SPREES Events
The SPREES program regularly hosts events with the aim to build community and provide an opportunity for students to engage with Russian, East European, and Eurasian cultures firsthand. There are at least three events per semester hosted by SPREES with additional events hosted by the SPREES affiliated student organization Vmeste Student Union. Events usually center around music, food, or film which allows students to walk away with a deeper understanding of culture, history, and the traditions of the REES region.
During SPREES Chat & Chai, students and faculty get together to explore Eurasian cultures through conversation, regional foods, and board games. This is a great way for students to practice their Russian language skills and learn about the extensive cultural diversity of Eurasia.
This semester, SPREES Chat & Chai is held on Mondays from 5:30 - 6:15 pm in the SPREES House (249 E. Michigan Ave).
Both SPREES and Vmeste Student Union have movie nights in the SPREES House where students eat regional snacks while watching and discussing their thoughts on a film from Russia, Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the Soviet Union. In the past movies like Brother (1997), Honeyland (2019), and The Cranes Are Flying (1957) have been shown during movie nights.
From Maslenitsa to Nowruz, SPREES host events to celebrate many of the holidays that take place throughout Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. Students are able to learn about the traditions, cultures, foods, and peoples of the REES region through engaging with the holidays that are celebrated there.
The SPREES program has an end-of-the-year celebration every year during the last few weeks of the Spring semester. During this event, students and faculty gather at the SPREES House to celebrate the hard work of our graduating students and another year filled with community and learning.
