ARKATECH THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1923
THE
A R K A N S A S T E C H U N I V E R S I T Y / / T H U R S D A Y, M A R C H 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 • V O L . 9 2 N O . 1 9
Friends needed for Global Connect
CLAUDIA YOUNG Editor-in-Chief
One issue has plagued an international program since its establishment on campus ten years ago. Lack of American students. Global Connect, a program that pairs an international student and an American student for a semester, aims to bridge the gap between cultures on campus through friendship and mentoring. Students are paired, meet up once a week for a minimum of one hour and ask questions about each other’s culture. Lindsey Ingmire, international student adviser and head of the program, said Global Connect is more of a friendship service than anything. Ingmire said that though the program benefits both partners, American students are failing to sign up. Forty-eight international and American students are paired, but 40 international students are still waiting for a partner. With other responsibilities and tasks, Ingmire said she does not get to spend much time promoting the program so that all students are aware. She said this could be the main reason for the shortage of American students. Ingmire, who graduated from Tech in 2007 with a degree in Spanish, said she knew nothing about the program while she attended. “The same old problem persisted as it does now,” Ingmire said. “Even as a language major, which you would think would be the primary target of someone wanting to meet someone
JENN TERRELL/THE ARKA TECH Global Connect, a program that pairs an international student and an American student for a semester, aims to bridge the gap between cultures on campus through friendship and mentoring. from a different culture, I didn’t have any clue.” On the International and Multicultural Student Services Office website, the Global Connect flyer reads, “Enrich your college experience by mentoring an international student.” Ingmire said that another reason American students aren’t signing up could be that “mentoring” sounds like a large time commitment; many students are intimidated by the task.
The only requirement is that partners meet up for an hour per week, though Ingmire said she does not monitor the allotted time. Thamid Shantanu, junior sociology major from Bangladesh, participated in Global Connect during his freshman year. He said that he thinks Americans are afraid of being unfamiliar with other cultures and are afraid to hurt their partners
(see CONNECT page 4)
3-D Printer: now at Tech
OLIVIA KAYS
Contributing Writer The Millennium Falcon from Star Wars and the Eiffel Tower are just a few of the 3-D printed replicas on display by the new 3-D printer in the Ross Pendergraft Library. The printer was purchased to expose students to growing technology, according to the Office of Information Systems (OIS). “It’s one thing to read about technology, but another to experience and use it firsthand,” said Steve Milligan, associate director of OIS for networked systems and director of the technology center. Students can create their own designs using 3-D imaging software or download free designs from thingiverse.com; all designs can be submitted to
the OIS for printing. The cost for printing will be charged based on the weight, in grams, of the material used. Most small to medium designs will cost around $3, according to the OIS. “It has certainly generated a lot of interest, and we are excited to see students inspired to create their own designs,” said Milligan. Emily Geels, freshman agriculture education major from Fort Smith, said she has stopped to check out the 3-D printer three different times on her way to class. “Most students know that the technology of 3-D printers exist, but it is something they don’t usually get the chance to see,” Geels said. The future of the 3-D printers could “change the manufacturing world as we know it,” according to 3dprinting.com.
OLIVIA KAYS/THE ARKA TECH The Eiffel Tower is one of the 3-D printed replicas on display in the Ross Pendergraft Library.
News Commencement ceremony expands briefs AI OZEKI
In the ceremony, all the graduates shall wear academic regalia, and they may not put on any decorations and other items other than Tech Honors cords,
Contributing Writer
Spring break begins at 7 a.m. Monday, March 21 and ends 7 a.m. Monday, March 28.
Sports- The Golden
Suns softball team plays Southeastern in a double header from noon-3 p.m. Friday, March 25 at the Chartwells Athletic Complex. The teams will play in another double header from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, March 26. The Wonder Boys baseball team will play East Central from 7-10 p.m. Friday, March 18 at the baseball field. The teams will play again from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, March 19.
The Office of Registrar has just added a third time slot for the commencement ceremony of undergraduate students due to the number of the graduates and guests. The ceremonies are scheduled for May 7 at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in the Tucker Coliseum.
The graduates will attend the ceremony that matches the department they belong to. The college of eTech and Natural and Health Science ceremony is at 10 a.m.; college of Arts and Humanities and Business is at 2 p.m.; college of Education, Engineering and Applied Sciences and all associates degrees is at 6 p.m. “I believe that it is good that Tech is taking a more organized approach to the
AMBER QUAID/THE ARKA TECH large number of students,” said Brad Potts, senior creative writing major from Charleston who is graduating this semester. “It saves both the graduates and the families’ stress of waiting and large crowds.” Potts noticed that the graduation ceremonies at Tech have become larger than his freshman year in 2012. Though the graduating class seems to be expanding
there are still rules that must be followed for attendance. According to the e-mail sent to all graduates, “participation in the commencement ceremony is required of all degree candidates, except in cases involving hardship, and those who are not be able to attend the ceremony need to petition in writing to Dr. AJ Anglin, the vice president of the Office of the Academic Affairs, that the degree be awarded in absentia.”
Tech Honors medallion, Tradition Keepers cords and pins representative of university groups, according to the e-mail sent to all the graduates. Graduates who missed the Graduation Fair, which was an event held last week by the Tech Bookstore to give students a chance to buy regalia packages including cap, gown and tassel for the ceremony, have still a chance to order them on the Bookstore’s website. Additional information regarding the spring 2016 commencement ceremony is available on the Office of the Registrar’s website.