In response to Todd Turner’s letter dated Feb. 20 about the international student seats, I would just like to point out that he missed the bottom line of the whole issue. It’s not about the nationality of Casey Powers, but it has to do with his qualifications to represent international students.

Among the things that I would like to know of Mr. Powers: Does he have any global perspective at all? What kind of interactions has he had with international students to date? Has he ever lived abroad? What kind of culture shock has he experienced before? If his idea of a culture shock is moving from Pocahontas to Ames, IA, definitely he is underqualified.

Does he know that international students are paying double tuition raise every time the Board of Regent raises the fee, one due to the inflation back home, and one due to the raise itself? Has he ever attended a class conducted in a language other than his mother tongue? I can go on and on with my list of questions for him.

The reason I asked about Mr. Power’s qualifications is because international students do have different, if not additional, concerns from American students. Proof of point, why do you think the university has different orientation program for new international students from that for American students? We, the international students, not only have to adjust culturally, but we also have new laws and regulations to abide. After all, we are not like the “all-American” Michael Fay who had no respect for the laws of another country.

We have to live by the immigration rules, such as maintaining our status as full-time students every semester, having a paperwork signed by the Office of International Students whenever we need to leave the country.

The IRS also requires international students to file tax return, something new and confusing to most international students, even if we don’t make any income here in the States. What about those of us who come from politically more volatile countries?

Just because nothing has ever happened in the quiet, peaceful town of Pocahontas, it doesn’t mean the turmoil around the world does not affect some of the international students here. There is also a high cost associated with relieving our homesickness. The phone bills for all the international calls we made and the cost of transportation to go home are just some of the extra expenses.. These are just a few concerns we have to face which affect our academic performance and well-being here. Does Mr. Powers know any of the things I mentioned above?

Now, I don’t know Mr. Powers personally. So, I don’t know his qualifications, but I don’t feel comfortable being represented by him. First of all, he doesn’t believe the seat should exist. What kind of representation do you think he will give us? Our concerns may be a joke to him, but we definitely take them seriously.

Second, he had it backward when he made the promise to attend all the ISC meetings if he got elected. I think it works the other way around, you get to know the group first before you say you want to represent them.

I do agree that the international student seats should not be held by international students only. However, it should be open to all students who have experienced living abroad before and know exactly the concerns of international students. No, a spring break in Cancun or Acapulco does not count as living abroad.

If Hamilton cannot run for the off-campus seat because he doesn’t live off campus, the experience of living abroad should be required for all international student seat senators.

Finally, please count us out from your “melting pot”, Mr. Turner. The last time I heard, the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) still wants us, the international students, to go back home after we finish with our study or practical training. And, don’t flaunt the word “diversity” to my face.

It seems to me the diversity on campus almost always boils down to black and white. The university may have used the international students to say, “Hey, 10% of our student body is international. We are diverse.” But, as far as I’m concerned, the diversity talk has not benefited me in anyway.

Agus Widjaja

Graduate Student

Materials Science and

Engineering