The University of Oregon Global Scholars Hall will host the Carnival of Nations celebration, showcasing Brazilian, Italian and French cultural traditions on Friday, Feb. 22. The event kicks off at 2 p.m. with demonstrations in Brazilian and Italian cooking.

Spanish professor Robert Davis, coordinator of the event, was inspired to educate students on Brazilian culture because of the country’s growing popularity as host of the 2016 Olympic Games.

“I just wanted to give people a chance to find out what goes on (in Brazil),” he said. “I hope that we’ll have a nice turnout, that people will be curious and have a lot of fun.”

According to Luis Ruiz, a study abroad coordinator for the Office of International Affairs, the co-sponsored event by the Global Scholars Hall and the UO’s Department of Romance Language hopes to inspire interest in foreign cultures and participation in study abroad programs. The event will also generate publicity for the study of Portuguese language, newly added to the Romance Language curriculum in the fall of 2012.

Festivities will continue throughout the afternoon, culminating with a costume ball in the GSH Great Room from 8:30 p.m.-11 p.m. Events of the night will include guest lectures on the French, Italian and Brazilian cultures, mini-language lessons in Portuguese and Italian, live music, dance lessons and a mask-making workshop. In addition, the Fresh Marketcafé  will offer a variety of multicultural food specials for the event.

Samba Ja, a Eugene-based percussion ensemble specializing in “Afro-Brazilian” beats, will provide live music for the occasion.

Tickets to see the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet when he visits the University of Oregon will be available to students Tuesday, March 5. Tickets will be available at 10 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m. on March 6, or until student tickets run out. Student tickets will be free and only one ticket per student will be allowed.

The UO will send an email to students announcing how to purchase tickets.

His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso will deliver a lecture entitled “The Path to Peace and Happiness in the Global Society” in Matthew Knight Arena at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10. The Dalai Lama’s visit — made possible by the UO and the Eugene Sakya Center — will be his first appearance  in Eugene, according to a UO press release. If you can’t attend the lecture, the event will be live streamed on www.uoregon.edu.

Tickets for faculty and staff will be available for $20 between 10 a.m. on March 7 and 5 p.m. March 8 or until sold out. Faculty and staff will be limited to two tickets each. The public can purchase tickets for $20 starting on March 11.