Impact 9-11: Cultural exchange

Keeping a finger on the pulse of Southwest Missouri State University's 500-plus international student community is what Jan Swann, director of international student services at SMSU, does for a living. This group of students has addresses in 87 different countries with 25 to 30 hailing from the Middle East.

Helping these students sort through their feelings while sifting fact from fiction has reinforced the significance of her work, Swann said. "One of the positive outcomes I see is that many people seem to be much more interested in absorbing and understanding cultural information than before."

Overall there have been few on-campus incidents of inappropriate behavior aimed at students who appeared to be Middle Eastern, Swann said. What reports she has heard have come from faculty or staff.

Police officer Rod Smith, one of 10 full-time officers who works on campus, said there had not been any reported 9-11 campus incidents involving Middle Eastern students.

There's been no changes in SMSU's entrance requirements for foreign students since 9-11, Swann said. "The most significant changes are coming from preparing for implementation of the new Student Exchange Visitor Information System."

Designed to identify and track the movements of international students and exchange visitors, SEVIS is federally mandated to be fully operational in institutions by Jan. 30, 2003, she added.

In the end, Swann is philosophic in her approach toward international students. Beyond the obvious economic boost they provide, they offer an unparalleled opportunity to exchange cultural information, improve badly needed cross-cultural communication skills and expand our thinking beyond our own borders, she said.

International students return home with more than an education, Swann said. They go back "with an opinion of the United States and the people here." Her task, within the SMSU community at least, is to make that perspective as positive as possible.