Syracuse University to hold 25th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration on Nov. 21

Syracuse University to hold 25th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration on Nov. 21November 10, 2004Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Some of Syracuse University’s international students and scholars will get their first tastes of turkey and pumpkin pie during SU’s 25th Annual International Thanksgiving Celebration, to be held Nov. 21 in the Schine Student Center’s Goldstein Auditorium. More than 500 international students, scholars and their families are expected to attend the invitation-only dinner, which will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The annual feast is sponsored by Hendricks Chapel, the Division of Student Affairs and the Lillian and Emanuel Slutzker Center for International Services. Trimmings including dressing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce are part of the dinner, which is designed to introduce newly arrived international students and scholars to the American Thanksgiving tradition. The meal is served family style and members of the University and Central New York communities are involved as table hosts, keeping conversation lively and answering questions about the celebration.

“There is nothing more important than extending hospitality to a table where we share a meal that is symbolic of our gratitude,” says the Rev. Thomas V. Wolfe, dean of Hendricks Chapel. “When we do this, we effectively replace distance with relationship.”

Wolfe and Patricia Burak, director of the Slutzker Center, will serve as co-hosts. Greetings will be offered by SU Chancellor Nancy Cantor and Cornelius B. Murphy Jr., president of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). Gautam Jayaprakash and Janeth Caicedo, president and vice president of the Association of International Students at SU, will also greet the guests.

Entertainment by the St. Elias Dancers from St. Elias Orthodox Church in Syracuse will follow the dinner.

Donors to this year’s event include Robison & Smith; Paul de Lima Coffee; Johnson Paper; Kaufmann’s; Maines; Peter’s Grocery; Samir’s Import; Syracuse Banana; Sysco Foods; Upstate Farms; Westcott Florist; Spectrum Foods; Empire State Venture Corp.; U.S. Foodservice; SU Food Services; the Islamic Society of Central New York; the Slutzker Center; SU Bookstore; Plainville Turkey Farms; Dr. Mark Paciorek Orthodontics; and Benchmark Marketing.