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University Daily Kansan Monday, May 22, 1961
Foreign Students Bemoan KU 'Apathy'
(Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of three articles discussing the relationship between American and foreign students and what can be done to improve it. The first article discussed this relationship as seen by KU students.)
By Ron Gallagher
The attitude of American students toward foreign students was described as apathetic by most foreign students interviewed in a Daily Kansan survey.
Aslam Faridi, Karachi, Pakistan graduate student and president of the International Club, said that indifference is the biggest block between American and foreign students.
"The foreign student thinks America is a heaven on earth. This is his biggest disappointment when he comes here," Faridi said.
A STUDENT FROM Egypt commented that she expected America to be a technicolor picture with everyone smiling. "I didn't expect to find anyone unfriendly," she said.
Although most foreign students said they are finding their stay in the United States educational and enjoyable, almost all indicated that more contact with American students would increase the value of their experience.
Some were critical of the attitude expressed by American students. An undergraduate from India said:
"VERY, VERY FEW Americans.
including the staff and professors, are interested in foreign students. Students at KU want to make fun of foreign students," he said.
Another student said that Lawrence is a very conservative town. "They just don't like foreign students here," he commented.
Augustine Kyei, Accra, Ghana senior, said:
"Most Americans are satisfied with their own lot so they don't care what goes on in the rest of the world."
KYEI WAS disappointed with the attitude of fraternities and sororities.
"They could at least invite foreign students to their houses to exchange ideas," he said.
An Iraq graduate student commented that there does not seem to be a very friendly attitude among KU students in class.
"There may be 10 people in a class but at the end of the semester I may know only one or two of them," he said.
SOME DARK-SKINNED students from Africa and Asia reported housing difficulties and trouble at restaurants.
An Indian student said:
"In the paper these apartments are listed for rent. When I go to find out, the people say they are occupied. Yet I find they are still advertised."
Kyei said that although he has
only occasional difficulty, "I feel depressed when someone tries to show me there is a difference because of the color of our skin."
SOME FOREIGN STUDENTS said that they found American students very friendly. Jailal Razzak, Bagdad, Iraq freshman, said that he had more language troubles than any other difficulties in his first few months at KU. He said that the relationship between foreign and American students is an individual thing.
"The foreign student can make it as easy or as hard as he wants to," he said.
A FEW FOREIGN STUDENTS said that any poor relationship between them and American students might not always be the American's fault. They explain that sometimes there are basic misunderstandings between the foreign and American student.
Panayotis Danos, Athens, Greece junior, said that Americans often think foreign students are unfriendly when they are really shy.
Faridi said:
"Many foreign students suffer from inferiority complexes when
The Matterhorn, Switzerland's most famous peak, was first climbed in 1865. The British-led expedition ended tragically when three members of the party fell to their deaths during the descent.
they first come to the United States. It takes about six or seven months to overcome this" he said.
SAMY AFIFY, Cairo, Egypt graduate student, said that he thinks lack of time often hinders the American in his relations with foreign students. He remarked that in his travels through African, Asian and European countries, "I did not find any country that had a chance to have as many students from foreign lands as there are in America.
"There should be something to bring American and foreign students closer together at KU," he said.
(Tomorrow's article will discuss new or existing programs that could be used to promote better understanding between American and foreign students.)
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