While most organizations are formed around their commonalities, The International Student Federation (ISF) draws its strength from its differences. Each student born outside the United States is automatically a member, bringing their unique culture, experiences, and efforts together to enrich the group. ISF, however, welcomes all students and regards each as contributing equally to the realization of our common mission.
We are a student-run organization that dedicates itself to the single goal of promoting diversity and multicultural awareness on campus. Our main role is to serve as a forum for international students where we can come together to socialize, to share ideas and cultural experiences, to discuss concerns, and to coordinate activities that better our lives at Saint Louis University. Inherent in this is our belief that we can change attitudes and open minds through conscious efforts to cooperate, to interact, and to educate.
Get to know the students running the ISF.
President
Shahida Flores
Executive
Vice President
Sarada Karri
ASIA President
Connie Tang
KSA President
Subin Lee
Office Manager and Secretary
Secretary Position Available
Treasurer
Danny Rooney
SGA Senators
Astha Mor, Candace DaSilva
Vice President of Publicity
Laila Thampy
Webmaster
Webmaster Position Available
Freshman Representative
Freshman Representative Position Available
Diversity Month Chair
Natalie Long
The ISF is an umbrella organization for several cultural subgroups, and each of them have their own meetings and social events. If you want to connect with students from your own country or region, you may contact us so that we can refer you to them! Here are some of our subgroups:
African Student Association
Asian Students in Action
European Student Association
Korean Student
Association
Spanish Student Association
Students of the Americas
Taiwanese Student Association
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Our major events consist of the following:
Diversity
Awareness Month
Every November, the ISF collaborates with more various campus organizations
to celebrate Diversity Awareness Month. Past events included A Taste of
Africa, Sufi Poetry/Expression, Ramadan dinner, the International Business
Expo, and Lantern Festival. We
have also invited speakers discussing issues such as interfaith dialogue,
women in Islam, Kashmir, and Iraq; as well as a documentary on Iraq and
a forum on race relations. From
speakers to concerts, every day of the month had a reason to celebrate
diversity.
Diversity Month also
awards nine SLU faculty, staff and students at the Kathy Humphrey Awards
Ceremony in honor of Humphrey, SLU's vice president for student development.
The award seeks to recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional scholarship,
service and leadership skills while promoting cultural awareness.
International Banquet
Every January, the ISF offers hundreds of faculty, staff and students
a spectacular night of culture at the International Banquet. Several ethnic
restaurants cater the event, with many dancing/singing/drumming performances
from different cultures. From Egyptian belly dance to Brazilian acrobatics,
we seek to present new styles every year.
Billiken World Fair
Every April, the ISF organizes the hugely successful Billiken World Fair,
which caps off ATLAS Week. Usually held at the break of spring, ISF subgroups
put up colorful booths displaying cultural artifacts and sell ethnic finger
foods. Previous fairs featured the Japanese Taiko drummers, as well as
dances from Spain, Middle East and an Indonesian gamelan dance performed
by former ISF president Katharina Panjaitan. The Billiken World Fair is
the first large-scale diversity program organized on campus, with more
than 40 different student groups, university departments and over twelve
hundred students coming together in a celebration of culture.
Other events ISF and subgroups have sponsored and participated in:
Fall Welcome Reception/ISF
Social
SLU Make a Difference Day
A.S.I.A. Dating Auction
Halloween Haunted House trip
ISF Thanksgiving Dinner
Spring Fever
Got any questions about the ISF? Want to find out how to join? Here are the ISF's Most Frequently Asked Questions!
Q. So what’s
cool about you?
A. What’s cool about the ISF is that people from varying cultures find
a common ground and manage to work so well together. Our different experiences
and ideas give us each something unique to share.
Q. What events
do you have?
A. We have Diversity Awareness Month (November), a whole month jam-packed
with great speakers, intellectual debates on the hottest global topics,
and cultural shows. Some events are Community 101 eligible, so freshmen
you might as well come and fulfill those points! The International Banquet
(January) is very popular on campus—we’ve had everything from Chinese
Lion dances, Irish tap dancing, to Flamenco and Hawaiian dancers. The
Billiken World Fair (April) is a colorful parade of nations to celebrate
the end of ATLAS week, and the coming of spring! There will be outdoor
games and cultural performances. And the awesome food, of course—we've
got something from baklava to paella. We also have smaller events/gatherings/private
parties scattered throughout the year.
Q. Who participates
in the ISF?
A. All international students automatically become members of the organization,
but a lot of American-born students participate and attend our events
as well. The ISF serves as an umbrella organization for six other cultural
groups on-campus representing: Africa, Asia, Spain, Latin America and
the Caribbean. Not only that, but the ISF receives support from independent
cultural groups (namely the Black Student Alliance, Filipino Student Association,
Indian Asian Student Association, Muslim Student Association, International
Business Club). We also collaborate with other campus organizations and
academic departments for our huge events.
Q. But I’m
not an international student!
A. Being international doesn’t only mean coming from a different country
other than the United States. From the point of view of students from
different countries, you’re as international to them as they are to you.
This is all about meeting people from all walks of life and sharing your
experiences with each other. It’s about learning of a whole new world
beyond your comfort zone—and that goes for both me and you!
Q. Okay I'm
convinced now....how do I join?
A. You can be active in the ISF as much as you want to. Participation
can range from simply attending our events to actually helping us plan
them behind the scenes. Just attend one of our general meetings held on
Fridays at 4pm (see calendar for specific dates) at the Cross Cultural
Center (Suite 240 in the Busch Student Center). Hope to see you there!
For further questions, please e-mail us: isf@slu.edu
Coming soon! Check back later.