Editor’s Note: International students, we understand your struggles. Please share your thoughts and stories with us, if any, at [email protected]. We are here to listen and help.
Among the 2,695 enrolled undergraduate students on campus, 539 of them are from out-of-state and 18 are from abroad, according to data obtained from Baldwin Wallace University’s Admission Office. While the university strives to provide all students with a home-away-from-home experience, some out-of-state and international students said there is much room to improve.
Despite the high number of out-of-state and international students who need to travel to and from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, there is no campus shuttle program in place. The trip to CLE is typically a 10-to- 15-minute drive from campus, but it will take much longer if one were to use public transit.
“We have different majors that require students to go off campus, but no infrastructure to support that. A student not having a car should not be a barrier to becoming a teacher,” Christy Walkuski, associate professor in leadership and higher education, said.
In response, Timika Rashid, vice president of student affairs, said a potential campus shuttle program has been discussed in different forums.
“If you are aware of a group of students who may be interested in making this recommendation for both aspects, please send that proposal to myself,” Rashid said.
Another challenge for out-of-state and international students is their struggle to find time to communicate with their families back home.
Jakson Attanasio, a second-year sports management major from Raleigh, N.C., said he felt “backed up in a corner” when he needed life advice and yet his parents were not available nearby. Instead, Attanasio had to turn to upperclassmen on the BW football team for help.
Grace Bowman, a senior double majoring in engineering and physics, is originally from New Windsor, M.D. Through different points in the semester, Bowman said she hit “depression spells” when she wanted to go home.
Bowman said: “I always call my mom. It also helps to Facetime her so I can see her face. I like to go on walks and take time for self-care.”
International students are typically not able to go home during short breaks, and they feel especially lonely when the campus empties out.
Berta Gashi, a sophomore business administration student from Kosovo, said her hometown is typically three flights away, or about 24 to 32 hours of lengthy traveling. Gashi said unlike American students who could go home more frequently, she could barely go home during short vacations. The expensive plane tickets also added an extra financial burden on her.
Some international students told The Exponent that they were frustrated due to the limited availabilities of campus dining services over the holiday when BW closes the Dining Hall, Colony Café, Smoothie Bar and Stinger’s Market.
In an interview with The Exponent, Matthew Regula, assistant director of dining services, said that although meal plans shut down over the holiday, dining dollars are still available to use at Starbucks, Boss ChickNBeer and Domino’s.
“We keep in mind that our staff works really hard. We like to give them a break to let them spend time with their families,” Regula said.
Cross-cultural adaptation is another challenge facing international students. Frida Albertsson, a third-year sociology student from Sweden, said that she had experienced a lot of cultural differences between the U.S. and Sweden. Albertsson said it would be nice if BW could host an event where international students sit down and talk to American students.
“I feel like sometimes as an international student, people have certain opinions about us, not necessarily bad ones, but just opinions,” Albertsson said.
