International students have been vocalizing their concerns recently. Some have even taken center stage as part of the keynote speech at DePauw Dialogue this year.
Transportation and lack of residence are among the top concerns for international students. Due to less transportation facilities available, upperclassmen had to ask professors to take them to the Social Security Number (SSN) office. Similarly, student housing closes over winter and summer breaks, posing a problem for many international students who are unable to get visas to travel abroad. As a result, students have to pay to live at the Inn at DePauw if they wish to stay in Greencastle.
On top of the obstacles such as transportation and housing that accompany going to school abroad, students are also faced with prejudice based on their nationality.
First-year Kavya Shrivastava from India said that the under-representation of her country has been a problem.
“The prejudices or the misinformation that comes with not being clearly informed about my country has sometimes made me uncomfortable on campus. For example, people judge me for the fake news that media provides for my country,” Shrivastava said.
The ambivalence she experiences and the identity crisis that stems from it is a concern many international students face.
First-year Khoa Cao from Vietnam mentioned the racism and fear that exists on campus.
“As an international student, there is a constant fear that surrounds me. I feel unsafe in a town full of Trump supporters,” Cao said. “I even fear joining a fraternity as there is a lot of discrimination and politics involved against non-white students who plan to join Greek houses.”
Sophomore Ali Aanish Rehman from Pakistan discussed the attitude of DePauw’s administration towards the international community.
“The ISS (International Student Association) has not been immune to the transitory phase DePauw is going through right now with budget cuts and faculty and staff layouts,” Rehman said. “With more international students coming in than ever, I just feel like the department needs more attention. After all, if DePauw doesn’t care for them soon, they might not be able to take sufficient care of us.”
ISS provides cultural adjustments and immigration advising for international students. After the orientation, ISS arranges numerous programs and events for the international community. This allows international students on campus to explore their cultural differences and successfully transition to campus. It also helps students living in the US to learn more about international students.
Yoanna Sayili, interim assistant director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), said that ISS is in the process of hiring new staff members.
“Many departments had budget cuts and lost staff members in the last few years,” Sayili said. “We, at ISS, are trying to hire new people and are aware of the problems international students face. We have a new vice president, Dr. Amanda Kim at the CDI now, and she is willing to help students with any issues they are having.”
Senior Salman Haider is hopeful about the future conditions of international students.
“I love the work ISS is doing and has done in the past. The international student population here at DePauw is a special one. A big hearing meeting for all international students was to be held with ISS staff and VP Alan Hill early this semester to discuss how we can improve international student life at DePauw, but nothing has happened yet. I just hope that this meeting happens soon,” Haider said.
Sayili said international students should contact ISS if they have any concerns.
“Just remember, that we are always there for your help,” Sayili said. “We need to work as a community to send clearer signs of what our values mean for us, what it means to be respectful and what it means to not be respectful.”