iber Comment Val ber 1978 miternational students wumber 300 this year ; and Immigration S."iuice, Wauralization, Weber has had in- Wemtional students, growing in imber from a very few in the begin- © dito 100 in 1977 and tripled this ‘There are over 100 students from ai, 70 from Saudi Arabia, 30 from ria and 30-40 from the oriental miries. One or two come from @mst every country in Europe and hee are some students from South Aneica and 20-30 students from 7 The majority are countries Mucing Weinology,’’ said Mr. WSiudents from wada, however, Wpward academic Weer is a natural pogram from oil studying Spanos. the orient and are leaning more degrees. I think because we have for all students and most Wiudents do stick it out until they Wraduate. Of the 300 close to 100 are qpomen, with the majority in allied mith areas and business adMnistration. They are usually from to 20 years old.”’ most other students are sponsored by families. “We Americans look upon international students as being from very rich families. The majority are from lower middle class families who are sacrificing to send them. The money situation is touchy for any foreign student. Right now our Nigerian scholarship students haven’t been paid for three months. We can’t grant them loans. Other students on private incomes help them out. The number one counseling problem with these students is financial.”’ The International Student Organization is becoming more viable each year in addressing problems and Mr. Spanos noted that studentbody president Greg Garfield has shown interest in doing all hecan to help them. Last year the International Student banquet was a great success with specialty dishes from the countries, dance and cross-cultural communication. “We as individuals will be much better off the more we are exposed i Msirand counselor. ‘21 Since 1949 when permission was 7 "Wired by the department of Mr. Spanos said most Saudi Arabian students are government sponsored as are 90 per cent of the igerian students. Iranians and Sn ‘We have approximately 300 inHenational students at Weber State Solege this year,’ said Anthony '} Spaus, international student ad- Tony Spanos, international student advisor, explains requirements to Hassan Alesafar, from Iran, Jari A-Amri, Saudi Arabia, and Ali-Riz-Y ounessian, Iran. to other cultures. We can learn much from our international students and the closer they get to us the more me and esteem they have for us 00. “We do need some specific curriculum to meet their needs. I would like to see courses such as American History for the foreign student and tutors. “These students are here to ‘make it’. It is a great disgrace for them to go home without the degree they camefor.” One of the main challenges Mr. Spanos faces as a counselor is giving each student greater self-confidence. jshah, women and attitudes highlight jinternational student remarks Wiouching on international news Wones regarding the Shah of Iran, riage and the status of women, Wilattitudes of Americans toward Wren students, three Weber State Wikge international students exsed their views and also their mings about education at the -pilge. #Hassan A lesaafar, political scien- wmajor from Iran, sited the con"em of Iranian students about -seagisient Carter's support 4qgna of Tran. of the yasnce his major is in political that was the focus of his BICe % id ctor KS. mian students are striking ami, 1 the United States. People us why we are demonstrating best President Carter when the his in Iran. We are angry with me American government because fy are supporting the Iranian @yenment and support the Shah. Poplein Iran are going hungry and ig. We are having demon- alions in the U.S. to explain to epeople what is going on,” said He loves political science and nts to go back to his own country “Wrearning a degree. “‘I will do my We for my people,” he said, adding that he would like to work with other countries and enjoys international relations. Hassan went home for a summer, married and brought a wife back with him. She is planning to start school too, next quarter. Jari Al-Amri, Saudi Arabia, stressed that most Americans misunderstand the position of women is the Islamic world. Women there have always had their own name and there is no connection with her husband’s name, a right U.S. women are fighting for, said Jari. A man and woman share everything in marriage except for personal things, he said. When a couple is married the man gives the woman a gift and even if they divorce he has no right to take it back. Her property is hers. The father is responsible for supporting the children and in separation they do not try to take the children from one another. They both continue on with their responsibilities to the children. “A woman can say no if she doesn’t wish to marry someone,” Jari said. The culture is family centered. “Destroy the family, destroy the nation.” he maintained. He also pointed out that women are free to study whatever they wish although education is still separate. Most women do choose education, medicine and social work. The Islamic world is controlled by religion. There is no prostitution nor illicit affairs. There are more women than men in the culture and polygamy is accepted but the first wife must give her permission. “Because the people are satisfied they follow tradition and society will not accept change easily.” __Jari said Americans have strange ideas of Saudi Arabia, picturing desert and camels. “They must get their ideas from the movies. There are no camels in Saudi Arabia and I am from the south where there are green mountains. A data processing major, Jari sees a great need for this profession in Saudi Arabia. He feels WSC is a very good college and especially in his field. said that manufacturing is very im portant for most countries and he is not concerned where he uses the knowledge he gains. ‘“‘T want to be useful wherever I am,” he said,” I had a dream of being a creative man in technology.” He has been at WSC three years and will complete his training at the end of the year. After the first seven months he retumed to Iran for a vacation and married. His wife has eared a degree in cosmetology at WSC and loves it but she does plan to study child development. Ali said he, too, can’t see where people get their ideas about his country and religion. “In Persia most people love and want to help people from other countries. They, have a high regard for them. I do not find this attitude here. Some students have even said to me ‘I hate you because you are here to steal out technology.” “Saudi Arabia has made a great shift in ten years,” he said. “Life was very difficult before the wealth of oil.’’ He plans to go on for at least an M.S. “With education you can take your place. He is on a government scholarAli-Riz-Younessian, a manufacutring engineer from Iran, ‘“‘A few are interested in leaming about me - but most don’t want to bother to learn my name. The U.S. has the greatest civilization but has older countries experience to build on. Persia is 7000 years old and customs cannot be destroyed. “T like Americans and do have good friends. There is good and bad in every society,’ he concluded. 4