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latlg ®ar Hwl STUDENTS From Page 1 was worse than the immunization shots,” he said with a beer-lover’s grin. Despite the barriers, Bode and other nonresident aliens from more than 90 countries continue to flock to UNC. In fact, Bode is part of the largest foreign student enrollment in UNC’s history - more than 1,100. Though the record number repre sents a diversified group, foreign stu dents face many adjustment problems. Most international students inter viewed say the most persistent challenge is getting to know American students. Jaouad Bentaguena, a native of Lyon, France, said it is hard to get to know American students at UNC. “(Americans) don’t talk to you,” Bentaguena said. “I have two Americans (living) across the hall, and they don’t have time to share with international students. It’s a lot easier to meet (other) international students because they want to meet people and they understand your situation.” “Teaching for Inclusion,” a 1998 study conducted by the Center for Teaching and Learning, found that for eign students had difficulties integrat ing with American students. According to the study, foreign stu dents’ most common adjustment to UNC classes concerns the level of in class participation professors require. It comes as a surprise to foreign students that participation is a part of their grade. Bode said this emphasis is signifi cantly greater at UNC than at most German universities. “It’s good that students (in American classes) can talk and ask questions about OCTOBER REPORT From Page 1 are very impressive. “The accomplishment of much of the platform has left us in want of what to do," she said. In the remaining months, student exec utive officials have decided to focus their efforts on a variety of ongoing projects. Student Body Treasurer Patrick Frye said he wants to tackle the issues cov ered in his treasury report, including set tling anew account for the Student Activity Fund Office and improving the fairness of student fees allocations. Other student officials said their main goal is to increase and improve relations FOOTBALL From Page 1 Jarvies said the police had a lot of work left with the shooting incident Susan Page, a member of Parents for Peaceable Schools, said metal detectors are not the answer for school violence. The group, composed of McDougle Middle School parents, handed out fliers to people who entered the metal detec tors. The fliers addressed the different types of school violence and listed con tact information for residents. “We feel working with children for prevention methods is much more meaningful and successful,” Page said. Mark Bradley will discuss his new book This Astounding Close The Road to Bennett Place surrendered his troops to ■if ¥iTij Jjfej Union General William T. IMII M Sherman at Bennett Place, near what is now Durham, piilJilll Bradley lives in Raleigh and— is also the author of Last Thursday, Stand in the October 12th Carolinas: The Battle £ ppp of Bentonville. Bull’s Head Bookshop UNC Student Stores • 962-5060 bullshead@store.unc.edu whatever interests them,” he said. “But sometimes they show off and give a long speech, and that’s a little too much.” Many foreign students say they wel come questions about their internation al experiences and world views. Sophomore Rishi Chopra, a French student of Indian descent from a small town near Versailles, said in his classes, professors and students want to know how he sees the world. And while discussion groups tend to single him out, Chopra said he doesn’t mind. “I get asked lots of questions in class, but 1 don’t mind because I’m also learning about American culture and their perceptions,” he said. “It’s a great exchange.” Some international students say they feel alienated because many American students identify them through stereo types and not as individuals. Chopra said some of his neighbors in Hinton James Residence HaU last year teased him with the nickname “Frenchy” and other stereotypes. “From time to time, it gets on your nerves when they keep telling you ‘all French people are gay’ and ‘the French don’t shower,’” he said. Other international students said UNC’s living conditions significantly affect their experience. Not having an American roommate is one of the most common complaints from international students. Bode and his current French roommate said they were disappointed the Department of University Housing did not assign them American roommates. Two days a week, the roommates speak only German or French to improve their proficiency. “I hoped to have an American roommate to speak more English with, but at least I can with the student body. “We need to do a better job of reaching out to students and student groups,” Matthews said. One new initiative will include send ing student government officials to meet with student groups. Rentas said the executive branch’s goal for increased accessibility would help cre ate even more gains than have been made already. “We just want to inundate the student body with student government” The full report is available online at http://www.unc.edu/student/orgs/studgo v/octoberreport.htm. The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu. Jarvies said the school and police department are working together to come up with a safety plan. Guidance counselor Jeff Reilly said he has received solid feedback from stu dents and teachers. “We’re taking feedback and taking it into consideration for when we make improvements,” he said, Brett Peaice, a kicker on the Tigers football team, said the team was not anxious about the incidents. “We’ve come together as a team and gotten through it together.” The Tigers beat Durham’s Jordan High School 14-7. The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu. From Page One improve my French,” Bode said. Housing officials said they are now making more of an effort to pair foreign ers with American students. Ariadna Orozco of Mexico said hav ing an American roommate makes her “one of the lucky ones.” “I think it is better to have an American roommate because I improve my English, my pronuncia tion, and I leam about American atti tude, customs and habits,” she said. Most international students say a pos itive experience is not contingent upon a roommate’s nationality or the open ness of Americans. Instead, students such as Alistair Cooper, a sophomore from Scodand, say the key is to make the effort to get involved with campus life and to get to know Americans. “I take it upon myself to be up to my neck in several different UNC experi ences," said Cooper. “I think (interna tional students) need to constandy throw themselves in the deep end of the Carolina experience if they want to get the most out of a study abroad.” From living in an air-conditioned room to getting a good education, expectations of UNC have run high among international students. And although not every one is met, most international students say studying at UNC is a worthwhile adventure. Freshman Udayan Seksaria of Bombay, India, is no exception. “Everything doesn’t always gel like you hoped," Seksaria said. “But even though you get a little homesick, and it’s a long way from home, you get to experience this whole other culture. And that’s worth all the problems.” The Features Editor can be reached at features@unc.edu. 1 ■ ;* rM-’l *v .. s 1 -1 r ' Ar ' w'V* v ’imf if i ARTISTS AGAINST PIRACY . If# |%■ - .. STATISTICS From Page 1 centage of foreign undergraduates did not earn a top-25 ranking on U.S. News & World Report’s most recent list of universities with the most inter national students. Each year, UNC’s Office of Admissions receives about 10,000 out of-state applications from incoming undergraduates. About 500 of those applicants are foreign students. But of the 600 spaces usually awarded to out-of-state under graduates, international students earn fewer than 60 spots. Peacock said the limit on the num ber of out-of-state undergraduates UNC can accept each year - 18 per cent - has been the largest hindrance to bringing more international students to campus. “(The limit) is something that has been a thorn in the University’s side for many years,” he said. Despite the cap, Peacock said UNC can make many changes to attract more foreign students. These include enhancing study abroad programs, offering more courses with internation al focuses and keeping in better touch with international alumni. Jerome Lucido, director of admis sions, said a lack of funding also adds to the challenge of increasing the num ber of foreign students on campus. Barring die Morehead scholarship, UNC cannot offer scholarships to international undergraduates. “(The problem) is that those (inter national students) who can compete with the quality of our out-of-state American students are very often recruited away with scholarships to other colleges and universities,” he said. The University’s primary recruiting tools include its reputation, brochures, e-mails and word-of-mouth advertising by international alumni and American UNC students who study abroad. Scores of international organizations and an ambitious support network but tressed by the International Center and the Study Abroad Office also attract more international students to the University. The organization aims to protect against culture shock and offers a myri ad of interactions between American and foreign students through weekend getaways, conversation groups and an International Friendship Program, link ing foreign students with families from the Triangle. But the University also has its limits to recruiting international students. The admissions office has not been able to afford overseas recruiting trips, but Lucido said the office is consider ing cost-effective travel to target areas. “We’re not parochial,” he said. “But there is not a discrete recruiting budget for international students. We have to make crucial decisions with our resources. We can’t go flying off to India or around the world to recruit... so we may need to be more creative with this.” Lucido said one idea would involve the Kenan Institute in Asia, headquar tered in Bangkok, Thailand. As an international arm of the Kenan-Flagler Business School, it pro motes cooperative programs among U.S. and Asian corporations, universi ties and governments. The institute is a prime candidate to be molded into a transcontinental mag- Wednesday, October 11, 2000 net for UNC -one possible strategy involves the institute raising scholar ship funds for foreign UNC-bound stu dents. The Study Abroad Office proposes to increase die number of foreign stu dents on campus by changing the cur rent exchange system. Presendy, UNC can only admit exchange students from partner uni versities with which UNC has estab lished bilateral exchange contracts signed by the chancellor. If terms of study were widened to nondegree or pre-degree seeking stu dents - similar to programs by Continuing Education for U.S. students - the campus could then host more international students and students from a greater variety of schools and countries. UNC faculty have also suggested that international students be classified outside of the out-of-state category with a percentage cap of its own. Whatever steps UNC might take toward becoming more of an interna tional university, Peacock said it must preserve its regional mission in the face of globalization while striking a healthy balance between the two. “Carolina must and will become an international university,” Peacock said. “But it must do so without losing state and regional roots. “How can Carolina achieve this global objective while remaining root ed locally? Three principles: perspec tive, action and presence. (UNC must) see global and local as parts of the whole. Don’t destroy one for the other. Keep a balance.” The Features Editor can be reached at features@unc.edu. 5
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