The Office of International Education recently celebrated International Education Week on campus. Like most events we see at Emporia State, it was a collection of events and activities with a strong message and great intention. But, also like most ESU campus events, it was under advertised and under supported by the rest of the school.
College is a time for new experiences – a time to live on your own, take challenging classes and explore new ideas. Probably the most important aspect of the college experience is getting to meet new and interesting people, those who are different from what you are used to.
At ESU, we have the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. Even more so, we are lucky to have such a strong number of international students who have traveled all over the globe to attend school here in Kansas. Many of these students have scrimped and saved their money to get to America in order to experience something new and wonderful and meet lots of interesting people along the way.
The only problem is some of them are being cheated of that experience. The international students have remained for the most part segregated from the rest of the campus and the American students. They live on dorm floors regulated strictly for them and spend a majority of their time with other students of their own nationality. There is little interaction with American students or the ESU faculty.
The divide that exists is not any one groups’ fault. The lack of cultural interaction is the result of a mutual neglect from the administration and the student body, both American and international.
Our campus should strive to do more to welcome international students and help them feel more comfortable right off the bat. There are a handful of welcoming events that are scheduled at the start of each semester; they could be emphasized more by the campus and attended more heavily by the student body.
Another big roadblock for international students is that they are often times all put on the same floor, with roommates that are also international students. Though this makes sense for a variety of reasons, it also takes away from their experience in America. Many of the international students would prefer to live with an American student: someone who can help them acclimate to their new home and learn in depth about American culture and everyday life.
Above all else, more responsibility should fall on us, the students of ESU, to go out of our way to welcome our international classmates. Imagine being in their shoes – halfway around the world in a strange new country, with no friends or family. You might not even know the language everyone else is speaking. Wouldn’t you want to meet some friendly people who could show you around?
When relationships are formed with international students, everyone involved stands to learn a great deal about the world around them. Not only will you learn about their country, its history culture and people, but you’ll be helping teach your own country’s history to another, and in the process you might gain new appreciation for things you used to take for granted. They say that teaching is the best way to learn something yourself, so through the act of helping others understand our country, you could do it, too.
And most importantly, you’ll be making new friends. And that’s something that can stay with you long after college has ended.
The Bulletin staff
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This editorial prompts me to share part of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity’s legacy over the last 20 plus years regarding international student membership in the local chapter. The chapter is richer because of these brothers from Australia, Bangladesh, China (2), Finland, Mexico/US (dual citizenship), Scotland, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. In fact, Phi Delt Sanaka Samarasinha of Sri Lanka, was Bulletin editor about 20 years ago.
I should also note that over the years the chapter has had brothers of American Indian ancestry significant enough to qualify them for tribal registry. The roster of our 500 brothers includes diverse religious beliefs and ethnicity, as well.
At least one organization has been experiencing cultural immersion over the years. I cannot argue with the commentary expressed above except to say that ESU is more culturally connected today than I have observed in the last many decades. More can be done.
Perhaps ESU should do a better job of communicating the expectation that every american student adopt an international student in class or the dorms.
Include free alcohol at international events and the place will be packed with eager students.
I think that asking COLLEGE students to adopt another student, or forcing them to attend anything is crazy. In a University where people bearly attend the traditional college activities (athletics, uac events), and the SAME people run everything, its simply not going to happen. I myself would prefer to live with a friend, not have to live with someone I don’t know, especially with the added responsibilty of showing them around, and vice versa would you want to live with someone who was nothing like you? I would like to know how many foreign exchance students with American students parings really last the entire year. I know some do, I also know that some do not, and some last but in undesireable conditions. I see people of all different backgrounds in the bars, obviously they are not finding it too hard to fit in.
Sass, isn’t it possible that international students who are out at bars together ARE finding it hard to fit in? I don’t understand how the mere fact that they are at bars means that they are doing fine “fitting in”.
Also, why do they have to “fit in” in the first place? Is it our goal for Chinese, Arabic, South Korean, and other students to “fit in”? Shouldn’t it be our goal to learn about each others cultures (languages, ways of thinking, ways of communicating)? Or do we assume, “Well, they’re in our country so they need to learn all about hot dogs, English, and Bud Lite. They have nothing to offer us.” Shouldn’t we at least consider the fact that Chinese students might have some really interesting history, language, and other things to discuss from 5000 years of history, or do we instead assume that we (as a nation with 10 percent of that history) are what they need to “fit into”?
Also, what about all the students who don’t drink or don’t (for whatever reason) go to bars? Are you saying they have to in order to socialize in Emporia? If so, that’s a sad statement about Emporia and/or you.
Emm, it is truly a great idea to allow and have alcohol at student events and in the union. Unfortunately there are only a few exceptions to the NO-ALCOHOL! policy at ESU.
1. People at tailgating parties. As we all know, athletes, athletics fans, and athletic donors are exempt from any university rules. Look at the cars football players drive and the apartments they live in. Give me a break.
2. People in the Hutchinson Family Pavilion (i.e. – the president’s box) at the Stadium for football games. Of course, people in power don’t have to follow rules. They get to make them!
3. The President’s House and Alumni Center. Again, if you’re in power you don’t have to follow rules.
It should be clear from exception 1, 2, and 3 that athletes and donors are in charge. I guess they should be, since that’s where the money is coming from. But let’s put aside the idea that there is really a no-alcohol policy on campus. And once we put it aside, why not have free alcohol or sell beer in the union? Can you imagine how much FUN the union would be? Can you imagine how many students would actually spend time there? Can you imagine how much money the union/university would make? Can you imagine how much safer it would be for students to walk to get beer in the union instead of driving (or even walking) to bars?