Student Union
The Personal Perks of Studying Abroad
Studying abroad encompasses loads of perks; you get to develop your language, it looks good on your resume, you get to experience new places and you meet lots of future contacts. For me, however, there is one thing that has been more valuable than all of these; the people that I’ve met. Sounds like a cliché? Maybe so, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Coming to America and joining a highly international program at American University, I met people from all over the world; China, Germany, Colombia, South-Korea, France and Lebanon, and they became my friends. Even though I’ve been told all my life that it doesn’t matter where your from, the color of your skin and so on, it really didn’t hit me this hard until I had familiar faces to put on each country; We are all the same! We all make mistakes, we’re all sad, we’re all happy, we all get drunk and we all regret it the day after.
I personally think that in an ideal world, people would travel more and get to know other cultures and people, because the world needs a population that respects, and is more aware of, others than themselves. Of course, I understand that this is not possible for everyone, but if you have the opportunity, please take it. The best way to learn about yourself, is to get out of your comfort zone, and meeting other people.
I will take an example from my time in DC. One of the best friends I got here is a girl from Lebanon. Lebanon is a tiny Arab country that borders to Syria and Israel, and for a Norwegian girl like me, it doesn’t get further from my reality than that. Of course, being in the US the last couple of months, made it impossible not to know about Syria and the dark, dark times they’re facing. But Lebanon? I never really thought about Lebanon. Now, I love hearing her stories, and comparing our everyday life – even though I must admit it makes me feel both naive and on the limit of stupid sometimes. I can feel the injustice she must be feeling, when there is a car bomb going off, killing over 25 innocent people just because they’re political extremists, and because Lebanon have a unfortunate geographic location. The differences between our home countries are striking, and occur almost in any possible part of society. Yet, she speaks to and about her friends in the same way I do, and have the same kinds of everyday-problems that I have.
Now, the semester is coming to an end. Im going home to Norway, she’s going back to Lebanon. And I don’t want her to. I’ve had nightmares. I’m worried. I care! And this is more or less what I’m trying to say here; it is so much easier to think twice about, and respect, other countries, when you have people you care about associated with them. And that is why it’s not only good for your language and career to study abroad; it’s also good for your understanding of the world. It opens your eyes, it opens your mind and I do believe that it can help you become a better person.
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Trump administration opens antisemitism inquiries at 5 colleges, including Columbia and Berkeley
The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, the Education Department announced Monday.
It's part of President Donald Trump's promise to take a tougher stance against campus antisemitism and deal out harsher penalties than the Biden administration, which settled a flurry of cases with universities in its final weeks. It comes the same day the Justice Department announced a new task force to root out antisemitism on college campuses.
In an order signed last week, Trump called for aggressive action to fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses, including the deportation of foreign students who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
Along with Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now investigating the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. The cases were opened using the department's power to launch its own civil rights reviews, unlike the majority of investigations, which stem from complaints.
Messages seeking comment were left with all five universities.
A statement from the Education Department criticized colleges for tolerating antisemitism after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that followed. It also criticized the Biden administration for negotiating "toothless" resolutions that failed to hold schools accountable.
"Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses," said Craig Trainor, the agency's acting assistant secretary for civil rights.
The department didn't provide details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are being targeted. Presidents of Columbia and Northwestern were among those called to testify on Capitol Hill last year as Republicans sought accountability for allegations of antisemitism. The hearings contributed to the resignation of multiple university presidents, including Columbia's Minouche Shafik.
An October report from House Republicans accused Columbia of failing to punish pro-Palestinian students who took over a campus building, and it called Northwestern's negotiations with student protesters a "stunning capitulation."
House Republicans applauded the new investigations. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the Education and Workforce Committee, said he was "glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students."
Trump's order also calls for a full review of antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since Oct. 7, 2023, including pending and resolved cases from the Biden administration. It encourages the Justice Department to take action to enforce civil rights laws.
Last week's order drew backlash from civil rights groups who said it violated First Amendment rights that protect political speech.
The new task force announced Monday includes the Justice and Education departments along with Health and Human Services.
"The Department takes seriously our responsibility to eradicate this hatred wherever it is found," said Leo Terrell, assistant attorney general for civil rights. "The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism is the first step in giving life to President Trump's renewed commitment to ending anti-Semitism in our schools."
- By VOA News
STEM, business top subjects for international students
The Times of India breaks down the most popular subjects for international students to study in the U.S.
STEM and business lead the pack. Read the full story here. (January 2025)
- By VOA News
Safety and visa difficulties among misconceptions about US colleges
U.S. News & World report addresses some of the misconceptions about U.S. colleges and universities, including the difficulty of getting a visa.
Read the full story here. (January 2025)
- By VOA News
Work opportunities help draw international students to US schools
US News & World Report details the three top factors in foreign students' decision to study in the U.S. They include research opportunities and the reputation of U.S. degrees. Read the full story here. (December 2024)
- By VOA News
British student talks about her culture shock in Ohio
A British student who did a year abroad at Bowling Green State University in Ohio talks about adjusting to life in America in a TikTok video, Newsweek magazine reports.
Among the biggest surprises? Portion sizes, jaywalking laws and dorm room beds.
Read the full story here. (December 2024)
