Creating American and International Relationships (CAIR) has served as Oakland University’s premier cultural exchange program since 2009. Operating out of the International Students and Scholars Office, the program is committed to promoting hospitality and cultural exchange through work with student organizations, university departments and local partners.
Natali Salaytah, president of CAIR, emphasizes making the program inclusive while fostering unity among students through volunteer efforts and campus events.
“The CAIR program serves two purposes: to match newly arrived international students with domestic volunteers to help them adjust and integrate into American culture,” Salaytah said. “Secondly, to organize programming and events for the OU community to promote belonging, prioritize value to our members and to celebrate the mosaic of cultures that make up our diverse campus.”
On Friday, March 26, CAIR hosted a game day in the Habitat from 12:00 p.m to 3:00 p.m.
As the event kicked off, attendees were provided with a variety of halal and vegetarian foods to accommodate everyone.
“We ordered foods from multiple countries so that our international students could feel celebrated and at home while giving our domestic students a taste of something international,” Salaytah said.
While planning the event, CAIR prioritized meeting cultural considerations for attendees.
“We avoided scheduling a daytime buffet during Ramadan or Lent to be as mindful as possible about cultural considerations,” Salaytah said.
After surveying CAIR members, the program organized a game day in March to give attendees a chance to relax during a stressful point in the school year.
“We planned it for March because that tends to be a typically stressful time of the year for students, faculty and staff alike,” Salaytah said. “We thought it would be a nice opportunity to take a break, have fun, play some games and enjoy some international foods.”
During the event, attendees had the chance to expand their horizons by trying new foods, participating in games and connecting with others. Activities included games from a variety of cultures, helping create an environment where everyone felt welcome.
“We asked our members directly about the games they grew up playing in their home cultures and communities so we could use our budget in the most inclusive way possible,” Salaytah said.
College students often struggle to build connections, and CAIR aims to address this through informal events like the game day. The event brought together domestic and international students, as well as staff and faculty, creating a relaxed environment where people could meet and form connections.
“My team often talks about getting people out of their comfort zones as one of the main goals with our events, and while we know it can be challenging, we hope that we can help our attendees create positive experiences and good memories at our events,” Salaytah said.
As a program, CAIR highlights the importance of a strong commitment to inclusivity. Attending an international college can be challenging, and CAIR strives to ensure that every student feels valued and celebrated.
“We want everyone to feel like they are seen, like they belong and that they are celebrated as they are,” Salaytah said.
CAIR’s game day brought attendees together while strengthening a sense of community among both domestic and international members of the Oakland University community.
