On Nov. 7, students caught a glimpse of what the spring 2004 Intercultural Day will be like when winners from last year’s event participated in what is becoming an annual fall preview.

Spring 2004 will mark the 20th year that HPU has celebrated Intercultural Day, which was founded by assistant psychology Professor Howard Markowitz, who was the International Student Advisor in 1984. The event allows students to share, participate in, and appreciate the many cultures that makes HPU unique, and it gives students the opportunity to share their diversity with each other and the downtown community.

Participants included the Samoan club, the performance segment and overall winners; Thailand, winners of the best exhibit table; and the International Choir. The actual event will be held on April 16 at upper Fort Street Mall. The purpose of the preview day, according to Ann Newton, director of International Student Services, was to be “an infomercial publicizing Intercultural Day.”

In the past, about 30 groups have participated in the spring event, setting up exhibit tables, performing, or taking part in the cultural parade that passes down Fort Street Mall and through the downtown area. Students don’t have to be a part of a club to get involved: “Students can actually participate. You do not need to be a club; just have the desire to share information about your country,” Newton said.

ICD coordinators are looking for interested students to join the committee that helps to put on the event. For more information or to get involved, call the Career Services Center on 1132 Bishop St., Ste. 502, at 544-0230.