Published: February 20, 2008 10:11 pm      

MSU fair highlights student diversity

Daisuke Miyawaki is a student at Mountain State University from Hiroshima, Japan. He is majoring in accounting and came to MSU because of an internship program with his future employer.

“Beckley is very similar in beauty to my hometown in Japan,” Miyawaki said. “There are lots of mountains and beautiful nature.”

Miyawaki said Japanese students make up a minority at MSU.

“There are only about four of five of us,” he said. “I would love to see more Asian people in the future at the school. Diversity is a good thing.”

Malik Ahamed, a senior majoring in marketing, says he is the only student from the tiny island country of Sri Lanka, located off the coast of India.

“The entire island country is the size of West Virginia, but obviously a different shape,” Ahamed said. “There are 19 million people there, but I am pretty sure I’m the only one at MSU.”

Ahamed says he loves the outdoor activities in southern West Virginia and the quality education offered at MSU.

“That is why I wanted to come here,” he said. “I have really enjoyed my time here at MSU.”

Ahamed and Miyawaki were a few of the hundreds to attend MSU’s fifth annual Multicultural Fair on Wednesday. The fair is becoming one of MSU’s most anticipated yearly events. Representing students from about 40 nations and all 50 states, the festival recognizes the diverse population at the Beckley campus.

“This year our event’s theme is ‘Celebrations Across Nations,’” said Dwight Heaster, director of international student services. “We are looking at various nations that are represented in our diverse student population.”

Heaster said exhibits, fashion, music, dance, art and international foods were all part of Wednesday’s event.

“It’s a day of celebration that allows our international students to share with everyone a little bit of their culture and interesting facts about where they come from,” he said.

Heaster says MSU has the largest population of international students in the school’s history.

“We have over 400 students from other countries,” he said.

The event has continued to grow.

“The first year we had about 40 people attend, but last year we had over 300,” Heaster said.

Heaster said local students, residents and groups come to the event to get exposure to other cultures.

“The event is designed to get students to step out of their cultures and comfort zones, however briefly, and learn from what they see at the multicultural fair,” he said.

Without diversity, Heaster said, MSU will produce graduates who are book smart but socially isolated.

“They just won’t get the exposure they need when there is no diversity in the student population,” he said.

To ramp up that exposure, International Student Services at MSU also does cultural orientations and provides mentors to help its international students.

“Culture shock is one of the major issues,” Heaster said. “Our job is to help international students as they learn and grow in the United States through their time with Mountain State University.”

The school added 180 new students this semester from various countries around the world. Heaster said many wonder what brings international students to MSU.

“The answer varies depending on the student,” he said. “For some, it’s the growing number of international students who study here. For others, it’s the beauty of the area, which can seem like a home away from home for some. For others, it’s the school reputation for successfully educating international students. Whatever the reason, MSU offers these students a safe and inviting place to study.”

Heaster says the multicultural fair is just one in a variety of events and programs that assist international students.

“This event allows them to have a first-hand experience with the many diverse cultures at the Beckley campus while also sharing their own culture,” he said.

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