International students will have the opportunity to interact and skate with other Ohio University students Thursday night.
The Association for Cultural Exchange will host a Skating Night at the Bird Arena from 8:30-10 p.m. during open skate hours.
“ACE’s Ice Skating provides international and American students a chance to get together and have some fun for free,” said Samantha Smith, president of the organization.
“Our goal is to provide a safe space for students to get to know one another and experience something that some of the international students have never gotten a chance to do before,” said a senior studying communication studies.
ACE will pay for the first 60 people who come to open skate and will also provide hot drinks and snacks.
“We're hoping for a mix of American and international students to attend, especially international students from countries where ice-skating might not be a tradition,” said Amanda Tragert, vice president of the organization.
The group works closely with the International Student Union and the Ohio Program of Intensive English.
“Students from both groups don’t typically mix very much outside of class,” Tragert said, a senior studying German and Asian studies. “When we held this event last year, some Middle Eastern students who'd never ice-skated before got to learn with friends, and we all talked a little bit about what winter traditions America has.”
The club was organized in 2002 “to promote friendships across cultures through interactive events,” said organization advisor Jane Palmer.
“We are doing our part to promote world peace, one friendship at a time,” Palmer said.
This is only the first event of the semester for ACE, as they will also be hosting a Valentine Party on Wednesday, February 12th and a Sushi Making lesson on Wednesday, March 26th. ACE meetings are held every Thursday at 7 p.m. in Baker University Center Room 237.
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