By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Prior to President Donald Trump’s travel ban for seven countries, the biggest problem for some international students at Bowling Green State University was just getting around their new city.
The Bowling Green City-University Relations Commission has been discussing how to make that transition for international students smoother. The group has heard stories about international students feeling uncomfortable, even hesitant to speak in public because their accents could make them targets.
But when the commission inquired recently about international students, the top concerns expressed were more basic – like rides around town and friendship of local families.
Dr. Marcia Salazar-Valentine, director of the international student program at BGSU, said there are currently 1,172 students from other countries studying here. More than 82 nations are represented, with the highest number from China, followed by India, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Nepal.
The office makes sure all the students have the necessary F-1 visas. Staff picks them up at the airport, brings them to BGSU, and tries to do an overall orientation on the campus and the community. That can be an awful lot to digest when coming to a new country, Salazar-Valentine said.
During a three-day orientation, the new students are given information on local transportation, apartment options, restaurants and churches. They learn about academic honesty, student legal services, how to get a driver’s license, and how to get to stores in town. They also learn about sporting events on campus, “so they can form friendships,” Salazar-Valentine said. “We try to make the students as much as possible integrate into BGSU and the city community.”
Bowling Green City Council member Daniel Gordon asked about discriminatory treatment of international students in the city. Salazar-Valentine said students are advised to report issues to the student affairs office, and problems are dealt with on an individual basis.
Gordon suggested the city-university commission continue discussing how to improve welcoming international students and planning an event to give the students an opportunity to express their concerns.
Amira Hassnaoui, a graduate student from Tunisia, said international students will welcome that opportunity.
“I think it’s really important for us to have somebody to hear what the issues are,” she said. “I really hope we can work on several issues.”
Salazar-Valentine herself came to BGSU as an international student. “It’s very lonely,” at first, she said. So she understands many of the difficulties of the new students. “We try to be a place where students can come and talk to us. We want to make sure they can come to us.”
But there are some services that the office cannot provide – and for those there are two community groups called the International Friendship Program and Global Connections. The “friendship” program pairs up students with local families.
“I think the international students really appreciate that program,” Salazar-Valentine said. “These are friendships that last forever. I hear amazing stories of people who never forget Bowling Green because of those relationships.”
But more families are needed to accommodate more of the students, she said.
Akiko Jones said the biggest problem she hears about is transportation – both in the community and to airports. She suggested that a pool of volunteers be created.
“The really big problem is transportation,” yet several people in the community would like to help if a program were organized, Jones said.
Shannon Orr said she did an unofficial poll of her students, and found that transportation and career services topped their concerns.
“They really enjoy their time here at BGSU, but many come from places with great public transportation,” Orr said.
