2008 Woodie Awards
Mac International Student Orientation lags behind peers
By: Kristina Doan
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Opinion
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At the heart of Macalester's mission lies our emphasis on internationalism. It is a place of diversity where globally aware students have a profound appreciation for other cultures. Our pride in Macalester's international pillar transcends all our daily lives as we interact with one another both inside and outside of the classroom. However, many in the Macalester community continually question the necessity of an International Student Orientation (ISO). Some voice opinions that ISO is the cause of division among American and International Students (Mac Weekly 9/21/07 International Orientation: Who Needs It?). I would like to correct these misconceived notions of ISO by examining the purposes of International Student Orientation as well as addressing the argument that it creates divides within the student body.
Compared to similar higher education institutions of our size, Macalester has one of the shortest international student orientation programs. Within a four day orientation, only two full days of programming are allocated to government regulations paperwork, presentations of immigration and other laws affecting international students and a brief excursion introducing the Twin Cities. The other days are devoted to picking up students every hour of the day from the airport (i.e. international mentors working from 5am to 2am), checking students into the dorms, opening bank accounts, informal shopping trips to Target (a store many have never heard of before) to purchase basic necessities. Arriving early to Macalester allows students to battle jet-lag from 48-hour journeys and adjust to time differences before the myriad of activities during All Student Orientation.
Similar institutions such as Carleton and Grinnell devote an entire week to solid programming, for which Macalester only allocates two days. The activities and objectives of Mac's International Orientation are concrete and effective; however, it is hardly comparable to the amount of additional programming that could be done. Even with our emphasis on internationalism, similar institutions are providing their students with more time and opportunities to deal with culture shock and adjustment to American culture. Instead of asking the necessity of an ISO we should be asking why we are not doing more.
Compared to similar higher education institutions of our size, Macalester has one of the shortest international student orientation programs. Within a four day orientation, only two full days of programming are allocated to government regulations paperwork, presentations of immigration and other laws affecting international students and a brief excursion introducing the Twin Cities. The other days are devoted to picking up students every hour of the day from the airport (i.e. international mentors working from 5am to 2am), checking students into the dorms, opening bank accounts, informal shopping trips to Target (a store many have never heard of before) to purchase basic necessities. Arriving early to Macalester allows students to battle jet-lag from 48-hour journeys and adjust to time differences before the myriad of activities during All Student Orientation.
Similar institutions such as Carleton and Grinnell devote an entire week to solid programming, for which Macalester only allocates two days. The activities and objectives of Mac's International Orientation are concrete and effective; however, it is hardly comparable to the amount of additional programming that could be done. Even with our emphasis on internationalism, similar institutions are providing their students with more time and opportunities to deal with culture shock and adjustment to American culture. Instead of asking the necessity of an ISO we should be asking why we are not doing more.
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