Friday. May 17, 1963
University Daily Kansan
Page 3
Foreign Student Adviser Aids Adjustment
By Vinav Kothari
(The last of a four part series.)
(The last of a four part series.)
For the foreign students who have trouble adjusting, KU has a foreign student adviser and committee to look after their interests and assist them.
Clark Coan, foreign student adviser and assistant dean of men, said he deals with the foreign students as a counselor. He said most of the students come to him for both small or serious problems.
"I TRY to help the foreign student with a variety of personal problems such as immigration relationships, financial matters, relations with sponsors, academic processes and personal adjustments." Coa said.
He said as soon as his office learns of the admission of a foreign student to KU, the students are sent a special letter, pamphlets and catalogs to inform them about the United States. its education system and the way of life.
Coan said that the students are also asked to arrive in the United States about two weeks before the beginning of the semester in which they plan to start their studies.
"KU HAS AN orientation period for new students during the week preceding the opening of school and I urge foreign students to attend each orientation session," he said. "The academic procedures are explained and clarified in the orientation sessions."
He said, "The two-fold purpose of the program is to help students from other lands adjust to educational procedures at KU and help them learn American manners and customs.
Coan said his committee arranges to meet new students when they arrive in Lawrence and help them to find temporary or permanent accommodation.
Coan said many foreign students prefer to live in private apartments rather than university housing because of special food and dietetic problems.
SOME HINDUS do not eat beef, and some Muslims do not eat pork because of religious restrictions. Some foreign students are purely vegetarian and do not eat meat at all.
Coan said housing is a very important problem for foreign students and the foreign student office has been only partly successful in obtaining good accommodations for foreign students.
HE SAID it disappointed him to see many foreign students living with their native people on the campus. He said some of them also associate largely with their native group and this does not serve the objectives of the KU International Student Program.
Coan enumerated the objectives of the International Student Program at KU. They are:
- "To offer the foreign students educational training, cultural and social opportunities.
- "To aid in the enrichment of the campus for Kansas students and faculty.
- "To make foreign students aware and to create an appreciation of the variations of many facets of life in the United States so as to be able to communicate intelligently about this country in the interests of international understanding."
COAN SAID each year his office plans community hospitality trips in an effort to get as many foreign students in American homes as possible. He said the trips usually bring closer relationships between American hosts and foreign students.
He said he provides an opportunity for the foreign students to take advantage of the hospitality trips, but he said he does not force them to go.
"The hospitality trips are planned on two bases, individual basis and group hospital," Coan said. "The trips are usually either for a short stay during vacation or on weekend or just for a meal."
Coan said his office works closely with the "American Brother-Sister Program" of People-to-Feople.
"THE PROGRAM, which is dedicated to providing each foreign student with an American 'brother' or
'sister,' helps new foreign arrivals to adjust to American ways,' he said. "Often the American brother or sister helps his foreign counterpart get settled and register at the University.
"The brother-sister program promotes brotherhood in the sense that the American half is hospitable and shows the foreign student how one American looks at life. The American learns that while foreign students may disagree with the United States policy, they can still be very friendly on a personal basis."
Stressing the importance of the brother-sister program, Coan said the program should be promoted on the campus and there should be a community hospitality committee organized in Lawrence.
Besides the foreign student adviser's committee, P-t-P, established on campus in 1961, also helps foreign students become better integrated with American life.
ORGANIZED with the purpose of giving the foreign student a "home away from home." P-t-P has several operating committees.
The committees include:
- Brother-Sister — enables local students to meet incoming foreign students upon arrival, and help them in general orientation throughout their visit.
- Job Placement - functions by assisting students from other lands in finding employment in the United States. This committee is responsible for procuring summer employment for foreign students and assisting them in the satisfactory execution of their work.
- Hospitality - assists in finding housing for the foreign students. It arranges industrial and farm tours;
coordinates home visitation with the local community, and arranges special vacation programs, such as trips, picnies and student exchanges between campuses.
- American Student Abroad - keeps in close contact with international alumni who have returned to their respective lands. The committee also sponsors the "Student Ambassador" program which enables students to travel each summer, meeting their counterparts throughout the world.
- Forum — provides an intellectual flavor to the University P-t-P program. The committee plans forums and panel discussions about controversial international issues.
- Public Relations Committee — has three responsibilities; to inform the university student of opportunities in P-t-P and promote outside interest in the program; to handle news releases, and to coordinate correspondence and inter-committee communication.
- English in Action—sets up one-to-one relationships between American students and foreign students for the regular practice of conversational English.
- Membership — has four basic functions: to assign members to various committees trying to match interests and abilities with needs; to
keep in touch with members and committee heads in order to keep abreast of changing needs; to evaluate the functions of P-t-P, to further the idea of foreign and American students working together.
- Special Project — arranges special or suggested projects.
THE OTHER campus organization that plans activities for foreign students is the International Club. It arranges various cultural and educational programs each week in an effort to exchange ideas and cultures,
The club arranges panel discussions, a trip to Mexico during Christmas vacation, the International banquet, field trips and picnics.
HAVING A PARTY?
We are always happy to serve you with Ice cold beverages Chips, nuts, cookies Variety of grocery items Crushed ice, candy Ice cold 6 pacs all kinds
OPEN TO 10 P.M.EVERY EVENING
- food and beverages at the clubhouse
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616 Vt. Ph.VI 3-0350
GOLFERS
- Hillview Gold Course - South on Hiway 69
HERE IT IS!
- $4.00 entry fee
Sunday, May 19, 1963
TOURNAMENT
announces a
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18 holes — medal play
3 trophies per flight
- 5 flights
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WITH Buskens CASUALS
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837 Mass.
VI 3-4255