Division of Student Affairs

Foreign Falcons: Exploring the International Student Experience

The Mosaic Cultural Diversity Colloquium Series fosters interconnections and communication by celebrating and highlighting experiences and events that have built and sustained the BGSU campus community. On December 3^rd the Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted the third installment of the 2012-2013 Series in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union, with a program entitled “Foreign Falcons: Exploring the International Student Experience.” In this program international friends were given a platform to share their experiences and to speak to their fellow students about the trials, tribulations, and exaltations of being a Foreign Falcon. At BGSU, we celebrate the diversity of our community in an atmosphere that encourages the exploration of our varied cultural heritage. We are home to more than 600 international students and scholars, who represent more than 90 countries from around the world. These scholars who have chosen BGSU have come to be an integral part of our campus community. Their journeys are unique and help to contribute to the diverse and expanding culture of our university. They have great stories to tell.

Six speakers, representing six countries and four continents, presented on what led them to BGSU, what life has been like for them here, and how we can work together to be a more inclusive campus.  These speakers included: Christian Apaflo from Ghana (Department of Computer Science); Ramadha Gamage from Sri Lanka (Department of Mathematics and Statistics); Yannick Kluch from Germany (Department of Popular Culture); Alex Pedretti from Brazil (Department of Architecture & Environmental Design); Nathalie Thomé from France (Department of Business Administration); and Arpan Yagnik from India (Department of Communication). 

Our speakers were enthusiastically greeted by an audience that represented students, faculty members, administrators, and Bowling Green community members.  Following the presentation, attendees and presenters participated in a lively Q&A and discussion while sharing in coffee and donuts provided by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Everyone present felt that the colloquium was a great success and contributed to creating an open dialogue about fostering an inclusive campus for international students.

Interfaith Reflection on Friendship and Community

As part of the Mosaic Cultural Diversity Colloquium Series, the Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted a reflection on friendship and community from different faith perspectives on Friday, November 30, 2012. Student leaders representing different faiths on campus reflected on how the concept of faith, as well as the concepts of friendship and community, informs their personal, day-to-day life. This reflection panel is the starting point of an interfaith group that will perform community service together during the BGSU’s MLK Jr. Day of Service Challenge in January 2013, organized by the BGSU’s Office of Service Learning.  Krishna Han, Assistant Director for Diversity Education said, “the community service element that will happen after the reflection is very important. It is a way to not only translate those reflections into action, but also help further cultivate the sense of compassion, the opportunity to continue learning from each other, and to appreciate our differences in terms of faith.”

The event was a great success and was attended by a group of more than forty students, faculty and staff members, and community members. Ms. Betty Laukhuf, Director of the International Friendship Program in Bowling Green called the interfaith Reflection Session“splendid.”

Speakers included representative from the Muslim Student Association, Catholic Student Association (Varitas), Hindu Student Association, Jewish Student Association, and Christian Student Association (H2O).