Students organize international music night Nov. 11

It's not uncommon for Wheaton students to organize a community service event, particularly for those living in a Beard Hall learning community. But, when the six students in the "Peace with the Middle East" learning community decided to do "something really big" to help children living in Israel and Lebanon, they weren't kidding.

The students have organized a benefit concert on November 11 in the Haas Center with international singing sensations, Andy and Shani. Their goals are simple yet lofty: spread positive awareness about the Middle East, bridge the cultural divide and raise money for the International Red Cross, as well as dance the night away to Persian rock.

Payum Payman '07, an International Studies major from Pleasant Valley, N.Y., is the chief organizer of the concert. He and his fellow ''Peace with the Middle East'' floor-mates Eden Gudonis '07, Leif Kothe '09, Chris Dahms '09, Emily Piuggi '09 and Sophia Donohue '09, hope to attract a big crowd Saturday night.

In addition to this group, Beard Hall has several clusters of communities focused on topics ranging from academics (e.g. biology majors) to off-campus initiatives (e.g. an inner-city youth program). The communities allow students with similar interests to live together and create connections beyond the classroom. Yuen-Gen Liang, assistant professor of history and the group's advisor, called learning communities ''vitally important.'' He hopes the awareness the group achieves with this event and future events ''makes a difference in the lives of other Wheaton students.''

Payman, whose parents are from Iran, is a huge fan of Andy and Shani's music. Although Andy and Shani have not entirely broken into the American pop music scene-some Wheaton students have probably never heard of them-they are huge internationally. In fact, Andy has sold approximately 60 million albums worldwide and tours regularly around the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Australia. He's considered the ''Prince of Persian Rock'' and the ''Iranian Elvis.'' Shani's music appeared in the Academy Award-winning movie Crash. Both are known for music that reaches beyond ethnic boundaries.

Payman said Andy's music offers a ''ray of sunshine'' with messages of love and joy for a culture engulfed in daily conflict. Whether you are Persian or Arab, Payman said it "doesn't matter" because Andy blends cultures through music. He sings in English, Spanish, Armenian, Arabic and Indian, and combines traditional Middle Eastern sounds with Western instruments. Andy's music is banned in his home country of Iran for its implied sexual content, although he's their most famous pop star.

When asked how he attracted such a world-famous music star to Norton, Payman simply said, ''I e-mailed him.'' Payman and his group first gained approval from President Crutcher and the Office of Student Life, and then began fundraising and organizing the logistics of this large-scale event. The support on campus has been extensive, with funding from such groups as the Marshall Multicultural Center, the Center for Global Education and Hillel. The students hope to have enough funds pre-event to pay for Andy and Shani's performance, and send all the ticket proceeds to the International Red Cross.

Payman is thrilled to welcome Andy and Shani to Norton not simply because he loves their music, but also to introduce the Wheaton community to his culture "in a positive way." With all the negative press surrounding the Middle East, Payman hopes the concert shows the richness of his heritage and shares its message of "love, life and happiness."

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Payum Payman at (914) 474-5878 or e-mail payman_payum@wheatoncollege.edu.