Wednesday, May 15, 1963 University Daily Kansan
Page 7
Americans Aren't Quite As Bad As Foreign Students Expected
(The second of a four-part series)
By Vinay Kothari
What do KU foreign students think of America?
Most opinions about the U.S. are based on American movies or contact with tourists and other Americans abroad.
Mohammed Ashgar, Saudi Arabia freshman, said Americans working in a Saudi Arabia oil company impressed him as being proud of themselves and unfriendly. But, after his arrival in the U.S., he said, Americans were more friendly and helpful than he expected.
Ashgar attended the University of Texas in Austin before he came to KU. He said KU students are more friendly than TU students, even though TU has more foreign students than KU.
MISS SALVA HADDAD. Lebanon graduate student, who is completing advanced work in English, said she will miss the casual, friendly and informal life of KU.
But Miss Haddad added she won't miss American insincerity.
In a letter to the editor of the Daily Kansan, Josefina A. Tecson, Philipines graduate student, wrote,
"I can give a general impression that Americans are no different from people of my country . . . from people of any other country in the world. Basically we are all alike.
"The only fundamental difference I see is in the physical appearance."
Commencing on physical appearance, Ramesh Gandhi, Bombay, India, junior, said most Americans have "high foreheads, large noses, and strong mouths."
HE SAID Americans seem enthusiastic and communicative. He added that Americans are lavish in their praise and generous in their approbation.
Gandhi said students that he has met at KU are practical, jovial, con-
ident, helpful and outspoken.
Augustine G. Kyei, Ghana, Africa, senior, said Americans are a people who enjoy wit and humor.
He said he likes American informality and ingenuity, but he disapproves of racial segregation in the U.S.
According to Walter Bogyai, Tanganyika sophomore, many Americans are naive, because they suppress their feelings.
A EUROPEAN STUDENT said he doesn't like to date American girls, because he doesn't like their casual behavior and dress. He described American girls as sloppy dressers
Susanne Bolstad, Oslo, Norway,
graduate student, said she did not
like the restrictions on women at
KU. She said KU women do not
have as much freedom as women in
Europe.
A study was made on the campus this year of the reactions of students from other lands, concerning American academic and social aspects. A similar study was conducted in 1960.
THE FOLLOWING generalizations concerning the reactions of students from other lands were noted:
- Despite the differences in the American education system and foreign education systems, foreign students at KU are satisfied with their academic work here.
- Most foreign students believe that the American educational standard is much lower than their own countries.
- While the English language is a barrier for some foreign students, the majority said that it is a handicap only for a short time.
- Most of the foreign students found the student-teacher relationship more friendly, informal, and constructive.
- However, they find the class
atmosphere too informal, with too little respect for the teacher.
- In general they believed that American students don't possess a wide range of interests; they are not challengable in academic work, and are less acquainted with daily issues of social, political and economical nature.
- Pravin Kothari, Bombay, India, was shocked when an elderly woman asked him, "Do you have milk in India?"
- The number of students interested in learning about world cultures is small, proven by looking at the American attendance at International Club activities.
- Foreign students believe that students at KU have better library and research facilities, but few students take advantage of these.
A group of six students from Australia, Pakistan. Germany, Guatemala, India and United States made a study of the relationships between the U.S. and foreign students at Louisiana State University. The group collected the following data:
THE NATURE of questions asked of foreign students display a degree of ignorance about the world that is very striking to a newcomer to the United States.
The reaction of many foreign students is to withdraw into their own
national groups. This restricts contact with Americans, and limits what they can learn about the United States, which often results in an unfavorable opinion of this country
At first, this may seem unimportant, but it should be remembered that most of these students will return to their countries as leaders.
AMERICAN STUDENTS miss a great opportunity by not making friends with the foreign students through whom they could obtain a deeper understanding of these people and their countries.
There is increasing realization of the American colleges' need to impart more knowledge of foreign cultures, governments and institutions to its American students. The presence of foreign students and scholars on many campuses offers rich opportunities in this respect.
State Solves City's Problem
SENIOR CHECK LIST
HADDONFIELD, N.J. — (UPI) — This community needed state intervention yesterday to solve a machine age problem.
It bought a sidewalk cleaning machine recently but found it couldn't operate it because of a law preventing motor vehicles on side-walks.
Yesterday Gov. Richard J. Hughes signed legislation permitting such devices to operate on municipal sidewalks.
PICK UP YOUR SENIOR REMINDER TODAY AT THE ALUMNI OFFICE 127 STRONG
This contains all of the information YOU NEED in order to prepare for commencement.
PICK UP YOUR CAP AND GOWN BY MAY 22
At Student Organization Window, 1st Floor, East Wing Strong.
There are still some sweatshirts and senior calendars in the alumni office 127 Strong.
P. S.
SPRING PINT SALE $3.95 PLUS TAX REGULARLY $5.00
Now is the ONCE·A·YEAR TIME TO SAVE BIG on the BIG pint-size Bonne Bell TEN·O·SIX LOTION
Ten-O-Six Lotion is the one cleansing and corrective cosmetic that helps your skin to complete natural beauty. Why not order two pints at our special annual sale price?
Fraternity Jewelry
Badges, Rings, Novelties Sweatshirts, Mugs, Paddles Cups, Trophies, Medals
411 W. 14th VI 3-1571 AL LAUTER
FAST FINISHED
Laundry Service RISK'S 613 Vermont
( But oh what a record she made )
"SHE WAS ONLY THE DEAN OF MEN'S DAUGHTER"
The only trouble is, it's been banned. From the radio at least. In fact, the whole darn Capitol album, "Campus Confidential" by the Four Preps, has been banned. "She Was Only The Dean of Men's Daughter" and the other numbers, like "Princess Poo-poo-ly Has Plenty Papaya," are just a little too... well, colorful for air play.
This album was recorded during a Four Preps Concert at UCLA. Their performance was wildly appreciated by the students, and we strongly suspect it will be wildly appreciated by everyone who hears it on this new Capitol release. (With the sole exception of radio station owners who want to keep their stations on the air.)
So slip into your nearest record store for "Campus Confidential" on Capitol. (In plain brown wrapper, of course.)
(P.S. Look for the Four Preps in concert on your campus.)