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Show 6 ADMINISTRATORS PUSH % INTERNAT'L PROGRAMS f ; GOING GLOBAL Miles away from home .continued from Page ] ' Ana Breton DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE /, Wednesday, September 12,2007 INVESTIGATES ' ASST. NEWS EDITOR cations. This expansion was largely made possible by a $200,000 donation from the Li Ka Shing Foundatioa named after the wealthiest philanthropist in Asia. Students can now participate in short-term summer study abroad programs in Gijon, Spain, where the U offers a Spanish literature and culture program, or travel to the Czech Republic to complete a cross-culture communication program called "Project New Eyes," The U added 10 new exchange programs with international universities this year, including universities in Japan, South Korea and Kyrgyzstan. In the Spring Semester, the International Leadership Academy will be implemented and offer weekly seminars on global politics and economics, link students to mentors from the community and encourage them to participate in study . abroad or work outside the United States. ?§' "The objective is for the students to feel engaged globally while living in Utah," said Howard Lehman, a political science professor teaching the program, which will take about 24 students. Tori Ballif, project coordinator for internationalization at the U, said administrators are also teaming up with departments to help students look for internships and study-abroad programs : that would enhance their degrees. ) "We want to promote graduation instead of [' ^detract from it, by looking for study-abroad op^portunities to fulfill requirements." Ballif said. t>yi The College of Social and Behavioral Science * "is currently implementing this program, but Ball lif said the administrators hope to expand it to ! all colleges. ; The Confucius Institute and an Asia Center ; will also be created this year. The Confucius In• stitute, which will be implemented in the College : of Humanities in mid-October, is a joint estabi. lishment between the U and Sichuan University I in Chengdu, China. The Institute will promote ! Chinese language learning throughout the state • of Utah, encourage cultural exchanges between 1 the United States and China, teach Chinese culi ture and offer business services. Funding for the j \ Institute will come from China's National Of1 fice of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language ; and the Chinese government. The Asia Center, i also in the College of Humanities, will centralize ; Asian studies at the U, expand research and cre: ate partnerships with Asian countries. 1 The College of Engineering will now offer an ; international engineering certificate. Students ; must take 15 to 21 credit hours focusing on a.cer; tain geographic region and the language that is [.spoken there. They will be required to spend ri*tjme studying or interning in that country. \ "This will increase the marketability of engi' neering students," Ballif said. "They'll come out ; with an advantage." ; The David Eccles School of Business is re! establishing ties with partners in Guadalajara, ; Mexico, to create student exchange programs ! and develop connections with the business com; munity, ! In the last five years, the U has expanded its ; language programs to offer Hindi-Urdu, Navajo ! and an Italian minor, as well as add more courses ; to Portuguese and Korean programs. ; Internationalization efforts will not be limited I to the classroom. The Babcock Theatre, run by I the theater department, will show seven inter| nationally themed plays, including Euripides' \ "Helen" this month, "The Diary of Anne Frank" ! for Holland and "Blood Wedding" from Spain. ) The Broadway Center Cinemas will show inter: national Western films every Tuesday night in ' October. A number of international conferenc; es will also be held at the U, including the Asia 1 Conference held last week. i Associate Vice President John Francis, who ! is heading the endeavor, said the "year of inter| nationalization" will not stop at the end of the ! school year. I "We want to stress that the U is part of a com! munity here but has an influence globally," Fran; cis said. "We want every year to be an interna! tional year." I , ?i" r.mcconkie@chronicleMtah.edu Doris Kwan considers herself a shy person. She prefers to keep to herself and when she talks—if at all—she speaks with a small, soft voice. That is until you start talking with her about fashion. Kwan is an international student from Hong Kong. She thinks the Utah fashion scene is a little dry. People in Hong Kong know color and use it, she said. During the interview, Kwan was sporting leopard-print high heels she bought at Claire's, a gray, ruffled blouse from Hong Kong and sparkly, bright pink eye shadow. The prices of clothes back home, she said, are far cheaper than those she's found in Utah stores. Kwan, a sophomore in business, has lived in Utah for two years, because her aunt—who has lived in the state for 30 years—told her that Utah was a better place to study and had a good university system. Her life before was situated in Hong Kong, the financial trading and business district of China located in the southeastern tip of the country. "When I got off the plane, I didn't like it," Kwan said. "It's a boring place and the weather is dry, but I'm used to it now." "Utah is different, but it's nice," agreed Queenie Yu, Kwan's friend who has lived in Utah for three weeks. Prior to coming to the U, Kwan attended both Utah Valley University and Salt Lake Community College. She said she likes the U's "university life." Still, she said there are things she misses at home, such as her family. She has a 24year-old sister back home who works for a customer relations company. She also said she misses her dad, who is a tour guide in See ADJUSTS Page 7 Doris Kwan is an international student from Hong Kong majoring in business. She enjoys movies, karaoke and fashion. ASUU supports new fee Students Michael McFall STAFF WRITER ASUU leaders and U administrators have looked into potentially increasing student fees by 33 to subsidize international study abroad programs. After several years of consideration, the initiative might be close to realization. The Associated Students of the University of Utah executive branch attempted to establish the fee last year, but to no avail because of a lack of student support. A survey administered last February showed that while freshmen and sophomores were in favor of the plan, juniors and seniors were not. Basim Motiwala, vice president of ASUU, explained that the upperclassmen were justified in their disapproval because they wouldn't "want to pay for something that they likely won't use." They are now trying to introduce a grandfather clause into the fee, so if the program is implemented, only freshmen and sophomores would pay the tentative S3, while juniors and seniors would not have to spend money on a program that they are not likely to use at all. The administration intends to send out another survey about the fee via e-mail later this year. The survey would ask students for their opinion about a new study abroad Study fee, this time making the new exemption clause clear for abroad juniors and seniors, in order student fee to "get a more accurate read," Motiwala said. With the results of the new survey, ASUU plans to introduce the program to the student Senate and General Assembly within the following month or two, according to Tori Ballif, the U's coordinator for internationalization. No If the study abroad fee is 58.5% successful, ASUU hopes it Note; The above polls reflect student will encourage the creation of additional programs to help response to a proposed $3 fee increase students study in more counto support study abroad programs. The tries. The enthusiasm from poll was administered by the U Office incoming freshmen is clear: of Institutional Analysis in February 70 .percent showed interest 2007. in study abroad programs, acSource: Office of Budget cording to a survey adminisand Institutional Analysis tered over the summer. HowRUSSELL TAB ET/Jfe 03'^ UtaSr^Wr ever, the students were not asked about the fee. calls for the money generated Ballif said if one third of by the fee collections to be the costs for studying abroad split two ways. ASUU Presicould be subsidized,^ most un- dent Spencer Pearson estiderclassmen would be able to mates that $1.00 to si.50 of it could go toward study abroad afford the programs. Plans for the fee are still programs in the International in the preliminary stage, but one proposal on the table See FEE Page 7 How students felt about the increase STAFF WRITER After spending the summer in her native Belgium, Therese De Raedt hurried back to teach her course on literature and culture of French-speaking nations. De Raedt, a professor in the Department of Languages and Literature, has been with the U since 1999. De Raedt first came to the United States in 1992 to teach at a small college in Ohio and eanrher doctorate from UC Davis. She decided to stay in the country to work at the U as a visiting lecturer. "I really like Utah," she said. "I come from a small and densely populated country. I love the open spaces here." More importantly, De Raedt is proud to be a part of higher education in the United States, she said. "In the U.S., the student/teacher relationship is closer than overseas," she said. "In Belgium, if you are a student, you're a number." Her specialty is in francophone studies, which is the examination of the literature and cultures of French-speaking countries other than France. Nations like Senegal, Viet- See VIEWS Page 7 See AMBASSADOR Page 7 Carlos Mayorga STAFF WRITER The U Ambassador Program has 50 to 60 active participants who introduce about 1,600 international students to the U. 1\ Clayton Norlen The International Center at the U is a two-way street—it both sends students to far-away countries and brings international students to campus. Through the Ambassador Program at the U, students who have experience abroad, are globally conscious or have foreign language skills introduce incoming international students to the U's campus and the wider Salt Lake Valley. Student ambassadors tell students studying abroad in Utah how to use local public transportation, what they can expect in American classrooms and which clubs and programs exist on campus that might interest them. "It's a peer mentor program that brings students who are globally minded with intercultural communication skills and skills in a foreign language together with students from abroad," said Anjali Hammond, assistant director for outreach and development for the International Center. "The key is to have ambassadors who can be empathetic with incoming students and help them transition." The U has 50 to 60 students actively participating in the Ambassador program. These students introduce about i,6oo international students to life in Utah. It begins with an e-mail. Ambassadors are paired off with international students. They tell the students what items and accessories to bring, what the weather is like and help answer any other questions the incoming students may have. "I especially like to help people," said Nobu Isono, a junior in economics and an ambassador in the program. "Some ambassadors help to organize camping trips, shopping outings and it's a great way to meet new international students and learn a lot of stuff." Ambassadors such as Isono help students from abroad with scenarios like getting a cell phone, getting a U-card and finding local hangouts. Isono created a website for incoming Japanese students to find general information about the U and Utah. He also provides students with his personal e-mail address and contact information so they can find him whenever they may need help. "After my sophomore year11 became an ambassador, because when I first came to the U, I didn't get a very good introduction," Isono said. In addition, Ambassadors introduce Exchange faculty enhance U PHOTO COURTESY NOBU 1SONO welcome foreign fellows \. |