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University Daily Kansan
Friday, Oct. 30, 1964
Algerian Student Views American Life, Algeria
Mohammed Ben Ali, KU student from Algeria, started to offer an ashtray, then took it to the kitchen and washed it.
"I want you to see the design; it is symbolic of the Algerian liberalization," he said.
The small pewter cup showed an elaborately draped Algerian applying what appeared to be a whisk-broom to the seat of a peasant's pants.
"Not really," Mohammed laughed, "but there is obedience needed also in the education of my people."
BOTH MOHAMMED Ben Ali and his wife Benchehida are attending KU; he in political science and international relations, she in sociology.
Mohammed was involved in the student strike for independence in 1956, and after serving in the army he worked in the Political Bureau of the new government. Here he was partly responsible for the international political aspects of the "free" country.
Both intend to teach in Algeria upon completion of degrees at KU, and both definitely intend to aid in the political and social education of the newly-liberalized Algeria.
Although Mrs. Ben Ali played no part in the revolution, she said she "followed every word of the 'war' which leaked into the dormitory of her school."
She later had an inside contact, her sister was President Ben Bella's private secretary.
WHEN THE ALGERIAN government decided there was a definite need to send select students to the United States, Mohammed and Benchehida applied and were immediately designated.
"My government thinks much of American methods of teaching, and they pick very serious students who
will benefit by it, and then return to help Algeria by what they have learned," Mohammed said.
They were first sent to the Institute of International Education at New York City for an eight months (Nov.-Aug.) intensive study of English.
"We had never spoken a word of English before we came to New York," Mrs. Ben Ali said, in very precise pronunciation.
The Ben Alis are now readily understood, and correct each other only on terms not often used in ordinary, or even academic conversation.
"THE NEW YORK English program was very complete. We had five hours a day, including a two hour sound laboratory, and one hour each for grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation," Mrs. Ben Ali explained.
"Here at KU we only take three hours of English a week, but that is because we are considered advanced to most foreign students," she continued.
"We have trouble in many of our classes here, although the instructors are very helpful. The books take us much longer to read because we have to look up many words we have never used before," Mohammed explained.
Mrs. Ben Ali is in an introductory sociology course at the University which includes about 400 students in a large lecture hall.
"The instructor has a special meeting each week with foreign students to help them with anything they did not understand in class. I think this is very fine, and most helpful."
MOHAMMED BEN Ali's main interest as far as coming to KU is the international relations program.
"The instructor in my political science class asks for the students' own opinions on issues, and then we
talk about what the books, American press and the political candidates say. It is very interesting, but I have not contributed much yet.
"It is hard to know whether to speak in terms of my knowledge and experience in Algeria, or to try to speak more as the American sees it." Mohammed explained.
He feels the American students are very serious about their studies, and very interested in what is happening outside the University of Kansas.
One thing he feels is very good about the American political maze is that the party philosophies are not really very different.
"IT SEEMS that they change every four years, as to candidates and platforms. This limits them somewhat, but they do not remain rigid."
Mohammed said he cannot be objective concerning elections, because he must look at a candidate entirely from the foreign policy and aid to Algeria standpoint.
"I know Americans are also concerned about the domestic stands on American issues, but I am concerned about what will most help my country."
He said the press often represents the policies of other countries only as they are seen in America, and that this is not always what they really are.
"I think it would help a lot if more American reporters would go to a foreign country and go to the direct sources. Too often the people they talk to will criticize what hasn't been done, and not say what is good that has been done."
THE BEN ALIS are not all seriousness, however. Asked about other interests, there was no rigid range.
The thing which has amazed them most since coming to KU is the American sport of football.
"At the first KU game I could not believe it. The players were so big, and everyone was yelling so much," Mrs. Ben Ali said.
"Primarily we want to meet and know American students here at KU." Mrs. Ben Ali said.
"We had an American friend who explained what was happening down there, and we just yelled with the others," Mohammed added.
THE BEN ALIS have found American people and students very helpful in all areas. An assistant to the Dean of Men's office at KU met them when they first arrived, and a history instructor took them around to find an apartment.
"The only problem is, the apartments in New York were completely furnished. Here there were no sheets or dishes," Mrs. Ben Ali said.
The only thing which bothers Mohammed Ben Ali now is the flags. In the rotunda of the administration building at the University of Kansas fly the flags of almost all nations of the world. Missing, however, is the new Algerian flag.
But Dr. Clark Coan, assistant dean of men and international student adviser, has assured the Ben Alis that attempts to correct this will be made.
"If the Ben Alis do as well in their academic work as they already have in their personal relations, they will do very well here," Dean Coan said.