Indian Graduate Students Association

Monday, September 26, 2005

Taste of UIC savors unity among students - Chicago Flame - Features

Chicago flame carries a article with some highlights on us

Thanks to samantha joseph and all who had supported our stall...
and we got some good publicity thanks to some wonderful comments by our general secretary shruthi...

and thanks to Maria Cristina Gardner-Lara for mentioning us...

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Here is the actual article...

Taste of UIC savors unity among students

By Maria Cristina Gardner-Lara
Published: Monday, September 26, 2005
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1

Last Wednesday, Sept. 21, The Taste of UIC kept students from lining up for the usual fast food in Student Center East. Instead, many were anxiously waiting for the ethnic and favorite dishes prepared and provided by 27 student organizations celebrating Unity Month.

The goal of Unity Month is "to unite the distinctive diversity of the campus with the diverse communities of Chicago," which Taste of UIC accomplishes by combining various dishes. SCE's first floor was packed with food vendors lined up with various foods like sweet potato, egg rolls, kabobs, gilabi and other dishes made by organization members or catered from other restaurants.

Throughout the day, the student vendors were more than happy to guide unsure students through unfamiliar foods and answer any questions that came up.

"[Taste of UIC] is a way to promote organizations and raise funds for their events," Shruti Karbhari, a graduate student in electrical engineering of the Indian Graduate Student, explained.

Vendors ranged from various sororities and fraternities, dance groups, ethnic based organizations, to political groups.

Samantha Joseph, an art and design major, loved the hearty servings and the chance to try different dishes like the Batata Wada, a stuffed potato cake with chic peas shell, served by the Indian Graduate students.

Nancy Lara, psychology major, ate standing while savoring the sweet potatoes that were served by the National Society of Black Engineers.

Student organizations participated in the event for many reasons. Many organizations named making money as one of the reasons for participating.

"Participating in the event was an opportunity for organizations to come together, and a true bonding experience for me and my [sorority] sisters," Terri Chin, third year chemistry major, said.

The fair was a good chance for students to discover new foods and for others to find comfort in seeing familiar foods on campus. It was also an opportunity for students to learn more about the different organizations.

Ghassan D. Adhami, an electrical engineering major from the Muslim Student Association said, "Everyone has a good time. Those who already know it and those who are from another culture enjoy the food."

Friday, September 23, 2005

Article in Indian Reporter

Indian reporter recently carried an article on the Independence day Celebrations conducted by IGSA@UIC.

Link to the Article

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

IGSA participates in 'Taste of UIC'

Hi everyone,

On Wednesday, 21st September, UIC celebrates the 'Taste of UIC' festival. About 30 organizations are participating in the event this year and IGSA is one of them. You will have a wide variety of culinary delights but I'm sure u ppl must be craving for Indian food. So, please come to our stall to savour Veg. Samosas, Batata wadas or Aloo bondas and Gajar Ka Halwa. In addition, each of these items is being sold at an extremely reasonable price.

So, on Wednesday, plssss don't go buy burritos or submarines or burgers or pizzas. Instead, help IGSA raise funds by eating ur most loved Indian snack items.
Venue: CCC or Student Center East, First Floor, Outside the Bookstore.
Timings: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In addition, if any of you r free during that time and don't mind volunteering i.e. helping us, then please let me know. We r in need of ppl and would appreciate help in any form. Let's all try make this event a huge success for IGSA.

Cheers,
IGSA Board

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Freshers Party - Theme 'Mismatch'

Hi IGSA members,

As you all know the Freshers party is scheduled for the 10th of September and the theme for the same is "Mismatch". There have been a lot of mixed reactions about this theme and so we at IGSA thought of providing you people with some ideas. Being dressed in mismatch is not necessarily being dressed "FUNNILY" but yeah it is being dressed "UNCONVENTIONALLY", "CREATIVELY", "INNOVATIVELY"

So here's what you can do:
1) Do a color mismatch...wear the brightest, dullest, wackiest of colors that you wouldn't ever wear. Wear colors that don't match, orange shirt-purple pant...hmmm now isn't that mismatched ???

2) Wear ethnic traditional wear over half your body and something westernized over the other half. A fusion with a traditional top and any casual pant below is a mismatch. Its trendy nowadays, but its a mismatch. Wear a dhoti with a formal shirt and a tie. Girls, wear a sari at the bottom and a t-shirt on the top or anything casual, formal ( now these r ideas got from other girls so plsss don't penalize me for it )

3) Don't go the conventional way. Make utmost use of your belts, scarves...wear your belt around your forehead, neck. Use the scarf to hold your pants. Sounds funny doesn't it ?? But its gotta be fun. Wear bandanas on formal wear, ties over a t-shirt. Be mismatched

4) Roll up a shirt sleeve, fold one side of your pant to reveal your skin or probably another pant. Do things you wouldn't do any other time.

Girls, I must say you probably have an added advantage over guys. You can do the craziest of things with your make-up and jewellery.

One eyeshadow blue, the other black (any other color will do too )
One large earring and the other small. Tie half of your hair to form a pony tail and leave the other half straight. Use different colors of hairpins (i'm sure you might have carried enuff stuff while coming from India). And how can I forget one of your favorite accessories ...SHOES. Use different pairs of shoes in both feet.

Hey everyone, just get your grey cells to work and i'm sure you can do the unthinkable. These were just a few ideas that popped up while I discussed this theme with my friends, but u ppl have got a week and half to think, so I'm sure you can do much better than this. I hope these ideas will atleast get you started to think of this theme.

To appreciate your creativity and innovativeness, we will have...no not Mr. Gladrags or Femina Miss India. Kya kare, IGSA doesn't have that much sponsorship. Hey but we have our very own Mr. Mismatch and Ms. Mismatch. Taaliyaaaaa..

You will be judged not only on the basis of your clothes but also on the basis of your performance during some of the events. Now don't u worry abt the events...there r going to be no 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' type questions. We can't afford to give u ppl so much prize money....so the events are also going to be just pure fun. Just be ready to introduce yourselves in the best way you can

So, that's it from my side. As I had mentioned before mail any queries and suggestions to http://in.f85.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=igsacultural2005@yahoo.com. Or call me (508-353-4819) or Ninad( 312-315-0382). Since the event is coming closer and i'm sure your excitement is rising, we've removed the 'Preferably after 9pm' barrier.

Be there at the Freshers, I'm sure you'll have a wild time members. And yeah, keep checking your e-mail for future updates.

As of now : Freshers Party stands on 10th September in the Chicago Room (2nd floor), Chicago Student Center West ( formerly called Chicago Illini Union).
Timings: 5 pm sharp (no IST will do in the US) - 10 pm

Best,
Akshay:)