Smiling faces, music and laughter filled the Cardinal Room Saturday night as a group of about 100 participated in the Russian Speaking Student Association’s (RSSA) celebration of International Women’s Day.

For nearly a century, the day has been dedicated to the celebration of women and the role women have played throughout history. In several countries, including Russia, it is a national holiday.

It is a day that “is not about a specific woman but women in general,” said Maria Cochran, graduate assistant in English.

Svitlana Zbarska, treasurer of the RSSA and graduate student in neuroscience, said the best part of the ISU celebration for her was the chance to interact with other Russian speaking students. Zbarska is from the Ukraine.

Marina Miroumian, vice president of the RSSA and graduate student in food service and lodging management, said the event and others sponsored by the RSSA allows Russian speaking students to form contacts that “help them to adopt to living in the United States.”

Miroumian, who is from Armenia, said it was also enjoyable for those who have been away from their homeland and traditions for several years.

The event began with men reading poems for and about women. Next, women drew a picture of the ideal male, while men drew a picture of the ideal female.

The women said they would like to see a man with a strong foundation that wants love and music but not too much television. The men said the ideal woman would be very beautiful and would love them forever.

Other games were played throughout the celebration including a tournament where balloons were tied around male participant’s ankles. The goal was to pop other people’s balloons and be the last one with a balloon left.

Kate Judge, graduate student in sociology, said the balloon popping tournament was her favorite event of the evening. She said she would like to see the celebration happen again and have it be even better in future years.

“We hope that more people will come and next year we’ll be given the chance to have authentic food,” said Judge, who is from Moscow.

After the formal celebration ended dance music that combined both American and Russian culture started to play as those gathered conversed in Russian. “They miss the contact and talking to each other,” Zbarska said.

Miroumian said the 74 members of RSSA come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have varied interests, yet all have the common bond of language. The organization was formed in 2000.

“We would like the other ISU students to learn more about the Russian culture,” Miroumian said.

The association is planning to have a booth at Veishea, a trip to the tulip festival in Pella and a trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb. “There are so many [RSSA members] with kids,” Miroumian said. The Omaha trip will allow parents and children to participate in an event together, she said.

Judge said there is an upcoming movie festival where Russian films and music will be played. “It’s everything we grew up on,” she said.

Earlier in the year, the RSSA made a trip to Chicago to help introduce members to American culture.