Student Union
- By VOA News
Thousands of US Students Walk Out to Protest Gun Violence
Thousands of students across the U.S. walked out of class to mark a school shooting that occurred nearly two decades ago, and to call for stricter gun control in the wake of more recent shootings.
The nationwide walkout was organized by students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and staff members were killed by a former student February 14.
WATCH: US Students Mark 1999 Colorado School Shooting Anniversary with Walkout
The Parkland massacre triggered a national grassroots campaign for more restrictive gun control laws that included recent marches in Washington and in other cities and towns throughout the United States.
Washington area high school students rallied at the White House before marching on Capitol Hill to demand action from lawmakers.
They joined students from more than 2,600 high schools and other institutions across the country who walked out of class, many wearing orange, a color that has come to represent the gun control movement.
Friday's activities were in commemoration of the April 20, 1999, mass shooting at Columbine High School in the western state of Colorado, when two students roamed the school, killing 12 of their classmates and a teacher before committing suicide.
Gun rights supporters held counter-demonstrations in some locations. The Associated Press reported that about 200 people rallied outside the Kansas state capitol in Topeka, and about 30 pro-gun protesters showed up outside the New Hampshire statehouse in Concord.
Friday also saw another shooting take place at a U.S. school, when a gunman shot at a closed classroom door and wounded a student at Forest High School in Ocala, Florida.
Police say the 19-year-old shooter, who brought a shotgun into the school in a guitar case, was a former student. He was arrested at the scene.
The victim, a 17-year-old boy, was treated at an area hospital for a wound to his ankle.
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Competition grows for international students eyeing Yale
It’s tough to gain admission to Yale University, and it’s getting even tougher for international students as standout students from around the world set their sights on Yale.
The Yale Dale News, the campus newspaper, takes a look at the situation here.
- By VOA News
Student from Ethiopia says Whitman College culture made it easy to settle in
Ruth Chane, a computer science major from Ethiopia, writes about her experiences settling into student life at Whitman College in the U.S. state of Washington.
"The community at Whitman College made sure I felt welcomed even before I stepped foot on campus," she says.
- By VOA News
Claremont Colleges student gets a shock when she heads home to Shanghai
In The Student Life, the student newspaper for the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five liberal art colleges and two graduate schools in Claremont, California, student Rochelle Lu writes about readjusting to her Shanghai home after spending a semester in the United States.
- By VOA News
Cedarville University aims to ease transition for international students
Cedarville University in the U.S. state of Ohio says it’s got more than 140 international students representing 44 countries.
Here, the school interviews Jonathan Sutton, director of international student services. He talks about his job and the opportunities for international students on campus.
- By VOA News
Morehouse College offers prospective students tips on applying and thriving
Morehouse College, a private, historically Black liberal arts college in the U.S. state of Georgia, offers a guide for international students interested in attending the school.
Among the tips to apply and thrive at Morehouse:
- Take advantage of the school’s orientation program
- Turn to the school’s Center for Academic Success for tutoring, support and more
- Immerse yourself in campus life via clubs and societies
