Kyle Dent
A.S. Beat Reporter
On Jan. 22, U.C. Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) Associated Students Senate discussed and approved a resolution to add two international student senator seats to their body, in hopes of giving better representation to the growing international student population at UCSB.
Drafted by Senator Tyler Ferguson and Senator Emma Swanson, with input by the Global Gaucho Commission and the International Student Advisory Board, the bill seeks to better involve the international student committee at the university by giving them representation in our student government.
While international students have never been barred from joining the Senate, international students have not applied for any seats in past years. Previously, the only Senate seat that could be considered “identity-based” was the position of Transfer Senator.
According to one student sponsor, “there has never been an international senator or even candidate for senate, despite [international] student numbers nearly doubling in the last decade,” at over 12 percent as of the 2018-19 school year.
Another student sponsor, Charles Neuuman from the International Student Association, commented on the increased tuition that out-of-state and international students pay; “If they pay so much, why don’t they have a say about what goes on?”
Senator Swanson also expressed that foreign students face unique barriers when it comes to student university elections. “Many of these students don’t even know we do this, or what ‘Senate’ is.” Other senators and speakers alike mentioned they felt a lack of outreach towards the international student community from Associated Students, and that this could help the dynamic.
However, Senator Austin Foreman felt that creating an international student seat would fuel criticism from other “marginalized” groups on campus, such as LGBTQ+ or first-generation students, since other specific senator seats don’t exist. Other senators thought it was a slippery slope into creating multiple seats based on identity or place of origins. Others thought it could further segregate these marginalized groups.
Senators who supported the bill early on thought this “slippery slope” would be beneficial, with the new international seat hopefully the first of multiple bills bringing quieted voices to the Senate table. Unfortunately, this also was a bit contentious — one senator asked how the Senate would establish what communities deserved a Senate seat and which perhaps weren’t “marginalized enough.”
The bill was ultimately voted through, and though the seat has not been officially added (now, this resolution will be available to vote on as part of next year’s ballot for student elections), the consensus at the meeting was that the bill served as a step towards increasing representation for out-of-state and international students that might feel marginalized on UCSB’s campus. Next April during UCSB’s student elections, it will be up to the student body to decide whether they feel the seat is warranted.
This is good news because being an international student away from home difficult, compounded by our complex culture and language problems. Welcoming and assimilation assistance must come from numerous sources, including the White House, to aid these young people embarking on life’s journey.
Most struggle in their efforts and need guidance from schools’ international departments, immigration protection, host families, concerned neighbors and fellow students, and even informative books to extend a cultural helping hand.
Something that might help anyone coming to the US is the award-winning worldwide book/ebook “What Foreigners Need To Know About America From A To Z: How to Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More.”
Used in foreign Fulbright student programs and endorsed worldwide by ambassadors, educators, and editors, it identifies how “foreigners” have become successful in the US, including students.
It explains how to cope with a confusing new culture and friendship process, and daunting classroom differences. It explains how US businesses operate and how to get a job (which differs from most countries), a must for those who want to work with/for an American firm here or overseas.
It also identifies the most common English grammar and speech problems foreigners have and tips for easily overcoming them, the number one stumbling block they say they have to succeeding here.
Good luck to all wherever you study or wherever you come from, because that is the TRUE spirit of the American PEOPLE, not a few in government who shout the loudest! Supporters of int’l students must shout louder.
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