and features three linked buildings connected by glass walkways. Housing is available for holiday periods, including the summer.
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To see Bates housing options visit: www.bates.edu/x53746.xml
Student Life: Friendliness and Personal Attention
gives students an opportunity to slow down, see their food being prepared, and enjoy chance encounters. Visually striking and environmentally friendly, the facility continues Bates’ cherished tradition of the entire community gathering together for meals. On-campus housing is guaranteed for four years. We believe that the quality of residencehall life at Bates an important influence on a student’s academic achievement and overall personal growth. There are six traditional residence halls that house from 40 to 153 students each; 26 Victorian houses, each accommodating from 10 to 30 students; and three apartment-style residences that house students from 40 to 140 students each. Ninety-two percent of the student body lives on campus in one of the residence halls or houses. 280 College Street, the College’s new 152-bed residence, offers a striking set of architectural lines
From the moment international students arrive at the Portland Jetport and are met by current students, they are well-supported. All international students are encouraged to participate in the international student orientation program, which is designed to acquaint students with Bates, introduce them to the community, culture, and life, and guide them in complying with governmental regulations. The International Student Adviser in the Dean of Students’ Office, James Reese, can assist students from abroad with individual needs, including traveling to campus, shopping for seasonal clothing, and finding summer jobs and internships. “I don’t think there are enough words to describe what he does for us,” says Maria Joachim of Nicosia, Cyprus. “He’s like an older brother, one of my best friends.” Organizations Bates supports more than 110 clubs and organizations involving the outdoors, arts, religion, politics, the environment, and athletics, among many others. Students find it easy to participate and contribute as soon as they arrive at Bates. From the International Club to Sangai Asia, from the Bates Hindu Awareness Group to Latinos Unidos, these groups provide everyday evidence of Bates’ commitment to internationalism. To see the complete listing of clubs and organizations, visit: www.bates.edu/student-org-list.xml
The International Club, with an active membership of 150 students, promotes crosscultural awareness and understanding through a variety of campus activities, such as the International Coffee House. At the annual International Dinner, guests enjoy dishes from around the world and multicultural entertainment throughout the evening. Considered one of the most popular events on campus, the dinner is prepared by various members of the Bates community including international students. “It is truly a community effort, and everyone helps make it a success,” says Khoa Pham ’07 from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The International Club serves primarily as a support group for international students at the College, but is open to all members of the Bates community, and the club has enjoyed a growing enrollment from students of various backgrounds.
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For more information on the club, visit: www.bates.edu/people/orgs/intclub
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E-mail current international students at www.bates.edu/intl-email-students.xml
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Mustafa Basij-Rasikh ’12 Many Afghans harbor “this preconceived notion, orally passed from generation to generation, that democracy is not good,” says Mustafa Basij-Rasikh ’12. And with more than 70 percent of the population illiterate, democracy’s fate in Afghanistan “just comes back to a lack of education.” Kabul resident Basij-Rasikh comes from what he terms “an unusual liberal family” that’s not only willing to give its children good educations, as many Afghans are, but actually able to do so. Three sisters are also studying in the United States.
Support from the Peter M. Goodrich Foundation, created by the parents of a member of the Bates Class of 1989 who died in the Sept. 11 attacks, enabled Basij-Rasikh to attend Bates. “Coming to Bates was one of my wisest decisions,” he says. “It’s amazing to be in a smaller college environment where you can establish a good connection with your professors.” Basij-Rasikh has extended the Bates tradition of service back to his homeland, some 6,500 miles away. During summer 2010, he carried out an initiative funded
by a Davis Project for Peace grant: an effort to provide hand-powered carts, similar to bicycles, to people disabled by landmines. Giving the recipients mobility and a display area for merchandise, the carts enable the recipients to earn money as vendors. “I have a dream,” says Basij-Rasikh, who is the first Afghan student at Bates since at least 1984, “that my generation will be the generation who will solve the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan.”