4A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY.JULY18.2001
New beginning in a new country
Fulbright scholars gather get accustomed to U.S. during KU orientation
By Dawn North Kansan staff writer
A few tears squeezed out from under the eyelids of Battsetseg Serj as her thoughts drifted back home. She was thinking of her husband, Erdene, and daughter, Elbegduren, going on with their everyday lives without her.
She is a long way from home - about 9,000 miles. Serj is in Lawrence, and her family is in Mongolia.
Serj is one of 20 international Fulbright grantees. All are in their third week at the University of Kansas for a six-week language and cultural-orientation program.
The students left behind comfort zones in 18 countries to spend the next two years studying in the United States. They will then return home to invest in the lives of their people.
As students talked with faculty mentors and became acquainted with each other at a recent welcome reception, they looked like any other group of college students—Nikes, khakis and blue jeans on people with varying skin tones, looking a little like a box of multicultural cravons.
Serj is a professor of American Studies at State Pedagogical University of Mongolia in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. The university sent her to learn more about American Studies.
Serj will remain at the University of Kansas for the next two years and hopes her husband and daughter will be able to get visas so they can join her in the United States.
Sophearith Siyonn, Cambodia student, will head to the University of California-Berkeley at the end of the program. His major is anthropology, and he may stay longer than the required two years to work
FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS
on his doctorate.
Siyonn was a little nerv-
Styliom was a little nervous before arriving in Lawrence. After arriving, he said he was surprised at how friendly everybody was. No longer anxious, he still finds everything very different ... especially the food. He said his plan was to eat just enough to stay alive.
Upon learning of Slynn's opportunity to study in the United States, some of his friends encouraged him to stay here. But they didn't understand the thinking of most Fulbright scholars.
Siyonn, like many of his fellow scholars, plans to return to teach in his home country.
"I want to get an education to improve education in my country," he said. "Without education, a country can't build anything."
He said he would feel ashamed if he failed because all of his family and friends were watching him.
Fulbright scholars aren't accustomed to failing. The program, sponsored by the U.S. government, was established in 1946. It was designed to increase mutual understanding
between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
The Fulbright Program has provided more than 230,000 participants, chosen for their leadership potential, with the opportunity to observe one another's political, economic and cultural institutions, exchange ideas and embark on joint ventures of importance.
North can be reached at 864-4810 or writer@kanan.com
ByLaurie Sisk
Kansan staff writer
Former Jayhawk in WNBA All-Star Game
Tamecka Dixon, former Kansas point guard, scored eight points in 20 minutes off the bench Monday night in Orlando. Her West team defeated the East 80 to 72 in the third WNBA All-Star Game.
Dixon began her professional basketball career in the WNBA's 1997 inaugural season. She has averaged 11.1 points per game with the Los Angeles Sparks of the Western Division. She has averaged 2.5 assists per game and has shot 43 percent from the field. Monday was Dixon's first WNBA All-Star appearance.
While at Kansas, Dixon was named 1996-97 Big 12 Player of the Year and to the 1996-97 Kodak All-American team.
Dixon has the fourth most career free throws (385) and career assists (337) at the University.
KU women's basketball coach Marian Washington was able to pay Dixon a surprise visit at Monday's game. Washington was in Orlando on a recruiting mission at an Amateur Athletics Union tournament. She said seeing Dixon play made the trip even better.
"Earlier in the week, the WNBA let me know that it looked like there was a really good chance that Tamecka would be selected for the All-Star Game," Washington said. "She has always had tremendous ball-handling skills, but what makes her even better is her
tremendous competitiveness."
Dixon shot 4-for-7 from the field, with three hard driving lay-ups.
Washington also had a chance to visit with rookie Jaclyn Johnson, a 2001 KU graduate and Orlando Miracle center.
Johnson was assisting with clinics during the week and was able to watch Dixon play against the WNBA's best. Fellow Sparks player Lisa Leslie was named the 2001 All-Star MVP with an All-Star record of 20 points and nine rebounds.
During a post-game press conference, Leslie said Dixon was a great point guard because she normally starts for Los Angeles as the No. 2 guard. She said Dixon helped get the West's offense going.
Leslie and Dixon are the No.1 and 2 scorers for the Sparks (17-3), who lead the Houston Comets by two games in the Western Division. Houston has won the league championship all four years of the WNBA.
Dixon and the Sparks return to regular season play Thursday against the Sacramento Monarchs.
Sisk can be reached at 864-4810 or write@kansan.com
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