HISTORY

Formed in 2004 by five international students at Arizona State University, the Coalition of International Students has grown to become an umbrella organization for all international student organizations at ASU. The continuously increasing international students community at ASU has allowed CIS to hold successful events and flaunt  the international culture & traditions at Arizona State.

MISSION

The Coalition of International Students aims at:

• Promoting communication among all international student organizations in order to coordinate and consolidate activities of international students. 
• Participating actively within the Associated Students of Arizona State University in order to promote and protect the interests of international students.
• Uniting the voice of students concerning matters pertaining to the welfare of international students. 
• Promoting understanding among the various cultures within the university and the community-at-large. 

CIS IN THE NEWS 

ASU Global celebrates International Education Week

By:

Lauren Gambino

Published On:

Monday, November 17, 2008

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It’s a small world after all at ASU this week.

ASU Global is kicking off International Education Week with activities and events celebrating countries and cultures from all around the world from Monday to Saturday.

Mark Luebker, spokesman for the Office of the Vice President for Global Engagement, said students will need some kind of international experience as globalization becomes increasingly important to business and the economy.

“This week draws attention to the fact that there is a global threat in everything we do on campus and throughout the University,” Luebker said. “Students will need to have a global outlook. It’s a necessity for students who want to be successful in this world.”

Luebker said it is advantageous for students to study abroad and gain knowledge and experience from another culture.

“[Study abroad] has become a part of the higher education experience that is becoming more and more essential,” Luebker said. “We are moving toward a time when it will be a disadvantage not to have studied abroad.”

Others advocate that global awareness and experience will soon be a fundamental to economic success.

Doug Spencer, the assistant director of academic services for the School of International Letters and Cultures, said the school has designated a class for freshmen highlighting the importance of learning another language.

“We need to be equipped in the 21st century with language and language abilities,” Spencer said. “Soon we, as a country, will need to learn another language not as a luxury but as a necessity. We aren’t at that point yet, but soon we will have to learn another language to make money.”

Along with other events, the school will host a discussion on the increasing relevance of foreign language study to economics Wednesday.

President of ASU Kurdish Youth Club Nuha Sarraj said she believes being culturally aware rids humans of ignorance, especially when it comes to the Middle East.

“We have such a tarnished image with people thinking that suicide bombers and terrorists are the only things coming from the Middle East,” Sarraj said. “There is a lot of beautiful clothes and culture that come from the Middle East.”

Sarraj, a political science sophomore, will help put on a multicultural fashion show at the West campus Tuesday showcasing clothing from the Middle East.

There are more than 40 cultural events and activities happening throughout the week at all four campuses.

Events include festivals, film showings, art exhibits, fashion shows, lectures, food drives, dance classes, international sporting events — all culminating in International Night 2008, which showcases dances, music and food from around the world Saturday on Hayden Lawn.

Coalition of International Students Event Coordinator Chetan Patel said he believes establishing international relationships are essential to a prosperous and peaceful future.

“Every culture, every nation is as beautiful and rich in culture as my nation,” said Patel, an international student from India. “My experience of working with people from different backgrounds has taught me that people from around the world can be very different, yet humanity resonates among us all.”

Reach the reporter at lauren.gambino@asu.edu.

 ASU Global celebrates International Education Week

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OLYMPICS COME TO ASU

 International students compete in University version of athletic event

 by Allison Denny
 published on Monday, April 7, 2008

Athletes from across the globe competed Friday and Saturday for gold medals … and they didn't even have to go to Beijing.

The fourth annual ASU Olympics, hosted by the Coalition of International Students, brought together competitors from nearly a dozen countries.

Coalition Vice President Hanin Bearat said about 80 students participated in six events in the Student Recreation Complex: swimming, basketball, ping-pong, racquetball, soccer and volleyball.
The winners included Norway, which won in swimming; China, which won in ping-pong; and India, which won in racquetball.
"It's a fun event," Bearat said. "Everyone likes sports and getting to know other people."
Bearat, a first-year bioengineering graduate student, joined the Coalition when it was formed in 2004.
"I just love people — especially different cultures and people from around the world," she said.
Chetan Patel, also a first-year bioengineering graduate student, started volunteering for the club two years ago and joined as the events coordinator this year.
Getting the Olympics event together starts with sending out e-mails to all ASU's international students and posting flyers.
Students then formed teams representing their home county, he said.
More than just a sports competition, the ASU Olympics is a great social event, Patel said.
"Sports is just one of the easiest ways to get people together," he said.
Third-year electrical engineering graduate student Wei Xu came to the soccer game to cheer on his friends representing China.
He said he couldn't play because he had a lab that morning during part of the competition.
"Normally we play every Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon," he said. "We're soccer lovers."
Diego De Nicola came to ASU from Italy in 2006.
He and his friends represented Italy in soccer.
"It's a good opportunity to get some international students together," he said.
Fabian Lenero joined the Coalition last fall.
When international students come to the United States, he said, many have a hard time getting used to American culture.
"We do all of this so they can get to meet other people," he said.
That includes other international students and American students.
The supply chain management student came from Mexico City, so said he knows how hard it can be for people new to the U.S.
"It just gives you this payment, not in money" he said of helping the international students. "It makes you feel good."