KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010 / BACK TO SCHOOL
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ORGANIZATIONS
Global Partners seeks more students
Group of American, international students study and socialize together
BY LUYAN WANG
lwang@kansan.com
The Global Partners program is looking for more male students whose native language is English.
Members of Global Partners meet Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little at her home. The group matches international students with American students and hosts events such as ice cream socials, baseball games and dinners.
The program, which began in 2006 matches one international student with one American student of the same gender to share their life experiences, practice their language skills and learn about different cultures through friendship and activities. Program coordinator Celeste Yaluk said because not enough American male students registered last year, the program was forced to match two or three international men to one American man.
Yaluk said that of the 190 students registered last fall, the program had fewer international women than men.
"A lot of American girls want to participate, so we need a lot more international girls." Yaluk said.
Yaluk hopes that more American men will join this year, so that all of the international male students will have a partner. Yaluk said the program could benefit both American students and international students. She said it could be helpful for students who want to study abroad to meet people from the place they would like to go and learn about the culture before they depart.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Sidrah Sheikh, a junior from Chicago, heard about the program at a study abroad fair and joined in 2009. Sheikh's partner, Nansook, is from South Korea. They often hang out together in their free time. Sheikh said she loved the program and that it was a great way to connect with people from around the world and learn about different cultures.
"I also know that if I am ever in South Korea I will have a place to stay and someone to show me around," Sheikh said.
More than 50 students in the program come to each monthly social event. Students in the program are encouraged to come with their partners to these events, such as ice cream socials, Royals games, bowling and dinners. The program took a group of people to a pumpkin patch in October, hosted a Harvest Featuring dishes from all over the world in November and taught students how to bowl in early spring. In May, they had an opportunity to meet the chancellor at her home on campus.
But very few American men participate in the group events.
"I think that it's not because they wouldn't want to participate," Yaluk said. "Maybe I just haven't been able to connect with them yet."
Yaluk said many students who do register for the program continue to do so throughout their college careers.
Paige Henderson, a sophomore from Wichita, joined Global Partners in Fall 2009. Henderson's current partner is Lei Yu, an undergraduate student from China. The two met regularly during the school year, usually for dinner. Henderson said she was looking forward to this upcoming semester in the program.
"I asked for an Indian student this semester, as I will begin studying Hindi," Henderson said.
The program matches students based on their majors and outside interests. They hope more students will be able to study together.
Brittany Love, a 2010 graduate and former president of the KU
Chemistry Club, joined the program a year ago.
Love's partner, Marina Kilduff, is from Roscommon, Ireland, and is studying chemistry at the University. Marina joined the club after they met. Marina and Love have attended
all of the scheduled events for the program together and they run into each other on campus, at church and around town.
Love said she learned not only about Ireland from Marina, but also about Scotland, Saudi Arabia.
China and countless other countries through Global Partners events.
Students interested in the program must register by Sept. 10. More information is available on the Office of International Programs website at www.oip.ku.edu.
son/KANSAN
et lab
wrence-
science
MONTEMATOR
smontemayor@kansan.com
E 6A
For having grown up with the onset of the Internet, our generation may not be all that Web savvy when it comes to researching, a study by the International Journal of Communication suggests.
M. D. Rezaiekhaligh/KANSAN
The study, written and conducted by professors at Northwestern University, found that students often only chose websites that appeared at the top of Google searches to complete tasks or perform research. Eszter Hargitta, associate professor of communication studies at Northwestern and one of the studies' authors, said that most mistakes in the Web research process occur before students even click "Search."
"I think part of it is not so much necessarily what else they can be using?" Hargittai said. "I think a big part of it is being more critical and careful about what they are already using."
University of Kansas students have nearly 400 databases at their fingertips, with information on every subject at the University that is not usually found through Google searches.
Hargittai said that search results aren't necessarily ranked in terms of credibility. More sophisticated queries are also needed to glean credible sources from popular search engines.
Tami Albin, undergraduate instruction and outreach librarian, often helps students interested in improving their ability to navigate the library's extensive online resources. She said that whether a student is using Google or a library database, a level of skill is needed to effectively complete a desired task online.
SEE RESEARCH ON PAGE 6A
"The research process, you know, it's like anything else." Albin said. "You learn how to do something well over time. With new technologies, you have to learn how to do research different ways. A student who jumps online and pulls three articles off of the Internet and then writes a paper on it and hands it in the next day is not going to get really, really good grades."
While Alec Rothman, a sophomore from Boston, is an exception to the rule, Thea Glassman, a sophomore from New York City, affirms the study's results.
"My English teacher last year actually looked at our bibliographies before he read our papers to see how valid our sources were," Rothman said. "And once he saw
Albin said that students are welcome to bring assignments to the library to review with a librarian and seek the proper avenue for research.
"We can find ways to access the things they need."
Rothman said he most often uses the library's databases or news sources such as The New York Times when working on a project. Rothman analyzes the assignment and considers what research will be necessary before logging on. He said that these skills were instilled during a freshman English course.
employees to get direct deposit
"We've been trying for years to encourage staff and employees to utilize direct deposit," said Diane Goddard, vice provost for
Though the state's deadline for direct deposit enrollment is Oct. 1, the goal of the Bursars Office is to have 100 percent enrollment by the beginning of September. Yoakum said more than 95 percent of University employees have already signed up.
BY MICHAEL HOLTZ mholtz@kansan.com
mholtz@kansan.com
Two separate policies require students and University of Kansas employees to sign up for direct deposit to receive refunds and paychecks electronically.
According to an announcement that the Bursar's Office posted online, the new refund policy allows students to receive refunds faster and more safely than they would if the University distributed them as checks.
The second policy is a state mandate requiring direct deposited paychecks for all state employees, which includes University employees. The employees have until Oct. 1 to comply with the new policy.
"The advantage to the University is better business efficiencies," said Katrina Yoakum, comptroller for the University. "We spend a lot of time following up with checks that are not picked up."
administration and finance." We ramped it up to the 80 percent level pretty quickly. Getting from 80 to 95 percent has been more difficult."
Employees who do not have an account at a financial institution will receive a Skylight Financial account, an ATM-based bank, and a Skylight pay card. Employees must sign up for this service at the Payroll Office.
Though University officials have recommended refund direct deposit for at least five years, they was unable to mandate the policy until a federal law changed. The
Kelsey Smith, a junior from Council Grove, signed up for direct deposit when she started work for KU Libraries three years ago. She said shed recommend other students to sign up for it as well.
"I think it's easier that way," Smith said. "You don't have to worry about getting a new check deposited in the bank."
policy has been in effect since last November.
Yoakum said direct deposited refunds will save the University $10,000 annually.
The Bursar's Office most recently notified students of the refund policy in an e-mail sent Aug. 2. The e-mail included instructions explaining how to set up direct deposit online or by completing a direct deposit authorization form.
"Having everyone on direct deposit means there are fewer people who handle that transaction," Goddard said. "It's just more efficient and much more accurate."
It's also much quicker. Goddard said students signed up for direct deposit will receive refunds at least a day faster than they would otherwise.
Edited by David Cawthon
For more information on refunds, please contact the Burger's Office.
Bursar's Office
(785)864-3322
bursar@ku.edu
For more information on paychecks, please contact the Payroll Office.
(785)864-4385
payroll@ku.edu
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