The international voice
International student group a resource for OSU's community of students from abroad
Aleks Cherednichenko
Issue date: 10/30/06 Section: News
Facilitating cross-cultural interactions through events and programs is the mission of the International Students of OSU, a coalition of 13 different cultural student groups representing more than 60 countries.
Two events from ISOSU are coming this week, as the organization aims to attract people who have not yet interacted with the international community on campus.
Today at 7:30 p.m., the Filipino American Students Association, Isang Bansang Pilipino - an affiliate of ISOSU - will host Halo-Halo Night at the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center.
The event is open to the public and the authentic Filipino dessert Halo-Halo will be served.
On Tuesday, ISOSU will host "Spooktacular Pumpkin Carving" at the MU East kitchen beginning at 6 p.m. Students can learn how to carve pumpkins, find out the history of Halloween and get acquainted with the staff of ISOSU.
"We are the voice of international students," said Parvathy Binoy, co-development chair for the organization.
"ISOSU is a base," said Sarah Abdul-Karim, last year's ISOSU coordinator.
ISOSU provides a network of services, events and socials that help international students transition into a new culture and surroundings. The goal of the organization is to promote a better understanding of different cultures among OSU's community.
ISOSU is "a giant directory, we connect students to services they need," ISOSU's Co-Development Coordinator Catalina Vlad said.
The organization serves a variety of different people, such as international students and those who return to school after studying abroad. "We help people find jobs, housing, legal advice - whatever they ask - we help provide," Vlad said.
ISOSU is not, however, all about social events and gatherings.
"There is a definite activist side of it," Binoy said
Raising awareness about international issues is also the goal of ISOSU.
In 2004, after the tsunami disaster in Asia, ISOSU organized a fundraising event in collaboration with OSU's Global Relief Effort. Students working with ISOSU collected clothes from all around campus.
The donated clothes were sold at the MU Quad and the money made was donated directly to families in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
"We have been trying to do more collaborative events, and really reach out to a variety of students," Binoy said.
ISOSU gives everyone on campus a chance to participate in the organization, and all students may volunteer with any one of its affiliates.
Kathy Schuff, an event coordinator for the organization, decided to become involved after her experience abroad in Japan and Germany.
Laurence Alifen, ISOSU past coordinator of events, first started volunteering two years ago.
"I wanted to find other Indonesian people I could interact with," Alifen said. "It's fun and I learned a lot about other cultures."
"When you are an international student, you are the strange one," Abdul-Karim said.
She and other ISOSU leaders said the group helps international students transition into their new home at OSU.
Two events from ISOSU are coming this week, as the organization aims to attract people who have not yet interacted with the international community on campus.
Today at 7:30 p.m., the Filipino American Students Association, Isang Bansang Pilipino - an affiliate of ISOSU - will host Halo-Halo Night at the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center.
The event is open to the public and the authentic Filipino dessert Halo-Halo will be served.
On Tuesday, ISOSU will host "Spooktacular Pumpkin Carving" at the MU East kitchen beginning at 6 p.m. Students can learn how to carve pumpkins, find out the history of Halloween and get acquainted with the staff of ISOSU.
"We are the voice of international students," said Parvathy Binoy, co-development chair for the organization.
"ISOSU is a base," said Sarah Abdul-Karim, last year's ISOSU coordinator.
ISOSU provides a network of services, events and socials that help international students transition into a new culture and surroundings. The goal of the organization is to promote a better understanding of different cultures among OSU's community.
ISOSU is "a giant directory, we connect students to services they need," ISOSU's Co-Development Coordinator Catalina Vlad said.
The organization serves a variety of different people, such as international students and those who return to school after studying abroad. "We help people find jobs, housing, legal advice - whatever they ask - we help provide," Vlad said.
ISOSU is not, however, all about social events and gatherings.
"There is a definite activist side of it," Binoy said
Raising awareness about international issues is also the goal of ISOSU.
In 2004, after the tsunami disaster in Asia, ISOSU organized a fundraising event in collaboration with OSU's Global Relief Effort. Students working with ISOSU collected clothes from all around campus.
The donated clothes were sold at the MU Quad and the money made was donated directly to families in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
"We have been trying to do more collaborative events, and really reach out to a variety of students," Binoy said.
ISOSU gives everyone on campus a chance to participate in the organization, and all students may volunteer with any one of its affiliates.
Kathy Schuff, an event coordinator for the organization, decided to become involved after her experience abroad in Japan and Germany.
Laurence Alifen, ISOSU past coordinator of events, first started volunteering two years ago.
"I wanted to find other Indonesian people I could interact with," Alifen said. "It's fun and I learned a lot about other cultures."
"When you are an international student, you are the strange one," Abdul-Karim said.
She and other ISOSU leaders said the group helps international students transition into their new home at OSU.
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