The International House combines dancing, free pizza and unlimited free non-alcoholic drinks to remove borders and introduce the new intake of international students to UT.
This week, the I-House hosted its annual "Beyond All Borders" party, where international students and their American counterparts were invited to come down to the I-House and boogie, with the reward of free food and drinks.
Rajesh Jena, graduate student in food science, said he believed the party was a great success.
"We had over 400 students from the U.S. and abroad show up," Jena said, "including students from the likes of Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, China and more. It was a great success and definitely helped the students integrate in a friendly and fun environment."
In the parking lot next to the I-House, students were treated to a DJ playing a selection of the latest chart hits and dancefloor fillers. There was even a lighting rig to help brighten spirits and keep the party going into the late hours.
Matthias Traeger, a second-year computer science and business exchange major from Mannheim, Germany, was also positive about the experience.
"It was really great of the I-House to go to the effort of organizing such a fun event," Traeger said. "It was brilliant getting to meet and find out about foreign and American students alike. And the free food wasn't a bad thing either."
This party was part of a series of creative events organized by I-House to help ease foreign students into American campus living.
In the past there have been trips to see the wonderful sights of Tennessee, such as a hiking trip to the Smoky Mountains and a tour of the mysterious Lost Sea Adventure. There were also culturally enlightening sessions involving a Kenyan culture night and a Russian cooking demonstration.
The I-House is a multicultural atmosphere where individuals from many different cultures are able to share experiences with one another and learn mutual respect and understanding. The I-House Committee describes the house as a place where any and all students can meet and learn about every culture represented at the university.
Founded in 1969 — the current building having been constructed in 1995 — its primary purpose is to help international students with any needs and to provide a "home away from home" environment.
The promotion of cross-cultural exchange is another important factor of the I-House, as well as understanding between American students from various cultures and students from cultures around the world.
The I-House stresses that everyone is welcome as citizens of the world. Americans, international students, scholars, faculty, staff and members of the community are invited to meet, study and get to know one another.
As the students of the world took their tired steps away from the I-House party and back towards their new homes on campus, they took with them not only full stomachs and beats still ringing in their ears, but also a welcome to the warm and friendly world of UT, which is something the people who work at the I-House hope those students can treasure for the rest of their lives.