When she was a first-year, Lina Basheir ’26 went to the University City campus’ activities fair and added her name to the International Society’s sign-up sheet on a whim. Two years later, she’s the organization’s vice president, believing International Society is a place where students can “make a difference.”
Founded in 2002 at University of the Sciences, International Society, a multicultural organization based on the UCity campus, is centered around celebrating the diversity of different cultures. Aiming to provide a safe space for students to embrace their identities, International Society’s motto is “Celebrate our differences, share our similarities.”
Mohamed Bah ’26, PharmD ’28, event coordinator for International Society, said the idea of sharing cultural differences is especially important as the UCity campus decreases in size.
“Now more than ever, it feels more important to be able to have people to rely on with different backgrounds and different stories,” Bah said.
Serena Liao ’25, president of International Society, said multicultural organizations are especially important at primarily white institutions where students of color can feel like their voices are not being highlighted.
“You’re not given the space or the voice to say what you want and be the person that you are,” Liao said. “When you are able to grab everyone together and put them all in a room and just be people and be yourself, it’s so important. It grounds you and it grounds your community. It reminds you of who you are at the end of the day.”
Events hosted by international society range from potlucks with cultural food to movie nights. The organization’s biggest event is its annual talent show, which provides the opportunity for students to display their abilities. Often, it features performances from groups like Inertia, a UCity-based dance group that performs K-pop-inspired dances.
Liao said, in hopes of creating an even bigger community, one of her goals as president is to “build a better bridge” with the Hawk Hill campus and have more Hawk Hill students attend their events.
Bah said organizations like International Society can help students who are adjusting to the new experience of attending college and need a safe space to be themselves.
“When coming to a new place like college, you could be far from home,” Bah said. “You could be struggling to make friends. Being able to have that hub where everyone can come together and share these differences about themselves, it’s very important. It also helps people accept who they are and where they come from more by seeing people who embrace that side of themselves.”
