April 9, 2012

ISU’s window to the world Monday, April 9, 2012 Indiana State University www.indianastatesman.com Volume 119 Issue 70

Take a look at International Students and Programs at ISU

Page 2 • Monday ,April 9, 2012

Letter from the editor: Reader: This issue of the Statesman is dedicated to the International students at ISU. We want to show our appreciation to the students who have left their families and their homes to come to ISU from across the world to study.

At ISU there are a number of individual organizations as well as ISU’s International Programs for those who have left their homes and the comfort of their culture.

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Students come to ISU from around the globe Dustyn Fatheree

Assistant news editor

Students come far and wide from all corners of the world to study at Indiana State University through various programs.

The international program is a guiding hand to foreign students through procedures and standards they face when immigrating to campus.

International affairs director of the Office of International Programs and Services Chris McGrew said that the program aims to ease the pain of the immigration progress to.

“We are the office that facilitates the relationships with the 27 countries that have students here and ISU,” McGrew said. “We don’t direct the work, but when the faculty members want to invite a student from another country, we send the letter there.”

The potential student applies

Jessica Squires Editor-in-Chief

Director of International Affairs at the Office of International Programs and Services, Chris McGrew (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

for a degree at ISU and the International programs office does the academic credentialing by putting the transcript into their computer systems, he said.

Through various Visas issued by the program, students are admitted into ISU. For example, the F-1 and J-1 Visas deal with degree seeking students and permission from the government.

“To clear up the matter, a student from France would apply for a F-1 Visa, but before they can we give the coordinating office the permission to issue it,” McGrew said.

McGrew said that students must also have proper English skills and finance to come study at ISU. Along with reaching out a helping hand to immigrating students, the program has also established another option for students from ISU to study abroad from two weeks to a month long while being led by a faculty member.

“It’s a short term program, but we have given out 87 scholarships worth $1,000 each to study elsewhere,” McGrew said.

Another function of the International Program is to facilitate institutional agreements with countries like Thailand and Moroco.

“We have relations with foreign governments,” McGrew said. “Departments at ISU are sometimes interested in making cooperative agreements with foreign governments. Usually the agreements are for research and we facilitate and make sure the department interested in the agreement knows what the guidelines are.”

The International Program office also serves a counseling and advisor role to international students and the groups they form, he said. International student groups are facilitated on how to get established and other

A group of international students attending the 2011 orientation (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing). problems. Individual students also come in to the office seeking advice on immigration laws.

“Around ten to 50 international students come in to our office a day,” McGrew said. “We do not advise students on academic, social or cultural issues. Students are also required to see an immigration officer in the office to make sure everything checks out.”

McGrew said that the International Program aims to benefit ISU students, as well.

Through a diverse campus, different cultural perspective and academic diversity, it’s an enriching experience to students from Indiana and America.

“We want domestic students to know the value of a second or third language and have international students to interact with so there are different perspectives on an

issue,” he said. “It is enriching to the international student as well because they are out of their country and interact with American students.”

“We are the office that facilitates the relationships with the 27 countries that have students here and ISU.” Chris McGrew, director of International Programs and Services International/3

Page 3 • Friday ,April 9, 2012

International/From Page 2 There are 592 degree-seeking students, 115 through 120 students are part of an internship and degree programs, he said.

Overall, there are over 700 international students on campus, McGrew said.

There are also some future developments for the International Program.

“Unbounded Possibilities proposed to encourage faculty students to take students at ISU abroad,” McGrew said.

“At the end of the month we will have some events aimed to demystify visas and their impacts. Also, during spring week we will have a number of activities.”

The walls of the International Programs office are lined with artifacts from other countries.

“We receive a lot of gifts, such as a photo of an agreement in Hancock, beautiful artwork from different cultures and a plaque from Saudi Central in Washington D.C.,” McGrew said.

International students socializing in the Science Building (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

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ISU continues to welcome new students worldwide Ernest Rollins Sports Editor

ISU first year graduate student Ana Maira Charun Valdez first heard about ISU when she was contacted by ISU women’s volleyball head coach Traci Dahl. The Peruvian native went on to compete for two years for ISU women’s volleyball. Sophomore medical lab science major Wams Icy Wanjohi traveled to the university on New Years Day from Kenya.

These are just two international students that have made the trip to Terre Haute, Indiana and the numbers continue to grow. Zachariah Mathew, associate director of the International Program Services, said there are currently 587 international students enrolled at ISU with 338 in undergraduate programs and 240 in graduate programs.

Matthew said enrollment of international students is currently

increasing at ISU and can be attributed to the recruitment efforts and the initiatives that IPS has taken. The IPS use variety of methods to recruit and promote ISU abroad from social media sites to trips to other countries.

Countries ISU visit include India, Korea, Vietnam, Brazil and Argentina.

This year the IPS is going to Morocco, Taiwan, Thailand and Cambodia.

These visits are supported by ISU. Matthew said the recruitment of international students is important to ISU as it continues to become a truly diverse campus. It brings to ISU an international perspective as it brings together differing cultures and languages.

“This is about true diversity,” Matthew said. “We are preparing our students to face the global challenges through these perspectives and diversity.”

Matthew said that at ISU the international community represents approximately 61 countries. The largest

groups are from Saudi Arabia (182), India (66), Korea (57), China (54), United Arab Emirates (51), Taiwan (43), Japan (11), Congo (10) and Cambodia (10).

Matthew said for international students to be admitted to the university they must fulfill all the undergraduate requirements expected of campus and an additional set of requirements.

One of these requirements that all international students must prove is their proficiency in the English language. Matthew added they are a few ways the faculty of the IPS assesses an international student’s English proficiency. Potential undergraduate and graduate international students must partake in either the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language) or IELTS, Interlink, ELS classes test equivalent and obtain a certain score much like the SATs. Matthew said that along with the English proficiency tests, international

Continued on Page 5

ISU students participating in the 2012 Chinese New Year (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

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Monday, April 9, 2012 • Page 5

Continued From Page 4 students must show evidence that they have the financial ability to pay tuition fees which can range at ISU between 25,000 to 30,000 a year depending their enrollment status.

In regards to immigration status and student visas the process can vary slightly from one student to another and can be highly complicated.

However, what is true of all international students is that an I-20 is required. According to the Indiana State University website students must have the I-20 form issued by the ISU Office of International Program and Services after admittance to the university in order to apply for a student visa to study in the United States.

Matthew said students issued the I-20 will schedule an appointment with the U.S. Consulate in their home country and go through and interview process accessing the candidates interest in studying in the U.S. The length of the visa is usually based on how long the student plans to study. For example, undergraduates are typically issued a five – year visa. International students are required

Illustration by Jamie Nichols.

to go back after completion of education and are one of the big areas that are examined during the interview process.

Matthew said once a student has gone through the entire process and makes the

“This is about true diversity.

We are preparing our students to face the global challenges through these perspectives.”

Zachariah Matthew, assistant director of International Program Services trip to the United States their journey the IPS seeks to provide the student with any assistance they may require as it can be an overwhelming experience.

“We try everything that we can to integrate

them onto the campus,” Matthew said.

Matthew said some of the services to help students adjust include temporary housing for students who arrive to the U.S. before residence halls open, organizing trips from the airport and international student orientation. Matthew said the IPS and other international programs work hard to help students adjust to life in the U.S. Some of the challenges students face include anxiety due to accent, homesickness, weather, tragedies at home, such as the Tsunami in Japan and the uprising in Egypt.

“Some of the challenges I faced here were being away from my family for so long and getting used to a new town,” ISU first year graduate student Ana Maira Charun Valdez said.

Nonetheless, some international students have made the adjustments and are enjoying the life at ISU. “I absolutely love this school,” Valdez said.

“At ISU I met a lot of great people and have ISU campus continues to showcase Its diversity wonderful friends that I consider family and (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and they always make me feel like I am home.”

Marketing).

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Campus events highlight international students Indiana State University offers a wide range of international events and programs hosted on campus.

The African Student Union hosted their second annual African Global Night this year, with sponsorship by the Student Government Association,International Programs and Services and the Office of Diversity.

The event features traditional African dancing, singing and instrumental performances. Students also have the opportunity to try a variety of African foods. Similarly, Indian Global Night provides students with a glimpse into Indian culture through skits, presentations and dances. The celebration is followed by a traditional Indian dinner.

In January, a group Chinese students worked together in creating a Chinese New Year event to celebrate the year of the dragon. The celebration hosted approximately 300 students and members from the community. Such events serve not only as entertainment, but also as an opportunity for local Sycamores to become more educated about other cultures.

In addition to annual celebrations, programs are designed to help international students transition to ISU. International Student Orientation is hosted at the beginning of every spring and fall semester to help students become acquainted with the campus and allow them to meet with faculty members.

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Student Spotlight

Vadhera travels world, finds values in America Cassie Hauser Reporter

For junior marketing major Ishaan Vadhera, coming to the States and getting involved with Greek life has changed the person he has become.

“I went to an all boys’ school for 12 years, so I educated myself about fraternities when I was in India because I used to read about them. A lot of the books were about it being so secretive, and that fascinated me,” Vadhera said. “The guys who I befriended here my first semester were really helpful to me with the fraternity I joined. I had no one, so it was always nice.”

Vadhera’s main activity on-campus includes being an active member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, where he holds the title of vice president. His office keeps him very busy, but he feels being a part of Greek life is worth it.

To Vadhera, the most rewarding parts of being in a fraternity are the “friendships, the unconditional love [and the] sense of security and success.”

Vadhera sees the fraternal system as a way to help young men grow into the best possible version of themselves.

“One of the biggest reasons I want to stay in the fraternity system, even though it seems like hard work, is because I have grown up so much. If I can do it, everyone has the potential to learn and define themselves,” Vadhera said. “I can lead by example. I want them to see me and say, ‘this guy is doing what it takes to be a college student.’ If you’re a college student, do something. Believe in what you do, and don’t be lazy.”

As an international student, Vadhera has taken advantage of all of the experiences that he can have.

Vadhera is originally from Chandigarh, India. Chandigarh is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Before coming to ISU, Vadhera attended a British Catholic school and could already speak, read and write three languages: English, Punjab and Hindi.

Vadhera hopes to work for a few years in social media marketing and pursue his Master’s degree. Vadhera is planning to do a social media marketing internship this summer with Your Brand Voice in Florida, where he will be making videos for a

Ishaan Vadhera takes part in a dancing activity during his stay in Germany (Submitted photo). variety of clients, such as Sonic, the Mariot hotel company and some golf courses.

Vadhera currently creates videos for ISU athletics.

“We work closely with the student body to get them coming to the games,” Vadhera said.

Vadhera’s other interests include playing soccer and racquetball, participating in community service activities and traveling.

Vadhera has traveled to Texas, California, New York, Chicago, Hungary, Ukraine, Germany and France. He traveled to France, via the Steve Whitman scholarship that he received from ISU. During his travels, Vadhera enjoys making videos of the places that he visits.

Although Vadhera has traveled a lot, he had not been to America before he came to ISU. “Probably one of the biggest changes was independence. People over here are on their own. The work ethic is completely

different. They make their own decisions.

They make their own mistakes,” Vadhera said. “After 18 years old, you’re on your own. The family system was very different to me.”

Before deciding to come to ISU, he had high expectations of education in America.

He was expecting it to be a “good quality education, very hands on, practical, up to date with technology and changing trends and very intensive,” he said.

“The education system over here is very challenging. It gets the better out of you.

The teachers are smarter than you in a lot of ways,” Vadhera said.

Although Vadhera had expectations for education in America, he did not really have any perception about what education specifically at ISU would be like.

“The first reason I came here was because my best friend for so many years was going to Rose-Hulman [Institute of Technology], but ISU was affordable and

close to where he was living,” Vadhera said.

Vadhera has had many experiences at ISU, and he has also helped his friends have new experiences by showing them parts of his home culture.

“I tell a lot of my [fraternity] brothers and close friends about India. I’m open to all kinds of questions. I play a lot of soccer, take my friends out to eat Indian food or sometimes watch Indian movies,” Vadhera said.

Vadhera has gotten involved oncampus, and he sees a lot of benefits from studying in another country.

“It gives you exposure [and] a lot of good experience. I think the best thing about studying abroad or alone is that the struggle defines you a lot. You have nothing to lose, no identity in a new place and no reason to have an ego,” Vadhera said. “Just keep working for what you believe in. I try putting in my little bit of what I can do. It goes on from there.”

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Monday, April 9, 2012 • Page 9

Spotlight Entertainment looks to use music to join all students Joshua Ayala Reporter

A new plan is forming at Indiana State University, with the potential to showcase the musical talents of its students every Thursday night around the fountain.

Spotlight Entertainment plans to combine efforts with ISU’s International Programs and seeks to encourage students to come out around the fountain every Thursday evening and enjoy the music or participate in playing music.

If the permission is granted soon, Spotlight Entertainment hopes to host the first official Rock the Fountain event in the coming weeks.

If not, however, Spotlight Entertainment and International Programs plan to work over the summer in order to make Rock the Fountain a Thursday evening event at during the next fall semester.

The idea for the weekly program called Rock the Fountain came from members of Spotlight Entertainment, and received its name from the organization’s vice president Elle Humbert.

Those taking part in organizing the program want students to meet new people

through the medium of music. There will be a great potential for cultural learning amongst international and domestic students, as well as the potential for networking.

“I think this would be a great program to implement because it is a way for students to meet and see other students perform, not to mention relax after classes,” said sophomore public relations major John Rudy.

A lot of people are excited about the idea.

However, the program is not official yet, said senior music business administration major Andre Brousseau.

“The program is still being discussed with university officials due to the fact that there will be live music,” Brousseau said. As of now, the program is said to be every Thursdays primarily between the hours of 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., he said.

Once the program is official, the organizations involved hope to add some creative elements each week in conjunction with the live music, such as themes.

“Music is a great way to break down social boundaries, and Rock the Fountain will hopefully allow students to have new musical and social experiences, and add just another Spotlight Entertainment members hope to kick off “Rock the Fountain,” which will great aspect to the ISU experience itself,” bring all students together with music as a common interest (Photo by Marcus Steiner).

Brousseau said.

The Pathway to Success Campus and Community members are invited to attend the

3rd Annual Strategic Planning Stakeholders Conference Thursday April 12, 2012 Heritage Ballroom and Lounge, Tirey Hall • Indiana State University

8:30 a.m.

9 a.m.

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11 a.m.

Noon 1:15 p.m.

2:15 p.m.

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Continental Breakfast Plenary Session featuring Trustee President Michael Alley Break Goal 4: Strengthen and Leverage Programs of Strength and Promise Goal 5: Diversify Revenue: Philanthropy, Contracts and Grants Goal 6: Recruit and Retain Great Faculty and Staff Partnering for Success Lunch (Reservations requested, contact Rita Anderson, 237-4000 or rita.anderson@indstate.edu Goal 1: Increase Enrollment and Student Success Goal 2: Advance Experiential Learning Goal 3: Enhance Community Engagement Closing Comments Conference Ends

Page 10 • Monday, April 9, 2012

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International Student Organizations bring culture to community Aaron Abel

Assistant features editor

Indiana State University’s International Student Organization (ISO) oversees nine different International Student Associations, which welcome members of all ethnicities to join.

ISO’s mission is to create a friendly international community at ISU, with the intention of educating both international and American students about different cultures.

The various international student associations are central to facilitating this goal.

The student associations also serve in integrating the international students into the campus.

“A lot of international students go through college with just five or six friends,” international affairs associate director Zachariah Matthew said. “They go to class and hang out with their group of friends but that’s it.”

Matthew sees these associations as a way for students to branch out and meet new people while exploring the ISU campus and Terre Haute community.

“The organizations are about the experiential learning opportunity,” Matthew said. “They help make campus life central to the college experience and act as platforms for students from other countries to get involved with other students on campus.”

While all of the associations are encouraged to become involved in campus activities, the level of membership and activity varies from

group to group.

“The Hispanic Student Association, for instance, is one of the smallest groups,” Matthew said. “But they are also one of the most active.”

The Hispanic Student Association recently offered free Latin dance classes to anyone interested. They also host a lot of conversation tables, game nights, cultural presentations and other activities, Matthew said.

“The clubs are not strictly for international students,” Matthew said. “The organizations are open to anyone.”

As associate director, Matthew coordinates international student and scholar services and assists the individual student groups in sponsoring campus and community events.

“There are many other activities these groups are involved in,” Matthew said. “The organizations give presentations promoting cultural awareness, hold language conversation tables and host game nights.”

The Diversity Fair is the biggest cultural event that the organizations are involved in throughout the year. The fifth annual fair took place on March 28 at Union Hospital where international students represented their cultures by wearing traditional clothing, serving ethnic food and speaking with participants about health-related issues.

“One of my main challenges is getting students involved in the organizations,” Matthew said. “Students need to know that these are not exclusive organizations, all international student organization hosted events are open to the entire campus.”

Despite its small size, the Hispanic Student Association remains active on-campus. They hosted a free Latin dance workshop last week in Sycamore Lounge (Photo by Marcus Steiner).

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Monday, April 9, 2012 • Page 11

International and Diversity Student Organizations African Student Association

Korean Student Association

Veronica Larbi, president

Kyoil Koo, president

Chinese Student and Scholar Association

Muslim Student Organization

Jaiwei Gao, president

msa_isu@hotmail.com

Hispanic Student Association

Saudi Club

Ericka Verduzo, president

Sameer Al-Najdi, president

Indian Student Association

Taiwanese Student Association

Pavan Chaitanya, president

Pei-Cheng Chiu, president

Japanese Student Association

International Student Association

http://mama.indstate.edu/users/jsa/

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International Statistics

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Information courtesy of U.S. Department of Education

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Information courtesy of U.S. Department of Education

Page 14 • Monday, April 9, 2012

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ISU, Chinese students study abroad as part of partnership Austin Arceo-Negrich

ISU Communications and Marketing

When Ethan Wilkinson learned that his housing plans had changed, the reason piqued his interest.

He was one of eight students from Indiana State University who studied last semester at Liaoning University in Shenyang, China. Five students from Liaoning are spending the year studying at ISU in a student exchange as part of the longstanding partnership between the two universities.

Wilkinson, a senior from Anderson who is majoring in packaging and engineering technology, first learned of the program through an informational e-mail sent to students. He began to seriously consider studying abroad in Liaoning once he learned one of his friends - and potential roommates - told him that he planned to participate in the trip.

For Wilkinson, the trans-hemispheric travel was the first time he flew on an airplane. Once there, the ISU students enrolled in several classes taught in English, including a course about Chinese culture and a class teaching the Chinese

language.

“I always had thought it would be beneficial and exciting to study abroad,” said Aubrey Hancock, a senior accounting major from Vincennes who participated in the exchange. “I liked the idea of being part of the first group of students to go, I liked being able to go in a group setting, and I thought going to China would be a very unique experience.”

Hancock also wanted to learn more about business relations with China. Liaoning University provided for a two-day culture trip, which included stops at multiple stops and cities.

Hancock even met a friend she knew from her hometown, who was also studying abroad, during a visit to Shanghai.

“All the Chinese faculty and friends I made while in China were so hospitable, and generous with their time and resources,” Hancock said.

Several groups of ISU students and faculty members toured Liaoning University in the past, though those were for shorter durations. With the student exchange, the ISU students lived in China for four months and navigated their way around a campus, country and culture vastly different from their own.

Indiana State University students among a group that visited sites during a cultural trip in China. Eight ISU students spent the fall semester studying at Liaoning University as part of the longstanding partnership between the two universities (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

Continued on page 16

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Continued from Page14

Indiana State University students Zack McAdams, Ethan Wilkinson and Ryan Teppen pose at a site in China. The three were among a group of ISU students studying at Liaoning University last semester as part of a student exchange between the two institutions (Photo courtesy of ISU Communications and Marketing).

“The benefit of a semester is that once they get there, they really get into a routine,” said Janis Halpern, ISU director of academic programs abroad, “and they get into a routine where they have to adapt to another culture and learn how to function successfully somewhere that is outside of their comfort zone.”

Students from Liaoning also have been experiencing life at ISU. Hongyu Guo, one of the students studying at ISU this year, adjusted to the courses and the American lifestyle. She met other ISU students, and now regularly goes out and visits with her friends on the weekends.

“It’s very fun. I enjoy the life,” Guo said. “It’s a different cultural experience, and I love to see the differences, and the thing I love most about Terre Haute is the people here are very nice.”

Liaoning exchange student Fanchao Meng lives in Shenyang. He wanted to study internationally, and was interested when he learned about the student exchange with ISU. While he is an economics major, he also took advantage of the different courses offered at Indiana State, enrolling in a class about recreation and sports, one of his interests.

He also has enjoyed learning about various aspects of American culture, from people’s mannerisms to American food, and even the U.S. take on Chinese food. He has met other international students studying at Indiana State, and has even helped to create some programming at ISU, including this year’s Chinese New Year celebration.

“This is the first time I have studied abroad, or even traveled abroad, so I knew that this program would let me see other aspects of the whole world, because if you travel that long, the culture is different, the way that people behave is different and the food is different,” he said. “So I was sure that I would enjoy some new things.”

Students from Liaoning and Indiana State both noticed the difference in teaching styles among the professors at the universities. Wilkinson noted that students attending Liaoning typically will take more courses per semester than students attending Indiana State. Several students also

noticed that at ISU, professors assign more homework and quizzes throughout the semester than their counterparts at Liaoning.

“But here for classes, you have a lot of assignments, teamwork, team meetings, group meetings a lot,” Meng said. “It’s cool, because students can make full use of their daily time. Professors do not want them to waste their time.”

Though the students studying abroad have relished their experiences, they each encountered complications from living immersed in a culture different from their own. The students studying at Liaoning University were the first group of students to study for an entire semester as part of the agreement between the two universities.

“We want more students coming to the university because we think China can be a place full of possibilities...,” said Zhang Yang, who works in the international exchanges department at Liaoning University. “I’ve met many Americans that they never thought they could study or live in China, but when they come, they love it, and they decide to work, live, even get married in China.”

Hancock found that fewer people spoke English in China than she initially anticipated, though it ultimately didn’t affect her opinion of the trip.

“I didn’t set too many expectations on how it ‘should go;’ instead I went into the trip with an open mind, ready to experience whatever was thrown my way,” Hancock said. “I expected it to go well having this attitude, and it definitely went well!”

Students from both universities learned from their experiences. Guo lives in Shenyang, and so she would frequently return home for the weekends while studying at Liaoning University. Yet she has enjoyed studying at ISU and living in the U.S., which helped her learn more about herself while living so far from her family.

“It’s a good experience,” she said, “and I think if I didn’t come to America ... I wouldn’t know what kind of person I am.”