USG hosts the ISA


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Tuesday night’s weekly USG Senate meeting featured a presentation from the International Students’ Assembly, a branch of USG’s Program Board designed to give international students at USC a welcoming and safe atmosphere.

One of ISA’s goals for the spring semester is to improve orientation for international students, so Trojans arriving from outside the United States can transition smoothly during their freshman year.

Members of the assembly are currently working with orientation advisors to design programs and support systems specifically for international students whose transitional experiences might be more extreme than those of their stateside peers.

“We want a welcome reception when international students arrive from the airport,” said ISA Director Nicholyn Chen. “We don’t want them to feel alone when they arrive in this country.”

ISA continues to sponsor and promote events that are geared toward international students. The organization notes that often international students believe it’s difficult to access the university’s resources and support system, or that they are not entitled to these things.

“A lot of international students have concerns or needs, but they don’t know how to voice their concerns, or they don’t feel they have a right to speak out,” Chen said.

ISA is working with officials and advisors to address this issue. In the past, the organization has found that sponsoring               cross-cultural events is an effective means of connecting international students with the rest of the student body.

In this spirit, ISA continues to promote on-campus events. The organization is particularly excited about a planned International Film Week that will take place next week in Taper Hall of the Humanities.

From 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.              Feb. 10-14, USC students will have the opportunity to view films made in countries outside the United States, including those from India and China.

ISA is promoting other events this semester, including an international food fair and a soccer tournament in anticipation of the World Cup.