Kosovo crisis is of concern on Cabrini's campus

by Alison Briant staff writer

While watching the news recently you have probably heard about the conflict that has erupted in a province of the country of Yugoslavia called Kosovo. Being at Cabrini College, a community of its own that has spring in the air, finals quickly approaching, and summer vacations impatiently waiting to be ventured, it is easy to let international news pass by unnoticed or unappreciated.

The conflicts in Kosovo, which have escalated' into a worldwide crisis, have however taken precedence in the life of one Cabrini College employee. In a divergence from the average college student, Shayla Hasic, a graduate of the class off 1998, has firsthand experience with living in an area of war-tom countries.

Shayla Hasic is employed by the Wood Dining Services at

Cabrini; a job she moved into after working with them during her term as a student. Her everyday activities around campus and in the cafeteria can however be easily interrupted by vivid memories of the life she once led.

Born and raised in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Hasic understands what it feels like to not be safe in her own home. She lived in the midst of the Bosnian war and therefore, lived in constant fear. Considering that the opposition would continue to remove bare necessities that are usually taken for granted (i.e. food, water, electricity,) Hasic found it imperative that she escape from her war-tom homeland. At age 16, she moved to Italy with her sister and brotherin-law and lived nearby a prominent American Air Force base, never to return to her home or her family again. Hasic continued her schooling, and soon found herself able to speak the language of her new country. Determined to make something of herself, Hasic applied to numerous colleges in America, finally choosing in 1994 to start her new life at Cabrini College. Graduation last May marked the four-year point for Hasic's residence in America.

Hasic relates closely with the present conflicts in Kosovo. "These problems just show that the old problems are still not over yet, they found some new place to attack," Hasic said.

Due to the fact that she is a Muslim, Hasic sympathizes with the Albanian position. America's involvement in the conflicts is an issue that Hasic finds "uncomfortable" to take a side on.

"I feel great about America being willing to help out against the obvious bad guys, but I am very concerned for the American soldiers," Hasic said. "I have made a home for myself here in the country and have a sense of loyalty for those over there fighting from this country."

The interaction of America draws the attention of the average citizen toward what might otherwise be overlooked. Hasic recognizes the difficulty for college students to comprehend the full ramifications of what a war means.

"People here take things for granted, which is understandable since they never knew how life could be worse, but they don't realize how fortunate they are," Hasic said.

"If they [students] want to know what is so great about America they can ask me, I can tell them!

"People have so much freedom in this country that they aren't even aware of," Hasic said. Hasic compared her life now to the one she left behind.

"My most treasured possession since I came to America is the freedom I have to choose my own destiny."