November 21, 2002

International Student Organization
open to all students at Indiana State

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Anyone would guess that the International Student Organization at Indiana State University is open to students from India, China, the Ivory Coast and other countries of the world. But many people might not know that American students are encouraged to join as well.

"ISO's mission is ... to create a great and friendly international community at ISU," said Timur Mirzoev, ISO president. "International means to get U.S. students involved too."

The ISO was established in 2001 to serve all international students on campus. There are currently eight international student groups on campus and those groups -- India, Taiwanese, Chinese, African, Hong Kong, Korean, Japanese and Hispanic associations -- make up ISO.

Steven Chao, associate director of international student and scholar services says students in international organizations give to the community by sharing their cultures with the Terre Haute area.

"[International] students go out to the public schools and external organizations to exhibit their own culture," Chao said. "They also participate in a multicultural festival in Terre Haute, annual global nights for each represented country, International Education Week, field trips, sports competitions, holiday dinners and other gatherings."

Mirzoev, a native of Russia, agreed that becoming a member of ISO provides a world of benefits, so to speak.

"First of all, [ISO] provides people with friends," Mirzoev said. There are endless opportunities to meet new people and learn about a new culture through field trips to Chicago or St. Louis, for example, which are free to ISO members. ISO members also get up-to-date immigration and naturalization news from the International Affairs Center at ISU. ISO also helps students resolve any immigration problems within ISO and IAC rules.

Now more than ever, Chao said, international students face great challenges to study in the United States.

"It takes a lengthy time to apply for a student visa through the U.S. Embassy in their country to travel to ISU to study," Chao said. "It is also difficult to receive a favorable decision to the visa application.

Not to mention adjustments to the new environment and culture; financial pressure to complete their study with limited financial resources and sometimes currency depreciation making the situation even worse. There are also very few employment opportunities available in the U.S. to international students and it requires employment authorization from the INS before the student can take a job."

Despite the challenges of studying in another country, Mirzoev encourages all students to give it a try. He especially encourages American students to study abroad.

"I think that going overseas to study will give a great opportunity to any American student to learn new and exciting things in another country," he said. "Many times American students do not realize how great and interesting it would be to find yourself in a completely new environment and meet all new people. It is like a dream, when a person lives her or his life in the same place, but then suddenly she or he lives a life that could not have been even imaginable before."

How to join:

Any student interested in becoming a member of ISO or anyone interested in more information about the organization should e-mail Timur Mirzoev at iso_isu@hotmail.com. There is a $10 annual fee, but paid members may attend any ISO-sponsored event for free.

International student clubs at ISU:

• African Student Association, Francis Blay-Mockey, president, (812) 237-7525
• Chinese Student & Scholar Association, Xueliang Liu, president, (812) 237-7335
• Hispanic Student Association, Carmen Glover, president, (812) 237-5705
• Hong Kong Student Association, Jane Wong, president, (812) 237-7561
• India Student Association, Zinub Vasi, president, (812) 237-5199
• Japanese Student Association, Masakazu Kimura, (812) 237-7511
• Korean Student Association, Yoo-Cheol Kim, president (812) 237-5616
• Taiwanese Student Association, Yu-Ping Chen, president, (812) 299-0117

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Contact:
Gaston Fernandez, executive director, ISU International Affairs Center,
(812) 237-4391 or ascfern@isugw.indstate.edu

Writer:
Adriane Shaw, Public Affairs intern,
(812) 237-3773 or ashaw3@mymail.indstate.edu

ISU Public Affairs:
(812) 237-3773 or http://isunews.indstate.edu