Good will has brought them together. Like the Magi of ancestral traditions and the shepherds of candid simplicity, they offer their gifts of what is precious, genuine and their own, to truth that shines forever and enlightens all people. Upon completion of their rooms, the committees turn to a vigorous program of intercultural exchange. Active groups such as the Women's International Club and the Nationality Council augment the room committees. National, traditional, and religious holidays are celebrated on campus, and the committees decorate their rooms or mount displays to commemorate special occasions.
Committees sponsor workshops on ethnic studies and foster courses in the mother languages.
It is difficult to measure the educational impact of the Nationality Rooms since 1938 when the first ones were completed. University classes meet in the classrooms from early morning until late at night, amidst surroundings designed to enhance the learning experience. A single hand-carved chair or a stained glass portrait may set the viewer on a rewarding quest. Since 1944, members of Quo Vadis, a volunteer student organization, study the rooms in great detail and conduct guided tours for nearly 3O,OOO visitors each year. Special interpretations are adapted for children, senior citizens, the handicapped, and groups with special interests such as architecture, interior design, art, mythology, or religion.