International Night brought a taste of countries all over the world to APSU students Tuesday, November 16 at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Health building. The International Student Department and Student Life and Engagement hosted the event, which mainly featured tables of food from across the world and cultural dance routines from local groups of performers.

There were thirty-two countries represented, including Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, and many more.

“It’s the same type of event every year, but we try to do something every year to make it a little bit bigger. More tables, more countries, more entertainment options. We’re always trying to change it up a little bit to make it better,” Coordinator of Programs and Special Events in Student Life and Engagement Ty Jesinoski said.

At 6:10 p.m., the Dance Ensemble from the Department of Theatre and Dance performed. Cast and Crowns Performing Arts Center Clarksville, TN followed ten minutes later. Closer to the end of the event, Wassom Middle School’s Dance and Spanish Club, Ft. Campbell KY took the stage.

“The event is free and open to the community. International Night has been taking place at Austin Peay for many years, and the goal is to try and bring the diversity, to bring food from different parts of the world to Austin Peay so everyone can get a chance to try them,” Graduate Assistant of International Education Deya Ortiz said.

Classes and clubs related to the International Education Center, former study abroad alumni, and the clubs reputation from previous years spread word about the event.

“I think this event educates people on different features of different cultures and makes people more aware of those cultures,” computer science major Jacob Sharp said. “It’s very well organized. There are lots of different countries being represented.”

This annual event is held every November. This year there were the highest number of volunteers and tables representing different countries and programs that there have ever been, according to Ortiz.