Thursday January 21, 2010 year: 130 No. 50 the student voice of
The Ohio State University
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OSU helps students cope
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thelantern This summer, OSU goes to China First global offices open in Shanghai; university embassies planned for Brazil, India MICHAEL TOBIN Lantern reporter tobin.61@osu.edu Ohio State’s first “global gateway” is set to open in Shanghai this summer. With his global gateways, President E. Gordon Gee says the university will “plant its flag in the world.” “And by doing so,” Gee said, “we can make an enormous difference and also we will learn a great deal.” These global gateways will take shape as rented office spaces that serve as miniature OSU
embassies. In addition to Shanghai, gateways will also open in India and Brazil. The gateways will be multipurpose centers to help connect international students to OSU, and allow students and staff in the U.S. easier access to the world. One of the unique features of these gateways is that OSU will be linked to many universities and programs in a country rather than the traditional “one university” approach to study abroad programs. Gateways will also help coordinate with alumni, state officials and businesses. In addition, gateways will provide programs
where students have more access to other countries and where faculty can find new research projects. University officials aim to increase the number of undergraduate students involved in studyabroad programs and international internships by 50 percent, according to a presentation by William Brustein, the vice provost of Global Strategies and International Affairs. “It was so awesome,” said Samantha Agarwal, a fourth-year in political science who has studied abroad in both Spain and India. “I think that it is
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A healthy rematch
Last year the injury-plagued Buckeyes were soundly defeated by West Virginia — this year looks different
campus
Like board games? Join Student veterans present needs to Gee the club
KATHY CUBERT / Lantern photographer
OSU President E. Gordon Gee made a visit to Comparative Studies 308, a veterans-only class, Wednesday. Gee went to address any questions veterans had for him regarding steps the university is taking to accommodate their needs and concerns.
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KATHY CUBERT Lantern reporter cubert.1@osu.edu
Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee made a visit to the university’s first veteran’s-only class Wednesday afternoon to find out what issues veterans face as they transition into the university. The course, “Experiences of War,” is a GEC Arts and Humanities course that allows veterans to have debates in an environment where they can feel comfortable expressing their thoughts. The course is taught by Susan Hanson, assistant program director of Literacy Studies. Hanson has also coordinated a Veterans Learning Community and serves as the adviser for Vets 4 Vets, a student group created to support student veterans . Gee brought Viviana Ruiz, his assistant and a war veteran, to take notes as he allowed veterans to ask questions. Anything was fair game, Gee said. After giving general information about OSU, the questions came rapidly and Gee stayed for almost an hour, presenting information about OSU and listening to concerns. The answers to most questions by Gee were yes, yes and yes. Issues concerning the transferability of military courses and the potential for a VIP process for veteran applications were discussed by students. One veteran said his application was lost in transit three times as he applied while in Iraq. Paul Bland, an undecided second-year who served for 15 months in Iraq, asked if they could expect more classes in the future.
“The answer is yes,” Gee said. Another student wondered why OSU did not offer online classes for military members who are overseas. “That’s a good question, I don’t know exactly,” Gee said. “We are taking a very serious look at it.” Bryan Ortuno, a second-year business major, asked if there would there be any way to waive the application fee and cater orientation programs toward veterans. Gee said both would be possible. Veterans have been having difficulty transferring military courses or courses from other universities to OSU. “We don’t really have a good way to let people know up front how credits transfer,” said Michael Forrest, program director of Affirmative Action and Veterans Affairs at OSU. The veteran count is growing, said Forrest, This fall there were 1,016 veterans on campus. Hanson has been doing what she can to offer help to them and said she and the class had been excited about Gee’s visit and his support, “I’m looking forward to some advice from him how best to proceed in expanding the academic opportunities for these students,” Hanson said. Gee promised more action in the future by the university to accommodate veterans. “This should not be rocket science,” he said.
Prof keeps contact with colleagues in Haiti
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SAMANTHA SMITH Lantern reporter smith.5839@osu.edu
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One week after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, a 6.1 magnitude aftershock struck Wednesday morning. The northern mid-section of the country between Leogane and Petit-Goave took most of the damage — the same region that was badly damaged from the devastating earthquake last Tuesday. Associate professor Terri Teal Bucci, who runs the Haiti Empowerment Project at the Ohio State Mansfield campus, is keeping in contact with colleagues in Haiti. Bucci said most of the schools and universities are gone, and the University Caraibe, which she works with, is also destroyed.
Thousands of students lie under those buildings, and most schools do not plan to reopen until next year, Bucci said. As for the Hope School for Girls, the school Bucci works with closely, rebuilding will start tomorrow. The girls at the school are living in 10-foot by 10-foot depot rooms in a nearby clinic until it is safe enough to return, Bucci said. Structural engineers have come to evaluate the damage done to buildings, such as the guesthouse where Bucci stays while in Haiti. The Becky DeWine schools, which are located in Cite Soleil, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, plan to open as soon as possible, Bucci said. These schools have struggled with gang violence in the past but worked through it to provide as much normalacy for the children as possible. They hope to do the same in this situation.
Relief efforts are underway, but the problem is getting supplies to the people, Bucci said. Bucci’s Empowerment Project is a program to train teachers in Haiti. She will continue her work, despite the earthquakes. “I plan to meet the needs of the people,” Bucci said. Bucci regularly updates the Empowerment Project Facebook page with updates from her colleagues in Haiti.
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