SPECIAL SECTION EDITION
“Waiting for Lefty” takes the stage at Mago Hunt Recital Hall. See Living, pg. 6
The
Vol. 112, Issue 12
Bucket Lists; because you only live once. Special Section, pgs. 11-14.
Thursday November 29, 2012 THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER
International Increase
www.upbeacon.net
Dalai Lama to speak on campus May 9 Philip Ellefson Staff Writer ellefson15@up.edu
At UP’s International Night, students showcased their culture with booths and performances. This group performed the South Korean pop hit “Gangham Style.” Stephanie Matusiefsky | THE BEACON
Representing over 30 different countries, UP sees a ten percent increase in international students. Kate Stringer Staff Writer stringer14@up.edu The taste of savory okonomiyaki. The soft chiming of hand bells. The swish of skirts moving to the steps of Latin dancing. International Night ended the University of Portland’s International Education Week Nov. 17, a global event to educate and celebrate world cultures. All week students hosted and participated in events celebrating more than 30 countries represented by UP’s student body. UP has seen nearly a 10 percent increase in international students over the past year. There are 122 undergraduate and graduate international students at UP, whereas last year there were 111, according to Krista Kennedy, assistant director of international student services. The number of international students has also been on the rise at universities across the United States, increasing 5.7 percent in the 2011-12 school year, according to the Institute of International Education. Michael Pelley, director of international student services, attributes the increase of international students to the reputation of the higher education system in North
America. “People respect how higher education [in the U.S. and Canada] develops students, prepares them for the workforce, prepares them for the future,” Pelley said. “There’s this idealism about the U.S. that somehow our academic higher education system is regarded as being very good. Is it really better than other cultures? Straight across the board, no, but it’s got a reputation that would be attractive.” Kennedy also attributes the growing number of international students to the interest in cross-cultural understanding and values as well as the need to fill science, technology, engineering, and math fields not filled by U.S. students. Freshman Francesca Centazzo, from Italy, agrees cross-cultural understanding is a draw. “[International education] helps broaden your horizons. I come in contact with a lot of different cultures,” Centazzo said. “That’s what I really like about the States – here you meet people from all over.” Freshman Lama Al Habib, from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, likes the similarities in values between UP and her culture. “I’m not Catholic but I know that the values they have here go hand-in-hand with our values back home,” she said. Countries of origin Pelley and UP’s admissions adminstrators spend time abroad recruiting students from China to Indonesia. Approximately one-third of UP’s international students
come from the Middle East. The majority, 25, come from Saudi Arabia, according to Kennedy. Following Saudi Arabia, the most common countries of origin include Egypt, South Korea, Vietnam, and Kuwait with 24 students from these countries attending UP. Other countries of origin include Ivory Coast, Belarus, Macedonia and Singapore. In comparison, the majority of international students studying in the U.S., 25.4 percent, come from China, according to the Institute of International Education. While UP’s international student population may be small in comparison to other U.S. universities, Kennedy emphasizes the value of having international students in the classroom. “International students bring diversity to campus,” Kennedy said. “In a lot of classes students are learning about what people are doing in the world – how to be competitive on an international level, and I think to add to that discussion it’s valuable to have students from all over who can contribute.” International Perspectives Senior George Mathew, a marketing major from Singapore, sees the value of a global education. “Especially in a business sense you get a world perspective,” Mathew said. “Think about it – what are the major markets in the world? China, India, America. See International, page 3
George Mathew Senior Singapore
Francesca Centazzo Freshman Italy
Lama Al Habib Freshman Saudi Arabia All photos by Stephanie Matusiefsky | THE BEACON
Just six days after the Chiles Center is packed for graduation, it will fill up again – this time for a visit from the Dalai Lama. On May 9, the Dalai Lama will be the keynote speaker for an The Dalai Lama interfaith event Photo courtesy namgyal.org at UP hosted by Maitripa College, a small Buddhist institution in southeast Portland. Maitripa College is hosting the Dalai Lama’s trip to Portland from May 9-11. According to Associate Vice President of University Relations Laurie Kelley, the college contacted UP six months ago, and planning for the Dalai Lama’s visit began last month. The Dalai Lama, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, is the spiritual leader of about eight million Tibetan Buddhists. Kelley said having a world leader on campus is a good opportunity for UP. “It really positions the University of Portland as a leader in bringing these leaders to campus, and I think we provide great hospitality,” Kelley said. She also said the Dalai Lama’s visit establishes Portland as a serious, global city. “I love ‘Portlandia,’ but I’m not just about keeping Portland weird.” Kelley said. “This brings world renown to our city.” The Dalai Lama’s visit to Portland will focus on environmental issues. He will lead an interfaith discussion on campus called “Spirituality and the Environment.” Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana of Portland’s Congregation Beth Israel and Imam Mohammad Najieb of the Muslim Community Center of Portland, as well as other religious leaders, will join the discussion. Later in the day, he will give a talk called “Universal Responsibility and the Inner Environment: the Nature of Mind.” The Dalai Lama visited UP in 2001, when he sold out two sessions in the Chiles Center. During the same visit, 25,000 people gathered to hear the Dalai Lama speak in Pioneer Courthouse Square. After speaking at the University, the Dalai Lama will hold public talks around Portland and visit Eugene. Although ticket prices have not been set, Kelley expects the cheapest tickets to be $20-30, and the most expensive to be around $150. She hopes the University can provide discounts for UP students.