Syracuse University’s international students to get first taste of American Thanksgiving Nov. 18

Syracuse University’s international students to get first taste of American Thanksgiving Nov. 18November 07, 2007Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Some of Syracuse University’s international students will be treated to their first taste of traditional Thanksgiving fare, such as turkey and pumpkin pie, during SU’s 28th annual International Thanksgiving Celebration, to be held Sunday, Nov. 18, in Goldstein Auditorium in the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center. More than 400 international students, scholars and their families are expected to attend the 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. Turkey and the trimmings — such as dressing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce — are part of the dinner, which is designed to introduce newly arrived international students to the American Thanksgiving tradition. The meal is served family style, and members of the University and greater Syracuse communities are involved as table hosts, keeping conversation lively and answering questions about the celebration.

The Rev. Thomas V. Wolfe, dean of Hendricks Chapel, and Patricia A. Burak, director of the Slutzker Center, serve as co-hosts. Greetings will be offered by SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor; Cornelius B. Murphy Jr., president of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Kyoung Mi Choi, graduate assistant in the Slutzker Center for International Services; and the Rev. Gail Riina, SU’s Lutheran chaplain. Regina Jones, programs coordinator in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, will offer a Native American Thanksgiving address.

Donors for this year’s celebration include: Byrne Dairy, Westcott Florist, SU Bookstore, Spectrum Foods, Empire State Venture Corp., U.S. Foodservice, SU Food Services, the Slutzker Center for International Services, Benchmark Marketing, West Side Foods, Paul deLima Coffee, Johnson Paper, Midstate Bakery Dist., Maines, Plainville Turkey, Syracuse Banana, Samir’s Import and Sysco Foods.