Asian students still are feeling the bite of the financial crisis in their homeland, and with next year’s 4.5 percent tuition increase, the crisis may bite even harder.

Deborah Vance, program coordinator for the Office of International Affairs, believes the tuition increase will be tough on Asian students.

“It just makes it that much more difficult,” Vance said. “It isn’t going to go away overnight.”

Iowa State Treasurer Joan Thompson also said the increased tuition will cause problems.

“I guess if they can’t afford tuition at the current price,” she said, “it would cause further need.”

Jon Wong, professor in marketing, said the economic crisis has engulfed Asia from Japan to Indonesia.

He said the Indonesian rupia has fallen from 2,000 rupia per dollar to 15,000 rupia per dollar.

“It’s a pretty big hit,” Wong said.

Vance said Asia’s currency is not worth even half as much as it was.

“[The parents of Asian students] are looking at having half of their bank account removed,” she said.

There are currently four countries affected by the crisis: Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. Nearly 800 ISU students come from these nations, which is about one-third of ISU’s international population.

“Every student from these countries is affected,” Vance said. “And it’s an ongoing situation.”

Wong said Malaysia’s economy has currently stabilized, but it will be a couple of years before the country can recover.

Thompson said the university set up an emergency fund for the Asian students last spring, and there are currently 18 people taking advantage of it.

“If there are students who need help, they need to talk to Office of International Affairs,” Thompson said. “They need to just communicate with the university if they are [in an emergency situation].”

Some Asian students at ISU feel the university could do more to help.

Wei-Ning Chee, junior in computer science from Malaysia, said the crisis is affecting her, and the tuition increase may create a bigger problem.

“I have to pay extra, and it’s going to be very hard,” she said.

Chee said she has to be more conservative with her money because she does not know when her parents will be able to give her more.

She appreciates the help the university has given, but she hopes more can be done.

“It’s not really help, but at least it’s something,” Chee said. “I wish the university would do more.”

Jung Eun Kim, graduate student in biomedical engineering from South Korea, said she has been able to get some financial aid from her family, but some of her friends have had to quit school and go back home.

She too feels the university could do more to help.

“Sure, [the university] could help,” Kim said. “They could loan [Asian students] the money, and the students could pay the money back after they find a job.”

Wong feels ISU has been responsive to the issue.

“I think [the university’s help] has been excellent,” Wong said, “I have been pleased with it.”