exist in the United States today, as well as the much needed experience of taking their ‘book’ learning and applying it to practical settings,” she said.
Participating students were invited from Rose’s three sociology classes: Introduction to Sociology; Family Patterns: A World Perspective; and Wealth, Poverty and Power.
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Media Contact:
Bethany Zirillo, 330-382-7430, bgadd@kent.edu
