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Freed Political Prisoner Promotes Education as a Basic Human Right
Woldesmiate addressed a crowd of friends, colleagues, activists, students and journalists in a packed Neff Hall Auditorium on September 4. Though frequently alluding to the harsh conditions he endured while in prison, his remarks focused largely on the transformative power he believes education has to bring about positive social and political change. Woldesmiate recalled that his time as an international student in the United States played a crucial part in his own personal transformation. After pursing undergraduate and Masters degrees at Illinois State University, he came to MU where he received a Ph.D. in Political Science in 1989. He returned to Ethiopia in 1990, taking a position as professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations of Addis Ababa University. He was soon elected Chairman of the Ethiopian Teacher's Association, Ethiopia's largest teachers' union with 120,000 members. After several years as an outspoken proponent of educational reform, in 1996 Woldesmiate was arrested and later sentenced to fifteen years in prison. With strong support from contacts at both of his American alma maters and several human rights organizations, in 2001 Amnesty International officially recognized Woldesmiate as a prisoner of conscience and designated him their "Midwest Special Focus Case." The resulting international call for his release, including an appeal to Ethiopia's prime minister signed by 80 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led to his eventual release in May 2002. Even while in prison, enduring solitary confinement and harassment, Woldesmiate continued to fight for what he calls a basic human right - an educational system in Ethiopia that is fair and just. During his time in prison he not only managed to orchestrate the establishment of a school within the prison itself, but also assumed the role of "teacher" to the former prime minister - a man who had authorized Woldesmiate's sentence only to be imprisoned himself a few years later. Planning to return to Ethiopia to continue promoting educational reform and human rights, Woldesmiate maintains his conviction that "through education, we can change people's attitudes," adding "I am optimistic, not pessimistic." From Bangkok to BudapestThis summer, sixteen MU faculty participated in one of the two seminars offered through the Global Scholars program. Ten Global Scholar participants visited the Prince of Songkla University and other universities in Thailand. Another group of six scholars participated in the summer seminar to multiple sites within the European Union. The Thailand seminar started with several days in Bangkok. In addition to experiencing the city's culture and people, the group visited universities and Thai alumni, many of whom are leaders in the educational and political systems of Thailand. Next the group traveled south to Hatyai, home to one of the Prince of Songkla University's several campuses. The first day at the Hatyai campus was marked by a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Agreement between the University of Missouri and PSU, continuing and expanding the long-standing relationship between the two universities. The Global Scholars spent the remainder of their time in Hatyai lecturing and consulting in their respective fields. "The PSU faculty and staff were wonderful in every way," reports group leader Dr. Bonnie Bourne. "The learning experiences from both sides were rich and varied." Several collaborative projects are now being pursued as a result of this trip. The Global Scholars seminar to the European Union, organized by the MU European Union Center, took participants to Budapest, Berlin, and Brussels. Seminar leader Sue Boren recalls that a particularly memorable part of the trip was a visit to the Hungarian Parliament and lunch with two members of the Hungarian Parliament. The group, she explains, "happened to visit on the first day of the new session. It was great to have the opportunity to discuss with the members of parliament what European Union integration will mean for Hungary." Other highlights of the seminar included the group's visit to the Department Chemical Physics of the Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, the German Oxford walking tour, and the Max Plank Institute Archives. Boren notes that "there was something to be learned by all during this interdisciplinary visit to a German research center." The overall purpose of the Global Scholars Program is to provide opportunities for MU faculty to meet and share with faculty in other countries. It encourages faculty to learn more about a country's culture, history, and educational systems. The intent of this learning experience is to internationalize the MU curriculum, share knowledge, make contacts with MU alumni, and to provide opportunities for future projects between faculty at MU and the sponsoring universities. The Search for Common Ground Film Festival
"We are very pleased to bring this film festival to the campus and the communities of mid-Missouri," said Michael Grinfeld, associate professor of journalism and law and film festival coordinator. "Our goal is to help people better understand the consequences of violent conflicts and their effects on the world, the nation and our local communities." Search for Common Ground, the organizer of the annual film series, is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to transform how individuals, organizations and governments deal with conflict, moving away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. It participates in programs in 14 countries around the world. The film series has circulated to universities throughout the nation. The films will be shown between Sept. 17 and Oct. 14. A list of dates, times and locations is available at the website listed below. All films are free and open to the public. More information is available on-line at: http://www.missouri.edu/9-11/jschool-films.html. Getting your feet wet: Short-term opportunities for facultyFrom the well-known Fulbright program, to the internationally focused efforts of large organizations such as NSF, countless opportunities present themselves for faculty interested in conducting research and teaching abroad. Seasoned internationalists can easily take advantage of these opportunities as they arise since they often already have contacts in other countries to call upon. Those new to the world of international scholarship, however, may benefit from the numerous short-term opportunities that are specifically designed to introduce faculty to a new culture or country. Here at MU, the best place for faculty to start looking for a short-term, international opportunity is our own nationally recognized Global Scholars Program (GSP). This program is now entering its fifth year of providing faculty with opportunities and guidance for internationalizing their courses. Led by country experts and taking advantage of existing MU contacts overseas, the GSP summer seminars are well suited to those with little or no previous in-country experience. Previous destinations have included Bulgaria, South Korea, Brazil, Costa Rica, China, Ireland, South Africa, Thailand, and the European Union. The cost for participation in the summer seminars is shared by the Office of the Provost and each participant's own College/School. Another excellent on-campus resource exists for those specifically interested in learning more about China. Led by the Asian Affairs Center's Program Coordinator Gary Dou, the China Up-Close program provides the MU community with affordable opportunities to "see aspects of China that tourists seldom see." Finally, several outside organizations coordinate international programs for faculty. These range from structured seminar experiences organized around a specific topic or theme, to more general familiarization tours designed simply to introduce faculty to the study abroad locations that are available to their students. One such organization is the Council on International Educational Exchange (http://www.ciee.org/). More information about short-term opportunities for faculty is available at the International Center. New Law Shortens Wait for Employment Based Green CardsThe Immigration and Naturalization Service has released a long-awaited rule allowing for I-140 employment-based green card petitions to be filed at the same time as adjustment of status applications. Previously, the I-140 had to have been approved before an adjustment of status application could even be submitted. By consolidating the process, employment-based green card applications will be processed much more quickly and applicants will have an easier time maintaining their status when they run out of time on their non-immigrant visas. The new rule is also good news for spouses and children of I-140 applicants who can now get work documents much more quickly. The rule will not affect cases where green cards are sought at US consulates and it will only be available as long as there is no backlog in the visa quotas for the various employment-based categories. As of today, there are no backlogs in any employment-based green card categories. However, this has not always been the case and it is very possible backlogs could return. Concurrent filing means that an individual can file an I-140 petition to be classified in an employment-based green card category at the same time as an adjustment of status petition which generally focuses on whether an applicant is admissible to the US (e.g. there is a criminal history, communicable disease, etc.). The applicant must still prepare the two petitions in the same way as before, but they can now be submitted together. Previously, the I-140 had to be approved before an adjustment application could be submitted. In order to be eligible to file an adjustment of status application, however, a visa number must be immediately available. "This change is very positive for MU scholars seeking Permanent Resident status," states Richard Porter, Coordinator for International Student and Scholar Services at the International Center. "Although every case is different, concurrent filing means that a process that previously could have taken as long as 19 months, could conceivably be completed in closer to a year." For more information, please contact Richard Porter, Coordinator for International Student and Scholar Services, at PorterRH@missori.edu. H-1B/Permanent Residence (PR) WorkshopInternational Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will be conducting an H-1B/Permanent Residence (PR) Workshop on October 24, 2002 in Memorial Union's Jesse Wrench Auditorium, from 9:00-11:00 am. Topics to be covered include:
We will allow plenty of time towards the end of the workshop for questions and answers. The workshop is intended for MU faculty/staff interested in employing or retaining foreign nationals. Foreign nationals currently employed at MU are also invited to attend. This is a great opportunity to interact with the staff at International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), ask questions, and gain valuable information and insights into the process. For more information and registration details visit our website at: /events 2002 Fall Orientation: New Faces, New FormatThis year the International Students and Scholars Services staff tried something new in welcoming new international students. Two separate orientations were arranged - Graduate students were welcomed and oriented on August 12 and 13 and on August 19 and 20 the undergraduates made their debut. The new format worked well. It made "check-in" less of a hassle in terms of standing in lines and photocopying documents and made individual assistance more available. Student Health came in with their team of nurses and staff to evaluate student health records, advise students on healthcare services, and, when appropriate, give TB tests. In addition, Judy Todd, Coordinator of Non-US Citizen Tax and Employment, shared information about student tax responsibilities and the local Social Security Office took applications for cards. Last but not least, ISSS staff talked about topics such as immigration issues and culture shock. The highlight of each orientation seemed to be the pizza parties sponsored by Boone County National Bank. The towering stacks of empty pizza boxes indicated that our new international students had readily adopted at least this item from the typical American menu. As of this writing, a total of 312 new students checked in - indicating that enrollment is remaining steady from previous years. Please join us in welcoming these new students to MU. International Students Hit the TrailOn August 24th the International Students and Scholars Services office sponsored a trip on the Katy Trail and a luncheon at the Trailside Cafe in Rocheport. Forty-eight of our new international students joined the ISSS staff in an afternoon outing that included walking and cycling on the trail.
At lunchtime, everyone met at the Trailside Cafe for a cool beverage and hamburger. This luncheon respite gave the students an opportunity to get to know one another and compare stories of their trip to the US. After lunch many of the students took a stroll down the main street of Rocheport looking in store windows and visiting antique and art shops. "Introducing international students and scholars to the scenic beauty of Missouri is one of the more fulfilling aspects of our work here at the International Center," remarked David Currey, director of ISSS. "The Katy Trail excursion was the perfect venue to do this." The students seemed to enjoy getting out and seeing one of Missouri's small towns. Everyone was impressed with the Katy Trail, several students commenting that it was a great use for an old railroad track. Many of them said they would take the trail again. Putting it together: Study Abroad and the MU CurriculumThis fall approximately 400 University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) will be returning from studying abroad. Since the vast majority of MU overseas studies programs require students to enroll in regular university classes abroad, it is safe to assume that MU study abroad returnees will bring with them knowledge of a foreign academic culture and perspectives gained through taking classes taught from a non-U.S. point of view. Students who have taken classes taught in a language other than English will also return with a high level of language proficiency. Experience has shown, however, that unless study abroad returnees are challenged to apply their new knowledge and skills to their U.S. classes, much of the touted potential of study abroad to "internationalize" the curriculum can be lost. It is for this reason that the MU Study Abroad Team has made fostering closer integration between study abroad and the MU curriculum one of its goals for the 2002-2003 academic year. In looking for examples of colleges and universities that have excelled in this regard, the MU Study Abroad Team has found the work of Dr. Richard Jurasek, who has published, consulted and spoken widely on the integration of on-campus and off-campus curricula, to be particularly valuable. In his article, "Earlham College: Connecting Off-Campus and On-Campus Learning"1 Jurasek highlights several activities that have been successfully employed to bridge on-campus and overseas learning. As a starting point, Earlham faculty members were encouraged to conduct a "Course Survey," at the beginning of the semester by asking if students in their courses had lived or studied overseas or planned to do so in the near future. These students were then called upon throughout the semester to comment on class discussion topics from the perspective of their host or home countries. Other successful activities included adding foreign language works to the reading list of a non-language course (e.g., including writings in French and German in the syllabus for a philosophy courses). This was particularly valuable when works assigned to the rest of the class in English translation were assigned to study abroad returnees in the original language. These students were encouraged to bring to the attention of the class dimensions of the text that had not been captured in translation. Study abroad returnees were also encouraged to utilize data obtained abroad or to explore in greater depth a topic related to their recent study abroad experience in their research papers and/or senior theses. The MU Study Abroad Team is interested in hearing from MU faculty members who have developed methods of bridging study abroad and the MU curriculum. Our goal is to collect and make available to faculty members resources that can be applied widely across the MU campus. Interested faculty are encouraged to contact Barbara Lindeman, Director of Study Abroad at LindemanB@missouri.edu. 1 Richard Jurasek, "Using Ethnography to Bridge the Gap Between Study Abroad and the On-Campus Language and Culture Curriclum," in Redefining the Boundaries of Language Study, ed. Claire Kramsch (Boston: Heinle and Heinle, 1995). International BA Degree RevisedUndergraduate students at MU can elect to major in International Studies, with an emphasis on either a geographic area (European, Latin American, East Asian, South Asian) or Environmental Studies. Students may also take courses concentrating in African Studies. This multidisciplinary degree program has recently undergone some modifications to clarify requirements of the program. All majors must complete a specific set of courses as a part of the general education program - including course work in Cultural Anthropology (Anthropology 153), Geography (1 or 2), and Political Science (55 or 150). An additional 9 hours of courses can be selected from a menu of offerings, including at least one course in the humanities. International BA students must also take 18-19 hours of course work in a second language. Students for whom English is the second language, are encouraged to study a third language of their choice. All majors include 12 hours of courses in the social and behavioral sciences areas; 12 hours from the humanities and language areas; and 12 hours for a focus area, designed to provide depth to their program. Finally, all majors will now be required to participate in a study-abroad experience for a minimum of 4 weeks. Additionally, students must complete at least one course related to the country in which they plan to study prior to studying abroad. Students who are unable to participate in this program will be directed to alternative experiences. For students interested in learning more about the International Studies program, they should contact the Office of Special Degree Programs, 210 Switzler Hall. (882-6060). They can also check the program web page at http://www.missouri.edu/~special/index.html. The advisor for this program is Dr. Michael Porter, Director of Special Degree Programs. International Center Hosts Fifth Annual Study Abroad FairThe International Center will be hosting the fifth annual Study Abroad Fair on Tuesday, September 10 from 11:00-2:00 pm, in Stotler Lounge in the Memorial Union. Over 700 MU students are expected to attend the Fair to discover the world of opportunities available to them through study abroad. Interest in study abroad at MU has remained constant despite the events of September 11, 2002. Meghan Alexander, the MU Study Abroad Advisor who is coordinating the Study Abroad Fair noted an increase in interest in overseas studies programs among MU freshmen, "This past summer during Summer Welcome we had 1200 inquires about study abroad. This was a record number for us." The International Center offers MU and MU Partner Programs in 60 countries throughout the world. MU sponsors 81 MU programs and more than 300 MU Partner Programs. MU students are able to utilize their MU and federal financial aid to help cover the costs of both MU and MU Partner Programs. "Our goal is to provide a wide range of programs to ensure that there is a program that matches the curricular needs of MU students from all academic disciplines," according to Barbara Lindeman, MU Study Abroad Director. On the day of the Fair, Stotler Lounge will be filled with tables staffed by Study Abroad Advisors, study abroad program representatives, MU departmental representatives, international exchange students and study abroad returnees who will provide specific information about MU and MU Partner study abroad programs. Students will learn where and how they can apply to study for a year, semester or summer while continuing to make progress toward their MU degrees. Representatives from the MU Financial Aid Office will also be available to explain how financial aid can be applied to the cost of an overseas studies program. As a follow up to the Study Abroad Fair, students are encouraged to attend a session of "Study Abroad 101" to learn more about the MU policies and procedures governing study abroad. Study Abroad 101 sessions are held in the International Center, N52 Memorial Union, each Monday and Tuesday from 1:00-2:00 pm. In addition, students may visit the Study Abroad Resource Room in N52 Memorial Union Monday through Friday anytime between 8:00 am-noon and 1:00-5:00 pm in order to research specific program options in light of their academic needs, linguistic abilities and cultural interests. Study Abroad applications for winter semester 2003 are due on Monday, October 7th. Applications for summer 2003, fall 2003 and the academic year 2003-2004 are due Monday, February 24th. For additional information, please consult the Study Abroad web site at: /studyabroad/ Announcing: China Up-Close III (December 28, 2002-January 10, 2003)
After receiving rave reviews for an experimental up close tour of China during last year's off-season, we are back with a third offering. If you are willing to tolerate a bit of cold (Missouri-like) weather for a travel bargain, and want to see aspects of China that tourists seldom see, this is the trip for you. Asian Affairs Center Program Coordinator Gary Dou has a gift for bringing Chinese culture alive for Americans, and he will not only show you some of China's most unforgettable historical and scenic sites, but also give you an unprecedented look "behind the scenes" in the People's Republic. Visit local homes, mingle and talk with warm and interesting people, including local township officials, professors, students, farmers, and private businessmen. You will return home with a feel for China that eludes regular tourists - and with memories that will last a lifetime.
For more information, please contact Gary Dou, Asian Affairs Center Program Coordinator, at DouG@missouri or 884-8201. |
Anyone looking for evidence of the benefits of international education need only ask Taye Woldesmiate. A former MU doctoral student and now head of the Ethiopian Teachers Association, Dr. Woldesmiate recently returned to Columbia after six years as a political prisoner. Convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the Ethiopian state, many believe that the underlying reason for his arrest was his vocal criticism of educational policy in Ethiopia.
The University of Missouri-Columbia is hosting "The Search for Common Ground Film Festival, Beyond Tragedy: Understanding A World In Conflict." The festival, a series of nine international films, is designed to reveal the complex issues that underlie world conflicts. The films will be followed by a panel of guest speakers chosen to help audiences better understand how unresolved disputes affect our community and our world. The festival's first film presentation will include comments from MU Chancellor Richard Wallace and a keynote address by Syed Arshad Husain, professor of psychiatry and director of MU's International Center for Psychosocial Trauma.
It was a beautiful day for taking in the sights and sounds of mid-Missouri. Many of the wildflowers were still in bloom and of course the mighty Missouri River was impressive to those viewing it for the first time.
For most westerners, China evokes images that combine stereotypes of Maoist China, China's magnificent cultural legacy, and its rapid move toward a capitalist market economy. But most of us know little if anything about the lives of ordinary people. What is really behind the doors of the Middle Kingdom? While bringing you to some of China's most famous historical sites - and home to some of the world's most breathtaking scenery - this program also provides an in-depth look at the "real" China.
The cost of this trip is $2,185.00 per person, which includes international roundtrip airfare, domestic flights within China, ground transportation and organized programs in China, a professional bilingual tour director throughout the trip, most meals, local guides, lectures on special topics, baggage handling, and hotel rooms with private baths based on double occupancy (additional $325.00 for single occupancy).