Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

Page 20 text:

In the back of the (Union Pacific Depot). Mansour Alkhalaf. freshman in computer science, listens at the Saudi Student Club meeting Oct- 1 (Americans) behave better around strangers than in Saudi Arabia (They) smile and talk to strangers like they know them. At home they don ' t do that. Mansour Asiri. senior in mechanical engineering, said There ' s a big difference for sure. But It ' s always fun to try something different. The Saudi Club was founded December 2005 and gam members every year Dif Dim For many students, the ehoice to come to Manhattan mvolved visitmg campus, attending senior days, communicating with admissions representatives and receiving scholarship notifications. However, this was not the case for all. For two students from Saudi . ' rabu, snow, parental pressure and the size of the town were the deciding factors. Mansour Asiri, senior in mechanical engineering, said one of the pushes to come here was the weather — more specifically, the snow — since Saudi Arabia had weather comparable to Texas. The weather in Kansas is very different (than in Saudi Arabia), Asiri said. At first, I was really e.xcited. but it ' s really cold. I have to wake up early just to clean ice off my car. Besides the snow, Asiri came to Manhattan after receiving a scholarship from SABIC hinovative Plastics, a Saudi Arabian company, for five years of schooling: one vear to learn English, which he spent at Texas A M University, and four years to obtain a bachelor ' s degree. The scholarship paid for all school expenses and gave Asiri a monthly allowance. After graduation, he would be required to work at least five years for the company. It ' s awesome to get a scholarship from them, Asiri said. Out of 10,000 people who applied, only 100 got the scholarship. Despite heavy amounts of work, Asin found time to get involved with one of his passions: soccer. He said he was afraid he would not get to play soccer in the U.S. because of its lack of popularity, but found a budding interest on campus and became involved m the Saudi intramural soccer team. Football is fun, but I don ' t understand why America doesn ' t like soccer, he said. It ' s the most popular sport in the world. In football, you ' re either tat or fast. There ' s no skill. Hazem Alkotami, sophomore in industrial engineering, came to the universitv after beintr 16 Smdent Life

Page 19 text:

The Greek Idol annual contest showcased events that included song and dance. Students who made It through the audition rounds would compete for the title of K-State Greek Idol. Drew Otte, Beta Theta Pi and sophomore in architectural engineering, did the Napoleon Dynamite dance during Greek Week in the K-State Student Union Courtyard. Greek Week provided students with a range of free activities, including: community service, Greek Olympics, Greek Idol, alumni and family gatherings and house lunches in the Quad. In the tug-of war, a Greek Week contest, Jessica Rodriguez, Alpha Delta Pi and sophomore in food science and industry, and, John Yingling, Lambda Chi Alpha and junior m life sciences, compete against other greek community members. The Peters Recreation Complex held all events for the Greek Olympics. Admission to the Greek Olympics was free for participants as long as they wore their Greek Week button. It was just exciting, it was pretty high intensity and everyone was yelling, Rodriguez said. We were all victorious and running into the crowd. Alott Costro Gi-cck Week 15

Page 21 text:

Over a dinner discussion, Marwan Al-Kadi, senior in industrial engineering. tall s with fellow Saudi Club member Abdulaziz Shagrod, junior in electrical engineering, Oct. 1, The dinner was in the evening because during Ramadan, Muslims did not eat during the daylight. Lisle Alderton pressured by his father. I didn ' t want to come here, he said. My dad knew someone here, tliey have a good college tor engineering, and it ' s a small city. (Since it ' s a small city) I have to study. I have to read. As a student, it ' s good to be here, but otherwise, there ' s not much to do. Alkotami adjusted to the U.S. after having friends from home expose him to life around campus. Although he was warmly received by most students across campus, he was still faced with some prejudices. Alkotami did not blame the prejudice on racism; he said that people did not understand his culture or religion, then acted on the stereotypes they created. They don ' t know about our cultinv or who we are, he said. They don ' t like the way I speak, do n ' t like that I ' m a Muslim. Many people formed stereotypes based on the bad actions of a few, then view all people from that culture the same, Asiri said. The Middle East had a problem with terrorists, he said, and Americans stereotype Muslims as terrorists. You shouldn ' t judge a country based on the actions of 10 people, Asiri said. (Terrorists) cause problems for us too. We don ' t like them either. Fayez Husseim, adviser and professor ot interior architecture and product design, said the Saudi club was important because it brought the Saudi culture to an American university and helped bring a sense of trieiidship and understanding to the two cultures. Husseini, who moved to the U.S. from Syria in 1972 and started teaching at the university in 1980, said some of his responsibilities were to support the stucients and help them deal with issues they taced on campus. He also helped the club bring notable Saudi influences, such as Prince Turki Al-Faisal and artist I luda Totoii)i, to campus. I tec! like 1 h.ue llie rcspdiisibility of bringing iiiidcrstandmi; to .i nnsuiidcrstood culture. he said. Saudi Students 17