MU welcomes minorities and international students

MU has 1,565 new international students from 105 countries.

By Megan Donohue

Published Sept. 1, 2009

MU hosted its annual International Welcome Party and UnificAsian Orientation on Saturday and its annual Latino Student Welcome on Sunday to welcome the second largest class of international and minority students in the university's history.

The International Welcome Party played host to campus organizations, such as the Vedic Society, MU International Club, Missouri International Student Council, the Thai Student Organization, the Saudi Student Organization, the Cultural Association of India and to many of MU's 1,565 new international students from 105 countries.

The Missouri International Student Council and other cultural organizations on campus aim to provide students with venues for learning about opportunities open to them, familiarizing themselves with American culture and socializing.

"You get to meet the other international students who are by themselves," said Pernille Lydolff, a graduate student from Denmark.

One of the adjustments for international students coming to live in the U.S. for the first time is learning to adjust to a new and different culture.

Despite the difficulties international students meet when first coming to the U.S., MU's international community aims to help them adapt.

Chinese graduate student Yu Bi works with the International Student Career Services.

"We provide services for international students," Bi said. "We help them explore the possibilities of finding a job in the American market, and we also help them with resume writing skills, interview skills, how to work with your advisor and we prepare them for the American job experience."

Such organizations welcome American students, as well.

"We also welcome American student involvement because they can help many transfer students who may need some help with things like learning about the American culture and learning the norms of American society," Bi said.

Asian American Association President Kha Ly mirrored this sentiment in reference to the AAA at the UnificAsian Welcome Event.

"The group is open to everyone," Ly said. "So long as you have an interest in the Asian culture and Asian-American issues, you are more than welcome to join. The purpose of AAA is it serves as a social network for students who share common interests so they can come together."

One of the ongoing issues faced by international students is finding a medium between their own culture and the American culture.

"Our campus is predominantly white, so it's tough for Asian American students to be able to find other students like themselves who have the same backgrounds and the same likes and dislikes," Ly said. "AAA serves as that outlet, and so we strive to provide a safe network and a social network with students like ourselves."

To accomplish this, the AAA offers programs like the Big-Little Sibling program.

"We pair up a freshman in AAA with a junior or senior, and they take them under their paw and make sure their classes are going well and they are adjusting well to school and just help them out in general," Ly said.

A similar organization for Latino students is the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, which took part in the Latino Student Welcome.

"When you come from cities like those in Texas and California, and you've been surrounded most of your life by the Hispanic culture, Mizzou is a huge culture shock," senior HALO member Moisés Aguayo said.

Aguayo said the most difficult part of college is the homesickness, and organizations like HALO help ease the transition.

"You miss your family, you miss your culture, you miss being around so many people that you know you can relate to," Aguayo said. "HALO helps those that struggle to ease into the MU culture. That's one of the things about HALO. It brings you a home on campus where you can gather and you can relate to people and make friends and build your own community."

HALO President Carolina Astrain, formerly of The Maneater staff, said finding a medium between cultures is one of the most important and most difficult things students have to face.

"I think that's one thing that Hispanic Americans struggle with in general, is being their own person, not necessarily being pushed forth toward the stereotype of Latino gangster or the white preppy girl who abandons her culture," Astrain said. "There's an in-between there, and it's something that needs to be recognized and defined."

Despite all of the difficulties encountered by international and minority students, such organizations are largely successful in preserving underrepresented cultures and increasing diversity on campus.

Miguel Ayllon, president of the Hispanic and Latin American Faculty and Staff Association, also spoke at the Latino Student Welcome.

"Be proud of your heritage, know who you are," Ayllon said. "But at the same time know this culture, serve this culture."