With the inevitable arrival of spring and the stress of finals and graduation, the WSU International Center (IC) will put on a Spring Fair on Wednesday to help those in need of a little extra stress-relief.

The IC interns and staff will work with WSU Global Services staff and peer mentors to make the fair run smoothly. WSU’s Office of Multicultural Student Services also will bring games and music.

IC Associate Director Pamela Duran is the coordinator of the Spring Fair. She and the IC interns wanted a chance to play, and that’s what this fair offers, she said.

“After such a hard winter, and the sun finally came out, we decided to put this on,” Duran said. “We’re trying to make this a big party celebrating spring and graduation, and just the fact that the sun came out.”

The fair will take place in the Office of International Programs International Center, or CUB L46, and will feature several different food options and means of learning about various cultures. The first portion of the fair, from 9 a.m. to noon, will be an international baked-goods potluck.

The next portion, from noon to 2 p.m., will be a pizza party. From 2 – 4 p.m., the fair will give out Ferdinand’s ice cream and toppings during an ice cream social.

“We’re putting together a presentation about spring around the world to play in the background,” Duran said. “This is meant to be fun and full of sharing and making connections.”

Duran believes this kind of event is important because it relieves some of the intensity that comes from the end of the semester.

“I think it’s important to bring people together,” Duran said. “To do this kind of fun event is really important so the students can just have fun and go to something meant to make them happy.”

While the fair is designed to be a fun time, it’s also about sharing cultures.

“I’m really excited to have a lot of students come together and talk and share cultures,” she said.

The IC staff try to make the center a space full of acceptance and energy, Duran said, and hope this fair will help continue that atmosphere.

“Everyone comes through the International Center for Alive!,” she said, “but you don’t get the feel of all the energy and everyone feeling connected and accepted until you come into the center.”

The IC will host their first Spring Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday in L46 and L43 of the CUB. Admission is free and open to all Cougs.

“In the fall, President Shultz named this center as a safe space after the election with all the turmoil,” Duran said. “That’s exactly what we are and that’s what we’re doing with this party. We want everyone to feel welcome and have a good time.”