THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY,OCTOBER 27,2008
NEWS
3A
ORGANIZATIONS
Forging a multi-cultural community
Students for Global Awareness works to ensure the voices of KU's international students are heard
BY HALEY JONES
hjones@kansan.com
A group called Students for Global Awareness is working to help international students at the University get the most out of the fees they pay.
Jeff Siler, Overland Park junior and chairman of Student Senate's Academic Services Board, said he started the group last year hoping it would help international students get involved and have more representation in student leadership. Siler said the growing international population at the University made it more important for students and student groups to foster a community, regardless of culture, religion or race.
elected governing representatives." Siler said he was concerned
"Every international student I've talked to said they weren't really a
SGA has weekly meetings where members of any student group on campus — usually ethnically or culturally based groups — can
"Every international student I've talked to said they weren't really a part of the student body."
meet people, share ideas and learn how to secure funding from governing bodies such as Student Senate.
The mission statement of SGA says every student is paying the same student fees and is "entitled to effective administration by their
"If you asked international students on campus
part of the student body," Siler said. "We wanted to bridge that gap by using a student connection."
whether they're involved in campus or their student fee money is being effectively spent, I don't think they would say they're getting the most bang for their buck." Siler said.
that some of the international students weren't aware of how they could get involved in campus life.
Wendy Yung, a 2008 graduate from Hong Kong, was a member of the Hong Kong & Macau Student
Association for four years.
She said that funding from Student Senate, but that most groups for international students did not know funding was available.
a little out of it but not that much.
Yung said SGA would not only
She said some of her friends who were international students
"They are here for studying,but they also want to get to know more American people and learn their culture."
didn't know how their student fees were being spent or that the Senate even existed when elections came in the spring.
"No one knows anything unless you are really active on campus," Yung said. "So I guess, for me, I get
WENDY YUNG
2008 graduate
help international students learn about the political process of requesting group funding, but also help them make American friends. She said many international
students found it difficult to assimilate into American culture and meet people.
"They are here for studying, but they also want to get to know more American people and learn their culture," Yung said.
SGA has garnered support from Student Senate, and several members of the executive board have become involved with the group. He said that 35 student groups were on the official e-mail list, but that SGA wanted to reach new groups.
Yaser AlZaver, president of the International Student Association, said SGA had been a good place for members of his group to forge partnerships with other international student groups. He said although the International Student Association had a student senator who helped the group request funding, SGA would help other groups without student senators to secure more publicity and funding.
Edited by Adam Mowder