University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Professor Patricia Simons explains the myth of the Greek god Hermaphrodites in the Introduction to LGBT studies course. The course discussed many different areas of sexuality along with hermaphrodites, including homosexuals, interesexed people, bisexuals. asexuals and transvestites. Tedjasuktnana photo Ul A COIJK of the taw BisaniLffld of curious. ' Pro! count tnito oHttaoiN Forthepnrp changeisp Iwclicoim to be dried iouneonco tijureoutii This COUK , to LGBT Su Simons nsed 80 Academics

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laiming an overall positive experience while encountering minor obstacles, international students from over 110 countries made the University their 2nd home. A large proportion of international students were from China, Korea and India. These three countries claimed more than 40 percent of the entire 4,200 plus international student population at the University. In contrast, some countries sent far fewer students here: Ghana, Honduras, Zambia and Swaziland all sent less than five students each. Unlike American students who studied abroad, international students generally studied at the University for all four of their undergraduate years or both years of their graduate studies. Of the entire international student population, more than 70 percent were graduate students. One of the first challenges to studying here was the acquisition of a visa. I came before September 1 1, so getting a visa wasn ' t that hard. Now the visa is very hard to get. Because of that, my countrymen here are declining in number, said Willy Arifin, senior computer engineering major and international student from Singapore. Other paperwork involved in the study abroad process consisted of SAT tests, a passport, 1-20 forms and financial statements. Freshman engineering major and international student Kyu Choi from Korea encountered a different impediment in his initial search for an American school to attend - a lack of campus previews. I didn ' t know anything about the school itself, Choi said. You just have to judge it by all the brochures and paperwork. There weren ' t any campus tours. After arriving in America, some international students encountered a whole new set of obstacles. In addition to missing home, international students submerged themselves in an entirely different culture here at the University. Mixing with Americans is the hardest part. We grew up differently and we find excitement in different ways. It ' s just hard to find an American that kicks with you. It ' s kind of weird. You come to the U.S. and all of your good friends turn out to be your countrymen, Arifin said. Choi ' s biggest problem, was adjusting to the American food, I never eat just bread. That is the hardest part. I am used to mostly rice. Aside from the food, Choi ' s experience was primarily trouble-free and enjoyable. The language barrier has been fine because I studied English for nine years in Korea, Choi said. He believed his favorite part of his stay at the University to be the football games. Studying to be an engineer, Choi felt that his classes were fine, and that he came well-prepared. Furthermore, Choi had no problem with transporting all his belongings across the planet; he brought what he needed and simply had his mother ship the things he forgot. Aside from various logistical and cultural obstacles, the University still attracted thousands of international students this semester, as well as in those past. Co international students face obstacles studying overseas International Students 79

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Igbt courses draw attention on campus A course introduced in the fall entitled How to be Gay attracted tremendous media attention and was immediately one of the hottest controversies in campus academic life. A wide array of opinions circulated on campus about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) course. Chin Swan, a sophomore math major, summed up the general sentiment, ! am kind of curious, he said. Elizabeth Joseph, a senior physics and economics major, thought the course made headlines just because it was unconventional. On the other hand, Anthony Breschike, a sophomore engineer commented, It ' s ridiculous that you can actually get credit for that. Professor David Halperin, the instructor of How to be Gay , sought to clear up general misunderstandings on this course, making the following comments in his opening lecture - This course has absolutely nothing to do with the question of what causes either homosexuality or heterosexuality. For the purposes of this course, I have no opinion at all on that subject. For the purposes of this course, gay identity will be treated as a social identity. That is, it will be treated as equivalent to being middle-class, or Jewish, or Irish, or American. Halperin taught a different course on Gay Studies in prior years, which focused on critical analysis of gay literature. This change was part of his attempt to make the prior course a lot more interesting. Now I can stand it if my students are bored when I teach courses on Plato or on literary theory. But when I teach a course in lesbian or gay male studies, I expect my studen ts to be thrilled and moved and engaged every single second, explained Halperin. So to find even gay male students treating my course on contemporary gay male fiction like academic business as usual was extremely discouraging, and I decided to try and figure out a new and better way to package gay male studies and queer theory for undergraduates at the University of Michigan. This course on ' how to be gay ' is the result of my thinking. The Director for Campus Affairs at the University of Michigan Engineering Council, Khoi Nguyen said, It shouldn ' t really matter. I don ' t see how it affects anybody... if you want to take the class, go ahead and take it. I guess that ' s the line we should all tow allowing freedom to elect as well as design courses. There were other courses offered that centered their curriculum around gay studies. Womens Studies 245, Introduction to LGBT Studies, offered an in-depth look at different sexualities from as early back as the 9()()s to the present. Professor Patricia Simons used numerous slides, reading materials, and even movies in the course. Despite its explicit nature, Simons ' course could not match up to the controversy caused by Halperin ' s How to be Gay couse. Inside the Common Language Bookstore, shelves are stacked with piles of new books on sexuality. Coming out, bisexuality, gay stud- ies, and lesbian fiction were some of the categories of literature the bookstore held. Tedjasukmana photo The Common Launguage Bookstore is located on Fourth Avenue. Many LGBT and women ' s studies courses sent students to pur- chase textbooks and other reading materials there. Tedjasukmana photo Controversial Courses 81