The diversity of Saint Louis University has always been one of its strengths. From the much-publicized Madrid program, to Lyons, France and the newly added school in China, there have been great opportunities for SLU students to see the world through schooling.

But a scare has recently hit campus. It is not that the study abroad program is being slimmed down, but rather that cuts are being made to the International Program that brings students from other countries to SLU.

“It is a very complicated situation,” said Dr. Phyllis Mithen, assistant professor of english as a second language. “International students have been coming here for a long time and adding to the cultural diversity of SLU. So it would be a great harm if they were to be lessened in number.”

Mithen said that the international program has always been a strong area of student population at SLU. The Madrid program that so many students are familiar with requires that the Spanish students attend two years of schooling at the campus in Spain. Consequently, the Spanish population at SLU makes up a large portion.

But while the population percentage of Spanish students at SLU has stayed virtually the same over the last three years, another area dropped dramatically. This is the number of students from the Far East, which has a strong background of students attending SLU. From 845 in 1997, the number of international students has dropped to 599 in 1999.

Assistant provost of enrollment and academic services Edwin Harris described the root of the problem to the large economic decline in the Far East in the last few years. These countries include Taiwan and Korea which have long sent many students to SLU.

“It can be very expensive to come to SLU,” Harris said.

“Many times in the past either the student’s parents or their government has had to pay the full price to attend SLU.”

Harris added, “When these countries experience economic decline it becomes very difficult for the students to come over here because of the cost involved.”

He went on to say that SLU is now making more students in the international program eligible for the merit scholarships-Presidential, Dean’s, etc.-which helps to bring students here that would not have been originally able to previously.

“[America] is much different than my homeland of Hungary, but learning about the difference is good,” said junior Ingrid Habony.

Habony is a member of the International Program who received a tennis scholarship to attend SLU. She relates to how the International Program doesn’t only work one way.

It is very reciprocal in the fact that the students of SLU learn as much from the International Program as the International students learn from SLU.

While it may seem to be a concern that there is such a significant drop in the international program, Harris said that the department has no worries that the number will increase along with the re-emergence of the struggling economies of the Far East.