Office for International Students and Scholars Director Peter Briggs said several hundred international students stayed on campus during the past Thanksgiving break and said he expects the number to increase this year.

Even though students won’t be with their families, they won’t be without festivities — a few campus organizations are bringing a holiday dinner to MSU.

The Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, the International Students Association, the Graduate Employees Union and the Office of International Students and Scholars, or OISS, are teaming up to host their fourth annual Thanksgiving Dinner.

The meal will be served from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday in the Spartan Village Community Center’s south lounge, and COGS Vice President for Internal Affairs Adam Lovgren said the event tends to have a fun atmosphere.

There is no payment or registration required to attend the dinner, and Lovgren said there will be about 13 turkeys served to make sure everyone will have plenty of food.

“This is a good opportunity to do something for the students who aren’t close to their homes so they can still celebrate the holiday, as well as introduce international students to the holiday,”
Briggs said. “We thought it would be a good time and a great way for people to come together and enjoy some great food.”

Although she has celebrated Thanksgiving with friends in the past, Lee said it isn’t a holiday she really enjoys — she is worried she might feel isolated because she lives by herself.

In light of the rapid growth of the international student population in recent years, Briggs said his office still is adjusting to meet the needs of international students during holiday breaks.

From his experience, Briggs said international students have shown a lot of interest in learning about a holiday such as Thanksgiving, which is known for being distinctly American.

“I think (international students) really appreciate the nature of giving thanks and looking on the bright side,” he said. “I hear a lot of people (say they are) eager to experience Thanksgiving however they can.”

Doctoral student Seunghwa Rho said she first celebrated Thanksgiving when she lived in North Carolina two years prior to coming to MSU.

Rho, who is Korean, said Thanksgiving reminds her of a Korean holiday known as Choo-Suk, where families come together to celebrate the “products” people have produced.

“(Thanksgiving) was more family-oriented than I expected,” she said. “It’s a family gathering day in some sense. I enjoyed it.”