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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1981)
page 2 daily nebraskan Wednesday, february 4, 1981 Foreign students seek improved social acceptance By Chris Day Homesickness, alienation, communication problems, body language and methods of classroom instruction cause friction between foreign students and new environ ments according to the director of UNL's international education services. Peter S. Levitov said that values, attitudes, customs, food and weather differences are less significant than relationship problems. More than 50 percent of U.S. teenagers go on to some type of educational institution after high school, Levitov said, but only 5 percent of the rest of the students in the world go on to higher education. "They (international students) are the best, and are ex pected to be at the top," Levitov said. "Their self-image is frequently damaged. "Foreign students identify with the group. United States students are individuals." There are frequent attempts by UNL students to inter act with international students, but such questions as "Do Sometimes needed courses fit into your schedule like square pegs in round holes. Independent study by correspondence may smooth out the edges for you. The UNL Division of Continuing Studies offers a wide variety of college credit courses that you work on at your pace and your place. Call Mrs. Molly Cunningham, 472-1933 or come to 511 Nebraska Hall. Campus I- UNL does not discriminate in its academic, admissions or employment programs and abides by all federal regulations pertaining to same. you eat with chopsticks?" or "Do you come from the desert?" are not valid attempts at relating to foreign stu dents, Levitov said. "Don't invite them to Thanksgiving and then forget them. You feel good that you helped a poor foreign stu dent, but then forget them," he said. "They are not poor students. They want to be accept ed as people, or as roommates." General comments from a survey the IES office con ducted of foreign students included the comment that "U.S. students need to be more broad-minded." "More broad-minded" Levitov said that Nebraskans need to have more con tact with people from other areas of the U.S. besides foreign countries. He said the university is "homogeneous," and that the level of acceptance needs improvement. According to the office, there are 767 non-immigrant foreign students at UNL. The top 10 countries as far as number of students attending UNL include Iran with 181; Taiwan, 106; Nigeria, 89; Hong Kong, 37; Iraq, 35; India, 25; Lebanon, 21; Malaysia, 17; Japan, 16; and Pakistan, 16. Levitov said there are a variety of reasons why foreign students are attracted to UNL. He said universities m tneir native countries may be filled, or doctoral degrees may not be offered. The sense of adventure and status for wealthy families are other reasons for going abroad for an education, for American students too, he said. Graduate referrals Many foreign students are graduate students who were referred to the university by UNL faculty, their colleagu es, or by the reputation of the university's research facilit ies. Undergraduates usually know someone else at UNL or had visitors from Nebraska come to their home countries, Levitov said. Nebraska tends to be selective in accepting foreign stu dents and the selectivity leads to a greater success rate, Levitov said. A minute proportion of international stu dents are on academic probation or suspension compared to students as a whole. Foreign students coming to UNL are provided with de tailed information concerning climate, accommodations and travel costs by the IES office. They are requested to arrive 10 days prior to the start of the semester and are given language tests, cultural adjustment assistance as well as an introduction to a new academic system. Students for Life group receives 'quasi-threatening' letter from vandals By Tom Prentiss The UNL Students for Life received a letter Tuesday that group president Doug Novak termed "quasi-threatening." The letter is an apparent response to charges made after vandals defaced a sign outside the Nebraska Union during Respect Life Week. Among other things, the letter says the vandalism was done by a group of concerned citizens and not the UNL Students for Reproductive Freedom. Novak said the letter was a "direct verbal assault" on the 40 to 50 members of the group. He said he had no idea who was responsible for the letter but that it was probably people who shared the views of the Students for Reproductive Freedom. Jan Deeds, vice president of Students for Reproductive Freedom, said she was glad the group responsible came forward and acknowledged their act. Deeds said her- group neither associates with vandals nor condones vandalism. Deeds and Marcee Metzger, a stu dent member, said they didn't see a threat within the letter. Deeds said the letter is probably a reaction to Novak's previous statement about pro-choice groups being involv ed in vandalism. Novak said the group also received a news story report ing that guards will be used to protect the Ladies Center in Omaha because of recent vandalism. According to the Associated Press story, the Omaha abortion clinic was supposed to begin its appointment schedule Tuesday. Novak said the letter equates the vandalism to the sign with the vandalism to the Ladies Center. Novak said the letter "'shows their mentality" and that his group does not get involved in radical or violent activity. Novak said he thinks students were responsible for the vandalism to the sign because few people from off campus would have seen it. lie also said that because the letter was not postmarked it may mean that it was dropped in the Students for Life mailbox by a student. Novak said anyone with information regarding the letter could call Crimcstoppers. He said the police organization operates with total anonymity so people should feel free to contact it. He said the owner of the sign that was vandalized, Dick SchalTer and Associates, is offering a $100 reward to peo ple who give information resulting in the arrest of the vandals. Nebraska personal income rises in third quarter 1980 According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, per sonal income for Nebraska was $14.9 billion for the third quarter 1980. Jerome Deichert, research associate for the UNL College of Business Administration's Bureau of Business Research, said this represented a 7 percent increase from 1979. The growth in Nebraska's income apparently did not keep pace with inflation. During the same time inflation was about 1 1 percent. i i ' ; 'Z " """"" 'V"'Nh. 1 I presents MUDDY "MISSISSIPPI WATERS LIVE! ' ..featuring ' " vJimmy Valentine "and the Heartmurmurs TnUKSDAY, FEB. 26 8:00 p.m. KIMBALL HAL1, I INT. STIinF.NTS t r GENERAL ADMISSIONWt Available at Nebraska Union Nebraska East Union Kimball Hall Box Office Drt Cheap And at the door. An I.1TS Pr(Mfu( (n The Rodeo Club will meet tonight at 7 in the l ast Campus Union. Room number will be posled. There will be a GIC SSA Core Committee meet ing today at 4:30 p.m. Room number will be post ed. There will be a Figure Drawing Session tonight from 7-10 in Richards Hall 206. The cost will be $10 and is open to anyone inter UNL Toasttnasters will meet tonight at 6 in NIC 241 Uttcrtlay Saints Student Association will have class today at noon in the I ast Campus I nion.