Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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All the World ' s a Stage Smaller groups come from India, Taiwan, Iran, Nigeria and Jordan, and there are many more. During an orientation week just prior to the start of the fall semester a sociology lecturer described foreign students as Risk Takers. This is a fitting descrip- tion of the students as a group because this is what they really are. With the support of their families they travel thousands of miles to gain an education. Some students remain in Memphis for the duration of the degree as flying home proves to be too expensive. At the same time they are gathering their credits, they also have to arrive at some tough conclusions as to whether they will remain in this country or return home with the skills they have acquired. Local Memphis families play a large part in the cultural exchange by intro- ducing students to Memphis through the Host Family Program. Most students are assigned to a host family and they continue to meet with them while they remain in the Memphis area. Many students encountered their first American Thanksgiving in this way. With support like this the ISA should continue in fine fettle, especially as Thomas Carpenter, MSU president, is convinced of the benefits of having international students on campus. J - Felix Wong, Vigneswara, Mohammed Zaki proudly display their flag. k International Night gives foreign students a chance to return Southern Hos- pitality. It is the one night they act and feel as if the UC ballroom was their own individual countries. ► The Malaysian students entertain the audience with their traditional Fentomen dance. aL International Students!

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V. y P ' f Chakraborty from India, or Chuck as his American friends now call hhmJ him, tells the story of a certain oriental gentleman ' s arrival in Memphis for the start of his first semester at an American university. Stepping down eagerly from the bus which had brought him direct from New York, he decided to look for accommodations and recover from his traveling ordeal. On the far side of the street he noticed a welcome- looking establishment, calling itself The Pizza Inn. With great relief the student entered and, using much sign language, made it clear he needed a room. Chuck never did discover what came of the oriental gentleman that night. Such are the hazards of being an international student at Memphis State University. It ' s fortunate that interna- tionals have an effective support group which resides in the University Center. Dean Holmon and his assistants, Meg Ingles and Linda Overton, form the nucleus of International Student Associa- tion (ISA) activity on campus. The Dean takes care of the immigration and finan- cial wrangles which confront students, while Ingles and Overton concentrate on the cultural problems which inevitably follow a change of environment. Students will drift in and out of Ingle ' s office, using it as a base, peering at notice boards and leaving messages for friends. Through long experience of teaching internationals, Ingles now has an in- depth knowledge of a wide range of subjects. She not only has to know where the cheapest and most reliable cars can be bought but also at which restaurants students can find that particular diet to which they ' re accustomed. It ' s not always easy to contain such questions, especially when one ' s dealing with a multi-national group. Although Memphis State University doesn ' t actively recruit foreign students there is no shortage of numbers. There are 300 students all told, of which the largest contingent, 108, is from Malaysia. The Malaysians, due to the lack of university places in their home country, flock to Memphis for its low tuition fees. A Nike Olubadewo feels right at home as she takes advantage of International Night to show off her Nigerian costume. T Sam outfit. Adim shows off his Nigerian 22 Student Life

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the university center ... Something for Everyone By Melissa Robbins Do you want to buy a textbook or magazine? Play table tennis? Have a birthday cake made for a special friend? Buy a postage stamp? Or watch TV? Well, guess what? You can do all that and more in one place — your friendly, neighborhood University Center! The University Center, established in 1968, provides many services for busy college students. You can purchase snacks, dinner or that birthday cake in the U.C. cafeteria. Then you can go to one of the TV rooms and watch your favorite soap opera or maybe to the stereo listening room to hear some new tunes. After that you can go to The Side Pocket and relax by playing a game of billiards or checking out a new video ■ Cynthia Green is one of the many student workers in the University Center. game. Then head over to the Mark Twain lounge and maybe do what you ' ve been putting off all day — study! This very versatile place is run by many employees including a large number of student workers. The man in charge of all this is the Director, Jay Andersen. The center provides activi- ties, events and services for the university community, he said. Assistant Director is Richard D. Jones. Besides being a place where students can get together, relax and study, the University Center is also a meeting place for many groups and organizations on campus. The Student Government Asso- ciation, the Black Student Association and the Student Activities Council, among others, meet there regularly and have their offices there. The center also provides many conference rooms for faculty and students. uJk ▲ U.C. Staff: (front) Kathy Whitty, Sandra Muench, Karen English, (back) Jay Andersen, Director; Anthony Thornton, Bob Young, Richard Jones, Johnny Barnes. ► Jay Andersen, Director of the U.C. and Richard Jones, Assistant Director. 24 Student Life