The unanimous decision by the GSB to support the bill titled “Lending a Hand to our International Students” was a good one.

The GSB recognizes that the administration needs to establish a clear and defined plan for assisting the many Iowa State students that are affected by the fluctuations in Asian currency.

International students, while a minority at ISU, bring irreplaceable diversity to our community. By not taking direct action, the GSB and the administration would stand to lose this important asset.

The university has already established help rooms for students from Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. But these programs only help the students better manage their money and possibly draw on other methods of funding.

This is only a band-aid solution that does not change the fact that these students and their families are being left penniless.

The Association of Malaysian Students of ISU has repeatedly donated money and assistance for Iowa students during hard times. While it’s nice to be able to reciprocate their generosity, we should be helping them more because they are a part of us, not just because we “owe” them.

The GSB and the university administration should take a pro-active stance in helping these students. Scholarships and other forms of funding are a great first step.

The university should also consider the public relations side of helping these students. If the university is seen as sympathetic to international issues that affect students, this could increase enrollment and even donations and support by international alumni.

International students may not be able to survive this financial crisis without help.

When a student at Cornell University decides to kill himself because his financial situation is so bleak, obviously this issue requires attention from the university administration.

The Board of Regents has approved an installment plan for international students that will be instituted next fall. But, these students can’t pay for another meal now.

Kudos to GSB for lending a helping hand.