Attacks cast international students as observers

Most Penn students understand why the Stars and Stripes are hanging nearly everywhere these days -- alongside the road, on construction sites and even pinned to clothing. After all, America is their homeland.

But for some international students, a handful of whom have only been in the United States for a few months, it's a different story.

While it is easy to define the sentiment among Americans now, the reaction of international students studying at Penn has been hard to pinpoint. Some feel the repercussions of last Tuesday's terrorist attacks as much as Americans; others feel somewhat detached from the situation, though no less sympathetic.

"It's very strange because I don't feel very preoccupied with what has occurred," said English Language Program student Santiago Uribe, who is from Colombia. "These things happen in my country a lot."

Shaunak Patel, an Engineering freshman from India, agreed.

"I'm used to things like this happening in India, but not on this scale," he said.

Currently, there are roughly 3,500 international students at Penn, most of whom are in graduate and professional programs. Only 900 of these students are undergraduates.

Since last Tuesday, the Office of International Programs has increased communication with international students to ease any angst or tension they might feel following the deadly terrorist attacks. While the OIP has invited international students to come in and speak with advisers and counselors, few have taken advantage of these services.

"I don't think that international students should feel any more of a threat than American students," said Joyce Randolph, the Executive Director of International Programs.

Many international students said they have felt somewhat distanced from America's turmoil.

"I don't know why, but it just seems as though I'm not as attached [to the situation] as America is," said Engineering sophomore Emily Hsu, who is from Taiwan. "As an international student, I can sort of see both sides."

College junior Christine Choi, from Canada, feels equally as perplexed.

"I guess that while I can understand the anger and frustration of American citizens and the president, it's also a shock to many international students to see how quickly the rhetoric has turned to war, revenge and retribution," she said.

A major concern of the OIP has has been for students from Middle Eastern countries, as reports of hate crimes across America have surfaced following the attacks. The OIP has been making extended efforts to contact these people, urging them to report any discrimination or difficulties that they may be feeling as a result of last Tuesday's attacks.

"We're concerned about the potential for ethnic and racial discrimination," Randolph said. "We've been in touch with students from Middle Eastern countries, and they know that there's a system set up to support them."

College freshman Shakir Iqbal, who is from Pakistan, has found the recent hate crimes against people of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent somewhat paradoxical.

"It's confusing because you feel that you'll be treated equally in America," he said. "Then you hear about how Muslims and South Asians are being targeted for what a very small group of people did."

Some international students have felt the repercussions of the attacks in New York and Washington as much, if not more, than Americans -- namely because these events have altered their perspective of the United States.

"I haven't come to grips with [Tuesday's events] entirely," said Nicolas Alvardo, a College freshman from Paraguay. "It's hard to believe that something like this has happened to the United States."

Mustafa Mustafa, an Engineering freshman from the United Arab Emirates, has also been affected.

"I'm taking it like everyone else," he said. "It came as a shock."

"Certainly, some [international students] are alarmed," said Valerie De Cruz, the director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center at Penn. "People feel unsafe, and getting home is going to be difficult. When you add these factors to the fear of being attacked, it creates anxiety and alarm."

Like the increased togetherness among Americans that resulted from the attacks, the international community at Penn has also felt more unified.

"The fabulous thing about Penn students is that they're moving forward and being supportive," said DeCruz.

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