Wiewel host annual President’s Reception

On Sept. 23, President Wim Wiewel hosted his final President’s Reception on the back patio of Frank Manor House. The annual tradition serves as a welcome back event for a diverse set of students from around the globe.

More than 50 international students, Third Culture Kids (TCK) and Academic English Studies (AES) students attended the reception. The event  opened with a welcome address from Wiewel. As a former international student himself, he offered advice on how to navigate being in a new environment. He spoke of his own past, emphasizing the difficult task of staying afloat in a place so different from home.

“You really have to accept that you’re in whitewater at all times, the whitewater of change,” Wiewel said. “And you just try to stay afloat, you go with the flow, but you still try to steer it.”

Wiewel takes special interest in the experience of the students and values the importance of the cultural exchange that comes out of having international students and TCKs.

“All of us are living in a very global, diverse world that will only increase as time goes on, so it’s important for everybody who gets a higher education to be exposed to a bunch of different cultures,” Wiewel said. “Having international students adds a whole layer of depth and opportunity to that.”

Conversely, international students also benefit from the experience. They receive a higher education in the United States and the same cultural exchange as domestic students. They also end up receiving intangible benefits.

“What they get out of it I hope is this total opportunity to be a fish out of water,” Wiewel said. “To be confronted with the other culture — in a way that really makes you understand yourself.”

Associate Dean of Students and Director of International Students and Scholars Brian White spoke about the history of this event as well as its significance to students.

“This event has been going on for quite a while,” White said. “I think we have had three different presidents agree to sponsor it over the years.”

White explains that the school’s goal is to promote exchange and interaction between international students and the rest of the LC community. In terms of how well such engagement is going, he explained that the department is working on a new research initiative that seeks to gain insight into where international student engagement is taking place. The research, which is being conducted by graduate students, will be based on feedback from international students regarding their campus activities and interactions.

The final speaker of the evening, International Students of Lewis & Clark (ISLC) President Milica Stanišić ’22, received cheers and applause from the community of international scholars as she took the stage to announce the new board of the ISLC, as well as to explain the services they offer and events they plan to host.

“We are here to advocate for you and to advocate for your rights to the administration, but we are also here to organize events that are of importance and interest to you,” Stanišić said. “Such as international dance parties,  international trivia nights and most importantly, the international fair.”

Stanišić, an international student from Serbia, spoke about the importance of ISLC.

“It can be very difficult and taxing moving halfway across the world to start studying in a completely new environment in a completely new country in a completely different culture,” Stanišić said. “Not only that, there are a lot of things that burden international students, such as financial issues or issues pertaining to immigration status or work status.”

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Stanišić explains that ISLC is vital for filling in the gaps where other student organizations cannot. She said the needs of international students are often overlooked because they differ from those of the broader LC community.

“We are honestly also here to make everyone feel good at this space and help them have fun in the end,” Stanišić said.

Similarly, Wiewel’s advice to international students is to simply enjoy their time here and to experience things with an open mind.

“Go to a football game, go to a baseball game, go to a basketball game, go to films, go to a bar, continue to see yourself as a learner,” Wiewel said. “Open your mind, your heart and your soul to really feeling this different place with all its amazing, wonderful, crazy, at times horrible, at times beautiful culture, traditions and social life.”

Stanišić then explained that ISLC is vital for filling in the gaps where other student organizations cannot. She said the needs of international students are often overlooked because they differ from those of the broader LC community.

“We are honestly also here to make everyone feel good (in) this space and help them have fun in the end,” Stanišić said.

Similarly, Weiwel’s advice to international students is to simply enjoy their time here and to experience things with an open mind.

“Go to a football game, go to a baseball game, go to a basketball game, go to films, go to a bar, continue to see  yourself as a learner,” Wiewel said. “Open your mind, your heart and your soul to really feeling this different place with all its amazing, wonderful, crazy, at times horrible, at times beautiful culture, traditions and social life.”

Photograph by Suhail Akram