Since its creation five years ago, NIU’s Indian Student Association continues to be involved in a variety of activities around campus.

ISA has worked on blood drives with Colleges Against Cancer, sponsored Diwali Night,- a typical Indian celebration- and hosted a Cricket Tournament, said Rajkumar Copparapu, electrical engineering graduate student and ISA president.

Some of the events the ISA will promote this semester include a movie show, NIU Formals Night, Indian Week and an ISA Show. The group also arranges pickups from O’Hare Airport in Chicago for incoming students from India.

The ISA is currently working with the NIU Southeast Asia Club to organize a Tsunami Relief Benefit which will take place Sunday at the Holmes Student Center, said Javed Husain, graduate student and vice president of ISA.

The benefit will include authentic food and cultural performances from the areas affected, Husain said. A silent auction of regional items, a museum display and tsunami information will be presented.

All proceeds and contributions from the benefit will be donated to Habitat for Humanity International, which is presently helping tsunami survivors rebuild their homes and communities, Husain said.

About 300 people usually attend the meetings, which are held Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. in the HSC, Copparapu said.

The group is one of the most active student organizations on campus, Husain said. All ISA events are immensely popular and well attended, he said.

“Since we are a minority organization, we have done a lot more than many big organizations and many people know about it,” Copparapu said.

The group is Student Association allocated and has received generous support from the SA since its inception.

“The ISA’s budget for this year is $3,700 and the organization is happy that the SA has supported us,” Copparapu said. The money is used by the ISA to fund different events promoted by the organization.

The group’s mission statement states the ISA believes that by actively addressing the needs of the Indian community within and around campus and interacting with other communities in this region, the ISA can foster an environment of trust and enhance cultural interaction.

For more information about the ISA you can visit http://www.sa.niu.edu/isa.