vol. 3. no.
1
a letter for alumni
of International
House,
500
Riverside
Drive,
New
York,
N.Y.
The Student Exchange Dropout This past year the number of foreign students deciding to remain in the U.S. after completing their studies has more than doubled. Acute shortages of doctors, teachers, engineers, and physicists in the U.S. mean that American universities, corporations and hospitals, are offering these foreign students many attractive permanent positions. 1n1966, the U.S. Congress passed a new immigration law which has accelerated the trend by making it much easier for the visiting foreign student to remain in this country. The cosponsor of the new immi-
gration
bill,
Senator
Walter
F.
Mondale, last August delivered a noteworthy address to the 89th Congress. We reproduce sections of it here. “As one who cosponsored the bill to end our national origins quota system, | would not want us to violate in any way the spirit of the new immigration act. Yet the increased emphasis on the skills of the immigrant, regardless of his or-
“These statistics establish beyond doubt the severity of the brain drain. But they do not show that those who leave developing lands are, all too often, men of the very highest potential.... “The brain drain is the sum of thousands of individual decisions, decisions by talented, trained people to leave their home countries. These are not decisions lightly taken. We must realize that the student, or scientist, or doctor from a developing nation faces a unique kind of pressure. He is expected to serve as a bridge between two cultures, to apply the knowledge and technology of the West as a work-
ing member of a radically different
drain problem. And already we are seeing its effect.... “The brain drain is acute among
society. Any effort to reduce the brain drain must provide him help and support, and increase his prospects for a rewarding professional life in his homeland. “A brain drain program must be selective, focusing on those nations where the problem is most acute.... “Finally, we should look into the possibility of negotiating bilateral agreements with developing countries severely affected by the brain drain, to modify the effect of our
foreign students. In an article in the
visa and immigration policies....
July Foreign Affairs, Cornell Presi-
“And a balance is what is needed in many other action areas | have discussed. Our people do need doctors, as our economy thirsts for more scientists and engineers. We prize the presence of foreign students on our campuses. We profit from the contribution of immigrants from all continents to our national life. “Yet, if we would build a world where our children can live in peace and freedom, development of poor nations must likewise receive high priority in our national
igin, clearly exacerbates the brain
dent James
A. Perkins
cites an
estimate that ‘Over 90 percent of Asian students who come here to
study, never return home.’ “Immigration and Naturalization
Service statistics indicate that 30 percent of Asians
who
come
here
on student ‘F-visas’ adjust their status to permanent resident. Whatever the exact figures, the nonreturn of students to Asia is of massive proportions, particularly severe for
countries such and Iran....
as Taiwan,
Korea,
Direction 1968
International Crossword Puzzle I. House— The Leaven at Work
New House Scholarships 500 Volunteers for the Fund
United Nations Reception
Nostalgia Department New Dimension in House Program
Your 1967 Passport to International House Friends registration card is enclosed
10027
2 policies.” This, then, is a suggestion for governmental cooperation in an area of great concern. NAFSA (National Association for Foreign
Student Affairs) and the IIE (Institute of International Education), which programs the stay of well over 5,000 students, have both begun attacking the problem in their
studies and administration. As a result of its study of foreign student statistics in Open Doors 1966 the I1E reports that of 93,700 exchange students in the U.S. 11,000 students reported intending
to remain in the U.S. permanently. This compares with 6,000 last year, and much smaller numbers in all previous years. In a study entitled ‘The Problem of the Non-Returnee,” Bekir S. Ural, Assistant Resident Advisor at |. House, summarizes a number of wise steps that should be taken both in this country and in the stu-
dent’s own
country to stem
this
growing tide of ‘defections.’ “1) The business community of his country should hire the student while he is still in the United States. ‘‘2) The Chambers of Commerce of the country should, through lists published by the Education Ministries, circulate news of opportunities available in the country. 3) The relationship of cultural
attaches in this country with their students should be more than the monitoring of their academic marks. ‘‘4) The newspapers, magazines, films of their countries should be always accessible to the student. “The program of seminars that
the IIE carries on for many students during summer and Christmas vacations should be enlarged.” (Editor’s Note, see following.) “Let us not forget that the work of Foreign Student Advisors can help and influence some of these students considerably. Another area where activities can help most of the returnees to readapt them-
selves to their home society is the work of alumni organizations. Unfortunately most American-educated people in foreign countries do not even keep or establish rela-
tionships among
themselves. This
field should be explored.” These suggestions and this prob-
lem deserve the serious consideration of House alumni everywhere.
New Dimension In House Program On Monday, December 26, coordinators, Bruce Bassett ('61-’65) and
Carl Shieren
('64-’65), greeted 34
foreign students at the door of International House. These men and women are independent students studying in different parts of the United States. They came together for six days to participate in the Development Fellows Seminar, organized by I. House for the Institute of International Education under agrant from the Agency for International Development. The six days that they spent in New York were planned so that the young men and women might explore, with experts from the academic and business world, the problems and approaches in economic development in their own countries and acquaint themselves with factors in U.S. development
which might be helpful. This is the second year that |. House has played host to this type of seminar. The House plans to continue this
pattern, cooperating with IIE and other agencies in giving students a chance to gain deeper insight into the everyday working of economic
and social institutions of New York. It adds a new dimension of service to the House role of aiding foreign students.
On
their first evening
at the
House, they were welcomed by the President, Howard Cook, and heard Ambassador E. R. Braithwaite, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations, speak. The following day, the students
participated in two seminars, ‘‘The Desirability of Economic
Growth”
and ‘Social and Cultural Problems of Development,” led by educational
and
business
leaders
from
Columbia University, City College of New York and The American Metal Climax Corporation. In the evening, the students went to see a Broadway “hit” musical.
Wednesday morning, The First National City Bank held a panel on banking, entitled ‘‘The Role of Pri-
seas economic problems as related to banking. The program was followed by a luncheon in the execu-
tive dining room, high above Park
Avenue in the bank’s 39-story building. That afternoon, the group toured the United Nations, before attending a Christmas party at the Institute of International Education.
Thursday began with a seminar
at the House, entitled ‘‘Authoritarian versus Pluralistic Approaches to Development.” In the afternoon, the group went to Rockefeller Center to hear Mr. Richard S. Aldrich, Vice President, introduce International Basic Economy Corporation (IBEC) and speak on its purpose and operation. That evening, the students had cocktails and dinner at a French restaurant, followed by a hockey game at Madison Square Garden. Saturday, December 31, the students attended a banquet here at the House, given in their honor.
The guest of honor was Mr. Nicos Agathocleous, First Secretary, Per-
manent
Mission
United
of Cyprus
Nations.
to the
Following
dinner,
the students were entertained at the International House New Year’s Eve Ball. Reflecting on the Seminar, one
of the students from Kenya wrote: “Among
the several advantages
with which the Seminar provided us, the one | will always remember is that of seeing the relevancy of the education we are getting in the American colleges and universities and the problems of development we are going to solve in our own respective countries. The speakers
did an excellent job in pointing out to us the various problems our countries are facing and will go through in their process of development.
They
also
succeeded
in
explaining how an inter-discipli-
nary approach is useful and in many cases must be used in the planning of programs of development.”
vate Financial Institutions in the Development Process,” moderated
by Kenneth M. Spang ('35-’36, ’46), Vice President in Charge of Overseas Division and Alumni Fund Chairman.
The
speakers
for
this
occasion were all officers of the bank and spoke on various over-
Vacation Studies... Mboga Omwenga of Kenya, Klaus
Bethke of Colombia and Omar Sey of Gambia are part of a group of foreign students of economics and business administration in U.S. colleges who spent their Christmas-New Year holidays in N.Y.C. learning about economic development. Here the three students discuss the program with Kenneth M. Spang.
OPERATION OPERATION
ND iaeenaersameeeaamemmannnclie. 00% alumni on mailing list CLO BA| See 2 well-functioning Area Committees
OPERATION
SUPPORT
OPERATION OPERATION
Re ACCOMPLISHES
ESS
uccessful Alumni Fund Drives
communication among International Houses and their alumni |n ternational project completed by each Area Committee
From the coverage of the first Alumni Council meeting in September in Italy, you will remember these goals of the Council for February 1968. Since September, the following progress has been reported by Committees and Council Members. @ The
International
House
film
is
being shown to a number of large groups in Buenos Aires and press releases have called attention of
alumni to the Council program for Argentina. @ At least four speeches and film showing to Rotary Clubs in Copen-
hagen have taken place. Poul Kjaer-Hansen is in demand as a Rotary luncheon speaker and much
interest
in the
House
pro-
grams has developed among Copenhagen committee leaders. Activities of this committee, which has taken the name of the Council Committee in place of its former title of Chapter of The International House Association, appear in other articles in this issue.
current locations and mailing addresses of alumni in his own area. @ The Executive Committee of the former Japan Chapter of IHA formally reconstituted itself as the Japanese Council of International House and held an annual meeting in November to discuss the Council’s goals. A survey of future projects and direction was undertaken. @ Applicants for the new Scholarship program being administered
through
the
Council
are
being
screened in Japan, the Philippines,
Pakistan and Belgium. ™@ The Pakistan Council Member Alternate pledges funds toward matching any scholarship awarded
thread, for sale to alumni to aid the Alumni Fund. @ The Iranian Council Member has initiated a personal letter to
each
alumnus
urging
support
of
the Alumni Fund. He has also personally offered help to a number of
students and alumni visiting or relocating in Iran.
™@ The
Spanish
Council
Member
has verified the location and addresses of all Known alumni in his
country at present and looks forward to the organization of a Spanish Council. @ Taiwan alumni will receive a letter in support of the Alumni Fund
Campaign as soon as the addresses have been verified to the satisfac-
to Pakistani students through first year of the new program.
the
@ The Philippines Committee has updated the list of institutions to
™@ From
the
whom information on International House is sent, adding 21 colleges
performance by the Little Theatre Group of ‘A Severed Head” by J. B. Priestley and Iris Murdoch. Dr.
™@ The English International House Association Trust reports progress on their plan to build anew London International House. A site has been chosen.
Joseph Chacko (’26-'31) comments
M@ In the
United
States
over
on the plan, which saw a profit for the alumni committee, “It was a good start. Other plans are in the offing.”” Both Bombay and Bangalore are investigating with Dr. Chacko the formation of local committees. @ The Nigerian Council Member is currently negotiating the production of blazer emblems of the
apartments
have
been
inspected
by the New
York Area
Committee
and
universities whose
advisors
and students would be benefited by having current information on In-
ternational House and its program. The Philippines Committee has also done
a tremendous
job on
locating their “‘lost’’ alumni in the Philippines. (There are more than 200 former students from the Philippines currently in the alumni files.) The committee has devel-
oped
its constitution
bylaws
and
articles of incorporation. @ An alumnus in North Germany, Arnold Braden (’29-’31) of Hanover,
has undertaken to trace and verify
committee
India
we
hear
sponsored
that
tion of their Council
a dramatic
Member.
117
for a permanent listing available to nonresident House members. Over
70 new foreign students were given a special welcome
by alumni fam-
ilies in a pilot project. A spring reception at the United Nations is also planned. See story on page 4.
@ The
French
Executive Commit-
International House ship’s seal (on
tee is sending a letter to 500 prom-
the masthead of the newsletter), He hopes to arrange for them to be hand-embroidered in gold bullion
inent business people in France in the interest of raising funds for International House.
4 U.N.—I.H. Reception On Thursday, April 13, from 5:307:30 p.m., in the Delegates Dining Room overlooking the East River, Dr. Ralph Bunche, as Honorary Chairman, Mrs. John French and Mr. Sinan Korle, Co-Chairmen, will welcome alumni ofthe metropolitan area and their guests to a reception in recognition of the aims and ideals which both institutions share in common. Alumni of the staff of the Secretariat and the Missions will also act
as hosts. Tickets are $6.00 and invitations will be in the mail in early March to all alumni in or near New York. Det Danske International House Samfund Celebrates
next item on the agenda, the Board was re-elected and now comprises
P.H. Kjaer-Hansen (’46), chairman, Carl Larsen ('40, ’46-’47), treasurer, G.J. Jornow (38), secretary, and Eric Bandier, Oluf C. Jensen (’33). Several questions were asked and a discussion on |.H. matters took place. When satisfactorily
settled, we were again graciously invited by the Coca-Cola factory to have a late dinner, followed by fruit aid coffee. The Annual Meeting had lasted more than 4 hours when our Chairman thanked the factory for the kind hospitality, and the meeting was terminated. Sincerely ‘ G. J. Jornow
Secretary Alumni
Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting of the Danish Alumni Council of International House was held in Copenhagen at 7:30 p.m. on November 7, 1966. | am glad to report that the gathering was a success. Our Chairman, P.H. KjaerHansen, opened the meeting and welcomed the 25 members and
several guests to the general meeting and the celebration of Inter-
Kindness
Dr. Saleh Abusaidi & Mr.
including
ning,
a
hosted
& Mrs. Edalatpour of Teheran
most
enjoyable
by the
head
eve-
of the
Institute of Cookery in Bombay. It was 1 a.m. when | arrived in Teheran, but Dr. Saleh Abusaidi was there to meet me at the airport
and to extend an invitation to stay
Impresses
Traveling Student by Hilda Bloomquist (’66) A world tour this past summer became an unforgettable experience through the hospitality of International House alumni scattered around the world. | was first introduced to the friendliness and generosity of our alumni when | arrived in Calcutta
with him and his family in their lovely home. Mrs. Fatima Edalatpour, another International House alumni in Teheran, made a day of
sight-seeing a most enjoyable experience. One of the joys of traveling is sampling the native food of the various countries. While in Teheran,
my first meal consisted of that delightful native delicacy, chelo ka-
national House Day which took place in the attractive meeting
bab. Expecting to sample more of this native cuisine, lunch at “The Shoppe” proved to be an interest-
room of factory.
ing digression: chicken in the basket with French fries, onion
the
After a nice
local
~~
ies
ees
Coca-Cola
refreshment,
rings, apple pie a la mode. What could be more American? And en-
given
by the Coca-Cola factory, two films on International House were shown, bringing back the memo-
joying this food were not American Mr. & Mrs. V. S. Prasad & Sunita of Calcutta
and was warmly greeted by Mr. V.
S. Prasad tained
and graciously enter-
in his
home.
Although
my
stay in Calcutta was short, Mr. Prasad made it possible for me to capture the spirit and observe the unique character of this city of palaces and contrasts. | was impressed by the spirit of contentment and loyalty that seems
to prevail
in India. The
needs
of
tourists, but Iranians! While in Teheran, | flew to Isfahan to observe the beautiful mosaic and tile work of the Shah Mosque and
then on to Shiraz, where | was graciously received by Talieh Agah. There | had the opportunity to visit the modern and progressive hos-
pital and school of nursing of which Miss Agah is the Dean.
It was wonderful to see the Antony Sullivans in Beirut and to be
at the House, and, of course, not the least did the ‘‘old-timers” appreciate the films, one of which we had borrowed from the American
these people are simple, and they seem to have developed the capacity for a serene acceptance of life,
ficulty finding the address
which
in a more
Sullivans and stopped in front of a
Embassy
affluent society.
building
On hand to greet me in Bombay was Mrs. S. Jagannathan. Once
looked out of the window and saw a sign on the building which read:
again, | experienced the ultimate in Indian hospitality, as a guest in their
‘‘Dentist from New York
home. In addition to a tour of their great city, the Gateway to India, the Jagannathans provided a mul-
was the dentist himself, Dr. Joseph Kareh. lrecognized him, butat first could
titude of interesting
notrememberwherel
in Copenhagen
and the
other we got “new” from New York.
The Chairman
then gave a de-
tailed report about the meeting held
at Lake Como,
Italy. At the end of
the report, we read the telegram we had received from Harry Edmonds, causing much applause. At the elections, which were the
is often
lacking
experiences,
entertained by them, American style. The taxi driver had some dif-
of the
to ask for directions.
|
University.”
Looking out of the upstairs window
had seen him.
5 After meeting, we both remembered that we had talked together
many
times in the Bazaar at International House where he worked while living at International House and attending New York University! A warm visit with the Sullivans followed, and both they and Dr. Kareh were happy to discover that they
were living in the same
neighbor-
hood. | was greatly moved by the warm hospitality of the alumni | met. Al-
though
the
historical
and
geo-
graphical points were very impressive, | found the warmth and magnanimity of the people of far greater
alumni
are growing
greater with
every passing year. The clarity of the Brotherhood concept of Harry Edmonds’ original International House must be guarded and passed on to International Houses and institutions around the world. The House administration is doing its part in acknowledging all requests
and inviting many
interested edu-
cators to visit and study the House. But the alumni may do their part to increase the “leavening” thought
parks
in U.S.A.,
Lis-
dam,
Vienna,
Zurich,
Montreal.
International House— The Leaven at Work
world. Today, New York International House is only one of the |. Houses around the world. It has become the successful experiment, the
“Mother House,” and the blueprint to which others look for guidance. In the words of Council Member, Matti Akrawi ('25-’34), ‘Think of the New York House as a means, the center, the leaven through which the idea can be spread.” Each year, many schools and universities, representing the cities of the world, write here to request
information about building an International House or center in their part of the world. Since 1959, eighty such
requests
have
for study
in the United
States withoutsome aid guaranteed
mopolitan living, attracting men and women from all parts of the
come
in from
cities as close as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and countries as far away as Australia. Many of these requests have resulted in new International Houses. The responsibilities of Interna-
tional House, New York, and of her
cities in the continental
United
States and one in Honolulu. 5,460 alumni are involved in the phone campaigns with some 500 Volunteers working under Area Chairmen. Clay Simpson (61-62) andJim
M. Davis ('38-'39; ’46-'48), CoChairmen of the Phone Campaigns, report that the following persons have agreed to serve as
on their living expenses New York City.
while in
Council Members have been authorized by the Committee to interview all applicants in their area. A numberof local Alumni Committees
have circularized information on this new award Scholarships are
Scholarship
in their awarded
Committee
basis of 1. Financial need achievement.
and
cities. by the
Cowing
Francisco,
Los Angeles, Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Ashcraft (‘38-’40) for Denver, Mr. &
Chase area, Peter Lindenfeld (’48’51) for Princeton, Jim L. Davis (’62’64) and Joe Wyman (’54-’56) in the New York City area, David Murray
('64-’65) for Rochester, Peter Wei Lin (’24-’27) in Philadelphia, Lucie Whitmarsh (’38-'40) in Honolulu, and Anne Marfey (60) in the Boston-Cambridge area. In Puerto Rico, the Campaign will
take a different tack, with Maria Texidor, former staff member, working with Enrique LaGuerre (’49-’50; ’54), Francisco Arrivi (’48-’49) and
other alumni to back the House student Talent Tour in June. In Copenhagen and in Paris during the week of March Alumni Committees are
12, the playing
host to Fund Chairman Ken Spang, who will speak on the House, the
the
academic
rate support for the House. Support for this year’s Fund by Committees
on
of International House. 3.Commitment to return
to
homeland to apply knowledge and skills.
4. Interest in remaining active for International House goals in homeland through alumni activities.
This year’s scholarship awards will be announced on April 30 and reported in the next newsletter.
500 Volunteers Working for Alumni Fund All across the United States and all around the world, alumni are mar-
their forces
for Berkeley-San
Fund and its goals to each Committee and then to a group of business leaders representing corpo-
2. Interest in furthering the ideals
shaling
(59)
Mrs. John C. Fiske (’39-’40) in the Washington, Bethesda and Chevy
Scholarship applications through the new Trustees’ Scholarship Committee program being administered by the Alumni Council have come in from all over the world (Deadline, Feb. 28). For the first time, under this new program, |. House is making an effort to seek out and award scholarships to needy students overseas who would not be able to leave the
country
Forty years ago, International House was unique. It was and still is, a creative experience in cos-
planned
in February in 10
Lucille O'Reilly (’35-'36; ’40-’41) in
New Scholarship Program Through Alumni Council
National
Campaigns
in their countries. If you would like to help out in this way, write the
alumni truly are carrying out the International House objective— That Brotherhood May Prevail. Editor's Note: Our hard working Travel Fellow, Frank Taylor, whoarranged this and many other tours, tells us that he needs more host
bon, Barcelona, Tangiers, Amster-
Fund
for the last week
Area Chairmen...Susan
significance. International House
the
Alumni
by sharing the International House film and literature with the people Alumni Office for information.
families in the following cities: San Francisco, New Orleans, Charleston, S.C., and cities or towns near
House through the Alumni Fund Campaign. This year there are
in aid of the
and by Council
Members
has also
been undertaken in France, Iran, Lebanon and the Republic of China. Gifts from countries where currency donations are impossible have just begun to arrive from all parts of the globe, as a result of an appeal to frozen-currency alumni: two oil paintings from Algeria, beautiful
hand-woven
placemats
from the Philippines, records from Tunisia, stamps for collectors from Libya, Sudan, etc. These gifts will be sold and the money received will be added to the Alumni Fund. To date, the Alumni Fund has received over $6,000 from more than 700 alumni.
{
‘ &
Nostalgia Department Where were you on the first Sunda y of May in 1921? Assem bled here, a goodly number
of our alumni
fro m
the Cosmopolitan
Club
days.
The setting is Earl Hall at Columbia University. The occasion is the Candle-
light Supper in early May, national House itself.
Reading the Mail...
sure it'll succeed.
...And still the letters come—continuing the slowly expanding story of our alumni around the world. From Ethel Ragsdale (’64-’65) in
Kenya:
“Greetings from
Nairobi,
Capital
city of Kenya
in East
here
Africa. It hardly seems possible
that nine months have passed since leaving the United States and International House. “Certainly, the year which | spent there was one of the happiest of my life, full of exciting events, interesting people, rewarding experiences which | shall cherish forever. “lam enjoying my tour of duty here. Nairobi is so beautiful, so modern, the atmosphere so relaxed, the weather so agreeable.
One can hardly consider it ‘work’
~ at all. “lam teaching English (Linguis-
tics), Literature and Speech to Afri-
can and Asian students, who are similar in age and training to our second and third year college students.”
Soma Vira (’61-’63) from India, and currently in New York, recently held
a meeting
several
at |. House:
“I’m
happy to tell you that our Interna-
tional House can add one more feather to its fine achievements. “Yesterday, we—the Indian and
Pakistani students—met in the Alumni Room and established an Indo-Pakistani action group called, The Indo-Pakistan Society (TIPS). It is going to function like the Amer-
ican Peace Corps. It is only a beginning, and we have to find funds, but when it starts functioning, I’m
“The credit must go where it be-
longs. If we didn’t have the Alumni Room, it’d have been very difficult
to call the first meeting....” A fascinating
shared
with
us
bit of history was
by ‘Nicolas
Agh-
nides (’13-'14), who writes from his New York office: ‘In 1911,1 came to New York to study at Columbia
University on a Turkish
ment
scholarship.
Govern-
Shortly
there-
after, a Columbia University Cosmopolitan Club was organized by
some students and | was elected its first President, doubtless as a gracious gesture to a newly arrived
foreign student. We started to hold regular Sunday evening meetings,
at which after a free supper the members had the privilege of listening to inspiring talks by prominent speakers that Mr. Edmonds
somehow regularly contrived to bring before us. “One day Mr. Edmonds came to me and said that he was trying to interest Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in establishing a permanent home for our club with expanded scope and that it would help if | and leaders of the other national groups among the students expressed
our
personal
views
and
convictions about the desirability and usefulness of such an institution, which we of course gladly did. “Needless to say, Mr. Edmonds
was able to persuade Mr. Rockefeller and International House sprung
into life. So what
was
ori-
ginally a club limited to the students of Columbia University only,
years
before
became,
the opening
as it were,
of Inter-
a Cosmopoli-
tan Club encompassing the entire world.
“My role in all this has been only incidental and fortuitous, and the only claim | might put forth, if it is
not stretching it too much, is that | was the first President of Interna-
tional House in its initial stage. | hope that this first-hand glimpse into the beginnings of International
House will prove of interest to its many members.” From Dr. Evangeline Thillayampalan (’23-'24), Superintendent of
Education in the Diocese of Bhagalpur, Bihar, India: ‘Thanks for the
International House World Newsletter of Mr. Harry Edmonds’ World Trip. | was delighted to get it. | do
hope he will come again and make
a tour around India, Ceylon and Pakistan. We shall certainly be happy to welcome him to our midst.
“I was principal of Isabella Thobrien College, Lucknow, India, from 1955-1961. Since then | have had a
trip around the world South Korea, Japan,
including Honolulu,
USA, England and many countries in Europe.
“| am now Superintendent of Education in the Diocese of Bhagalpur, Bihar, India. Greetings to the alumni around the world.” From Lorraine Fitzsimmons ('62-
63) in Hawaii, ‘Please accept my small token of financial support for the Alumni Fund of International House. It is sent with heartfelt good feelings from one who benefited
7 much from spending a year there. My son, James, is there now and |
that has followed the devaluation of the rupee. We are grateful to our
sure that he is profiting from
many friends all over the world who
the association of the many young people there....We appreciate the House so much!”
have come forward to help us in many ways. We are now working on our Fourth Five-year Plan. We
am
From Oslo, a Christmas letter of
need to learn the utmost discipline
Rolf Schoder (’51): “As | indicated in last year’s letter, | completed my term of service as Public Informa-
tion Officer of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
and economy to make the best use of what little we have. Another thing that we are all looking forward to is our Fourth General Election in February, 1967. Education continues
for Palestine Refugees, on 30 November 1965....After returning to
made
to make
free education
Norway, | was offered a job as Chief Public Information Officer with Redd equivalent
Barna, of the
the Norwegian Save the Chila member
Effort is being more
and
for all. We
more
are
as to children in Norway itself. The
mainprojects of Redd Barnaabroad are a leper project in Tanzania and a trachoma project in Algeria and an institution for the training of
kindergarten teachers in Istanbul, Turkey....We hope that this letter finds you well and, in conclusion, please accept our best Season’s
Greetings and kindest regards.” Doris M. Wilson (48-49) writes, “Life in India continues to be chal-
lenging in spite of all our problems and setbacks. You are all aware of
| hope it will be possible for me to attend it. | may then be able to meet some of you again.” Mohamed Ben El! Mufti ('58-’59) of Tunis writes: ‘‘This is to tell you how grateful | am for receiving your Newsletter from time to time. | really and sincerely wish | could participate and contribute in any way to the success of the Alumni Fund drive but | have no account in the United States and our international financial regulations do not allow me to export dollars. So my
only contribution could be in the Music Room of the House....Please tell me if you accept them as a con-
ACROSS
= Seaslaeaial
‘
‘
nickname
4
4. Nicaragua’s favorite son F 12. Emaciated
r
15. Of a South
Pacific island Simbel
Ga
17. Threat of Abu
7
19. Carpenter’s tool
20. Senator Joseph McCarthy’ nr
tactic :
21.
Not off
99.
Bench
93. You: Arch.
‘ :
3
if
04. Contemporary ne pression
27. Venerable
28. Pagination: hie
3! 60
organizations
national relations as student members, and they too wish to remain in touch with the House as alumni. One of the oldest and most beloved of former staff members, K. P. Damlamian, was associated with the House in its early “founding” days. Harry Edmonds, on a recent trip to New York, visited with K. P. Damlamian and reports that he is doing well and remains alert and happy despite his long infirmity. The House continues to be concerned with his welfare and continuesto covernecessary expenses.
We might add that he greatly enjoys receiving notes and cards from the many alumni who know him (Address: 362 Riverside Drive, Apartment 3B, N.Y., N.Y. 10027).
companion of 36 across
46. ag agency: 4 47. Sodium
33. Theater sign
pronoun
40. Key ingredient
4. Sun Yat 5. ’ Bizarre
42. Grain 45. Great aoteAtlantic
34.Keg
in polyunsaturates
2 Miinah 3, Facility
39. Bone: Lat. 41. O Sole ___ 43. 21 across al 44,
4. Personal
DOWN
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:
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—&” Eamous Peter aks ga 7. Dialytic
5. Skat of he Abr. Frat Physician’s 9. border: ene S Frat. J 16.
51. Father of James and John: Var. * 53. 1 down
54. Very
56. Negative 57. Wolf-like
:
:
Riding
breeches
_—‘11. Destroyed 13. Bartered 14. Tropical root
food
16. Most recent 18. Article
29. Minter
61. Romanovs
86. Roosevelt
66. Arbiter: Abr.
26. Philanthropic
31, Most docile
65. Proximity: Poet.
creation
67. Lawyer’s request
Inebriate
68. English Bone
37. : Janet Whittier: Abr. ;
Chi na 69. Grain
70. Statute
of other
House and its goal of better inter-
20. Programs
36.
©
is highly unusual
educational institutions in the U.S., 1. House has determined to consider its former staff members “alumni” of the House. It is reasoned that most staff members develop the same feelings about the
and droughts that add to it. Also, of the unrest and misunderstanding
9
a move which
port of the Education Commission
form of records to be heard in the
-
In
for alumni
our shortage of food and the flood
An International Puzzle
Former Staff Members Considered Alumni of the House
eagerly looking forward to the Re-
Y.W.C.A. Council meeting will be held in August of 1967 in Australia.
sistance to children abroad as well
rie
students.
tation will change our entire system for the better....The World
Rights of the Child and is giving as-
oe
dents in the ‘‘Music Room,” a room near the Home Room which has been set aside for quiet listening by individuals or small groups of
promising. We hope its implemen-
of the International Union for Child Welfare in Geneva. This voluntary organization is basing its activities on the Universal Declaration of the
+
ceived the records and they are being appreciatively used now by stu-
that was appointed in 1964. Some of its recommendations have reached the people and seem very
dren Fund in Great Britain, Canada and other countries and
progress.
to provide
tribution to the Alumni Fund drive and take note of my new address.” Editor's Note: We have since re-
25. Electric current
27.
a2 acific Tea : letter 46. Greek 48. Obstetrician: Abr.
49; __
_.. brandy.
51. Fox: Sp. 52. Famed
San
Quentin
warden 54. Thailand formerly
55. All: prefix
56. Kempt 58. Gremlin
59. Negligible
60. Ancient Greek
city in S.W. Italy
—
62. Enclosure
Exist
63. Abr. for an
28. After noonI: Ab 30.C Apr. » Vorporals 32. Commend one to God: Sp.
inert gas 64, Space
maneuver
Highlight of History As a ‘neophyte’ at International House, your Editor was interested
Suppers were held in the Auditorium (of Earl Hall at Columbia). “A lot of history was made in
in discovering where the words used in the moving and familiar
that year, ‘12 and ‘13, which should be written about, sometime.
Candlelight Ceremony had originated. There’s an old American say-
“But to go back to ‘the husband.’ “He had in his mind the arrangements for the concluding Sunday Supper of the year. Could it be
ing (of some danger, but frequently useful):
‘“‘When
the top.”
So
in doubt,
| asked
start
Harry
at
Ed-
monds to tell me the story of the start of the ceremony. His answer was so delightful that we wanted to
share it with you: “It was Spring in the year 1913. Wewere living at University Heights
in the Bronx. Florence Edmonds was
chairman
of the membership
committee of the Bronx Y.W.C.A. which was having a drive to enroll more
members
than
any
other
‘Y.W.’ in New York City (maybe in the whole country).
made something to remember? Something inspiring and dramatic? Finally, he came up with the plan of having the room encircled by as many students as there were nationalities, one student for each
nationality, arranged in line, alphabetically: Albania first, then Belgium, etc. to the end, which happened to be the U.S.A. Each student in line held a candle. “The Albanian lit his candle; then
the Belgian. Thus, the light was
“They succeeded, rolling up members by the thousands, which
‘passed’ from one to the other, throughout the line. “‘Well, now, what happens?’
called for a celebration, in the course of which Florence, garbed
Something has to be said, to represent, in words, what has been vis-
in a sheet, was the central figure,
ible to the eye. Here it is, on the spur of the moment! ““As light begets light, so love, friendship and goodwill are passed from one to another. We who have come from many nations to live in
with a lighted candle in her hand. Her committee of 15 to 20 young women from each of the several districts in the Bronx, each attired
in white
and
holding
a candle,
came to Florence, one by one, and
one
lighted her candle. And at the end,
House, promise one another pass the light wherever we go.’
there
they
stood,
with
lighted
candles. “Florence came home very much excited and inspired, and told her
husband all about it. He caught the spark
of her enthusiasm,
and
be-
gan to think. His mind went back to his exciting meeting with the Chinese student in the autumn of 1909, and to the train of events that followed: the Sunday afternoon Teas in their home in ’09 and ’10; the
first Sunday Suppers in Earl Hall, Columbia, ’10 and ’11; and the second
series the following
year, the
attendance being so heavy the following year, ‘12 and '13, that the
Fellowship
in
International
Editor’s Note
PASSPORT, 1967 We are happy to announce the preparation of a new edition of the “Passport to International House Friends.” It will appear next fall. In order to have your name listed in this edition, please fill in the en-
closed card with your correct address as of next September. The directory will be printed only from these cards, so please be sure to print or type legibly and return the card to us before May 15. As there have been many stories of happy enrichment of alumni travel through the Passport, we hope you will want to take part in the 1967 Passport exchange.
ANNOUNCING — FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS, 1967 The festivities begin on April 12 with the opening of the art show and the Cabaret evening; on April 16, the concert; on April 22, the now-famous Night of Nations. For ticket information, please fill in the
mailing label below and return to the Alumni Council Office, 500 Riverside Drive, New York City 10027. March, 1967
to
““Do you so promise?’ Raising high their candles, all in line say ‘We do.’ “That’s the way it was for 12 years, from 1913 through 1924. The
First Ceremony House
in International
took place in the Spring of
1925, with a scenic archway
on
stage, like the house entrance, thru
which the participants came from backstage, lighting their candles from a giant one beneath the arch, thence dispersing about the Assembly Hall, as in Earl Hall. That’s
the story, without once personal pronoun!”
Fill in coupon below if you wish to receive a Festival of the Arts Invitation and Reservation Blank (This is a mailing label — please print clearly)
using the
International House is a private, non-profit and educational organization. Its program is supported by the generous contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations who believe in its purpose. International House has developed through the years a program de-
signed to carry out its three-fold purpose: To
ADDRESS
CITY
help
each
student
achieve
the educational and personal goals which brought him to New York. To provide foreign students with the
NAME
Janet Whittier, Editor
broadest
opportunities
to ex-
perience the many facets of American life and give them a deeper understanding of the United States. To give American students an opportunity to broaden their horizons through friendship with peo-
ple from diverse backgrounds.