The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, February 19, 2001, Image 4

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TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL
WALK-ON /12TH MAN
Informal!
DATE: Monday, February 19,2001
WHERE: The Auditorium - West Side
Kyle Field 3
/
* MANDATORY ATTENDANCE "
* MUST BE ENROLLED IN 12 HOURS AT
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY AT COLLEGE STATION
* MUST HAVE STARTED COLLEGE NO EARLIER
THAN THE FALL OF ‘98
* We will not hold tryouts for Kickers or Punters
this Semester
2001
The Advising Odyssey
Attention
Student Organization Advisors
Mark your calendars and be sure to attend these
educational workshops. Each session addresses a topic
which is important to the success of an advisory experience.
Light snacks will be provided, but feel
free to bring your own food.
Dates:
Tues., Feb. 20
Fri., Feb. 23
Tues., Feb. 27
Fri., March 2
Topics:
Advising Skills
Advising Skills
FERPA*
FERPA*
Room & Time:
4:00-3:15pm Rudder 302
11:30-12:45pm Koldus 144
4:00-5:15pm Koldus 146
11:30-12:45pm Koldus 144
L
^Family Education Rights To Privacy Act
http://sact.tamu.edu/workshops/workshopsl.htm
Student Activities For more information
A, Texas A&M University ^ ^ ^ ^
AGGIELIFE
Monday, Febraa Monday, I 7 ehi
THE BATTALION
it's a small world after al
International students maintain their native culture atA6'°
GALVE
Questa Eli
years ago i
their last.
ras.
‘I was f
By Melissa Sorola-Bilano
The Battalion
It’s hard enough being away from
home for the first time. But being
thrown in among students who do
not look like you and do not have the
same beliefs can sometimes be even
harder.
For some students from different
cultural backgrounds, the adjustment
to Texas A&M is a difficult one. Pre
serving their culture helps make the
transition easier.
Johnny Ballesteros, a freshman
aerospace engineering major, said he
thinks it is important for him to cele
brate his Jewish heritage.
“[My culture] keeps me in touch
with my morals, and, most impor
tant, it keeps me in touch with my
history,” Ballesteros said.
Ballesteros, a member of the Hil-
lel Foundation, a Jewish student or
ganization, said the group acts as a
support system while he is away
from home.
“I know if I’m in trouble, the rab
bi will help me out,” Ballesteros said.
Ballesteros also attends syna
gogue every Friday.
Hafiz Memon, a native of Pak
istan and a senior journalism major,
came to the United States in 1991. He
said coming to A&M was not too big
a culture shock. '
“For many students from other
countries, it is not a big shock be
cause the culture of the United States
is known worldwide,” Memon said.
On the other hand, Memon said he
thinks his peers at A&M know very
little about his culture and religion.
“There is a general tendency [at
A&M] to avoid interaction with peo
ple from other cultures and reli
gions,” Memon said.
Although he is far from Pakistan,
Memon tries to keep in touch with
his culture.
“I maintain a close relationship
with Pakistanis, which enables me to
preserve some of the positive aspects
of my culture,” Memon said.
He said celebrating culture is valu
able for students of different races.
“I think it is important to maintain
a culture because it gives us a sense
of belonging and provides us a level
of comfort and ease, which helps us
to grow as a society,” Memon said.
A&M is doing its part to support
students from every background.
Felicia Scott, director of the De
partment of Multicultural Services,
said the department was designed to
help retain ethnic minority students
and promote diversity on campus.
There are 12 student organizations
under the department and around 50
culture-based student organizations
that are University recognized.
Scott said some students feel they
have a hard time preserving their cul
ture at A&M.
“For some people, when they
come to college, this is their first ex
perience with diversity,” Scott said.
As an example, Scott said black
students may be interacting with
white students for the first time or
white students may be interacting
with bladk students for the first time.
Scott said some students become
more aware of their culture when
they come to A&M.
“This is the first time they have
had to think of themselves in terms
of their racial identity,” she said.
She said the department tries to
retain ethnic minorities with EX
CEL (Excellence uniting Culture,
Education and Leadership), which
helps to familiarize minority fresh
men to A&M.
“The program talks about being in
a predominately white environment
and how to maintain your culture,”
Scott said.
The department’s Website contains
Fall 1999 enrollment records, which
show 77 percent of students were
white, but only 9 percent were His
panic, 7 percent were international
students and 3 percent were African-
American and Asian-American stu
dents. The last 1 percent is groups that
do not fall into these categories.
The University celebrates all the
cultures on campus with programs
such as Whoopstock.
Beatriz Arnillas, assistant coordi
nator of diversity education, said
every group is invited to participate
in Whoopstock, which will be held
April 28.
Arnillas said Whoopstock gives
different groups the chance to appre
ciate other heritages and traditions.
“Hopefully, [Whoopstock] brings
awareness that, because we are a di
verse campus, we are all the better for
it,” Arnillas said.
Another program sponsored by
Multicultural Services is U-ACT
(UniversitN Aw nreness forCjp^j c * nev
Togetherness). ^ or ' Q ues f'
Carolyn Sandoxal. adviserTCtum visr
ACT and coordinator forfcnow be
education, said the i:roupiu^Strolled the
organi/ation working to pnB Bra less
cultural awareness, undercshirts and |
of diversity and acceptanceSm all t
ferent eultures. wonder wl
Student U-A( I facilitate such a free
take a semester-long elasscafehand. The <
eial Justice Issues in ElighetEBBut that
tion, and they can then gncp'; ent i s each
to other student groups. Soii^ooo. i
gram themes are I nderstandi:,Q t i 10 ]i c | e
tural Identity, Prejudicej n g
and Reduction and Cross A
Communication. m .. IV
Sandoval said studenbtr, d .
backgrounds join U-ACT. fF \ 1
"I think it attracts themypy of sta i
they can come in as who the) 81
be respected, acknowledged
idated for it.” Sandoval said.
Alpa Chheda, a U-ACTfae:
and a senior industrial engi
major, said she values what
learned through U-ACT.
“I’ve learned the importd
sharing your culture as ''.a . |
bracing others." Chheda sar 1T
extremely important to ak :
aware of your culture andtl
plays in your life.”
aller sea
“It’s a c
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Beach Lifeguard!
NOW’S THE TIME,
DON’T WAIT
Spend your time on the beach in a fun and challenging position
working for the Galveston Beach Patrol. Starting pay *9.00/hr
with incentives for bonus pay. Salaries increased for EMTs.
Discount housing available; summer school available at
Galveston College or Texas A&M Galveston.
Minimum qualification, be able to swim
500 meters in 9 minutes or less.
Call (409) 763-4769 for information or galvestonbeachpatrol.org/com
Tryouts March 10, April 28 & May 5
AGGIE BASKETBALL
’A&M vs. Oklahoma St. (2/21)
MEET THE COACHES
at
Working Woman's Wednesday: '250 Cuervo Ritas & Well Drinks
All day & All night
’ FRIT buffet before the game *
Come join Coach Watkins & all his staffafter the game for 12 price appetm
with your ticket stub. Prize Giveaways & great drink spedals!
PARROT
IFAD PARTY THURSDAY NIGHT!
Call for details.- 8460211
Health Professions
Symposium
Free! Meet over 60 representatives from
Medical, Dental, Physician Assistant,
Physical Therapy, Nursing, and Other
Health Professions Programs from around
the world!
MSC Flagroom
FEBRUARY 20
10:30 A.M. - 2:30 P.M.
$
E.C.H.O- Members:
Alpha Epsilon Delta
Biomedical Science Assoc.
Microbiology Society
PreMedical Society
Beta Beta Beta
Genetics Society
PreDental Society
American Medical Student Assoc.
Multicultural Assoc. Of PreHealth Aggies
Texas A&M University
Executive Council of Health Organizations
Career Center
Texas A&M University
Weekly Preview February 19-23
Career Fairs
Business Career Fair - Tues. 2/20 - Thurs. 2/22,
Architecture Fair - Thurs. 2/22 - Fri. 2/23, Langford
Orientations for On-Campus Interviews
Mon. 2/19, 4:30 p.m. Rudder 502
Thurs. 2/22, 5 p.m. Rudder 707
Resume/Letter Writing Seminars
Mon. 2/19, 5:30 p.m. MSC 228 (Featuring: Cintas)
Tues. 2/20, 2 p.m. Rudder 502 (Life Science Majors)
Internship Search Strategies
Mon. 2/19, 3 p.m. Rudder 502
Behavioral Interviewing Workshop
Thurs. 2/22, 5:30 p.m. MSC 228 (Featuring: KPMG)
TAMU Career Center 209 Koldus
845-5139 http://careercenter.tamu.edu
A place to meet your next employer
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