SECOND DEGREE: Asian students travel to the U.

Doctoral student Cheng Chang traveled thousands of miles across the globe to study mathematics at the University. Chang is one of hundreds of Asian students who leave their homeland to study at the University. But across the nation, there is a growing concern that there are "too many" international students in American graduate schools. By educating so many international students, many professors and students believe Americans are losing out on educational opportunities on their home turf. · In mathematics and science departments, international students, specifically Asians, make up a greater percentage than in other University departments. Asian students said they come to American schools, and specifically the University, mainly for their academic quality. Chang said he studied mathematics at the undergraduate level in China, and chose the University because of its "excellent" math department. First-year Physics PhD student Naoya Hata, who comes from Japan, said he was interested in studying the elementary particle theory, which is more difficult to do in Japan because of the more popular mathematical approach taken there. But Hata also said he left his country for a change of pace. After receiving both his bachelor's and master's degree at the University of Tokyo, he said he needed a break. "It was long enough," Hata said. "I was getting bored after six years in the same place." Other students had their own reasons for coming to the University. Second-year Physics graduate student Geun-Seop Nee said he decided to leave Korea because there was "more of a chance to learn . . . about a different culture, about international relationships," on top of academic reasons. Most Asian students said that they are not sure if they will remain in the country after they graduate or if they will return home and live with the rest of their families. They said the overriding concern is getting the best job possible. "I'm not sure if I'll stay here . . . it depends wherever there's a job," Hata said. But Nee, who did his undergraduate work in Seoul, said he would like to return to Korea, but may stay here longer to build his resume. And many said they are more concerned with simply making it through school. "It's not the best place to get food . . . [it is] expensive, too," Hata said. Chemistry Professor Stanley Opella, who works with graduate students, said that many people forget the fact that international students are not only coming to a different school, but a different country. "It is often forgotten that these students had to prepare themselves academically, culturally, and personally," Opella said. · Many graduate group chairs and professors said they regard international students only in a positive light. Many professors said that they enjoy working with the Asian students because they are generally hard workers. And, contrary to what many people think, professors said they are not concerned with whose places Asian students could be filling. According to Chemistry Vice Chairperson George Palladino -- whose department's graduate program is over 25 percent Asian -- international students are simply filling the void left by an inadequate American elementary school program in math and science. Palladino said somewhere between sixth grade and high school, Americans lose interest in science and math. He added that the problem could only be solved at the collegiate level once it was addressed in primary education. "Across the board there is a shortage of qualified and interested American students in math and the sciences," he said. "Immigrants and international students are offsetting that." Yet in a society where Donald Trump is more famous than most college professors, students said there is a certain stigma associated with staying in the academic world, and a financial burden to bear as well. Palladino said the glamour and cost-benefit rewards of other fields are difficult to compete with. As a result, the math and science fields in the U.S. often lose out. Opella said he thought international students were a "big plus" for the University. He added that by having students from all over the world, it stretches the University's influence to a worldwide area. Mathematics Graduate Group Chairperson Ted Chinburg, whose department takes about 50 percent of its students from other countries, also said the large number of international students was good for the University, even if they chose to return to their home country. "It encourages a pipeline between Korea and us," said Chinburg, speaking of Korean students who return to their homeland after they graduate. "We have had more applications [in the Math Department] than in past years because of that connection." Professors also said they felt their disciplines were not adversely effected by students who choose to return to their home country. "People in my field all over the world can contribute as much as they can here," said Opella, "There's only really one scientific community. There's no strong national boundaries." Physics Professor Terry Fortune, whose department is about 18 percent Asian, also said that physics is an international field. But Fortune said that although international students make a significant contribution to the University, the students come out ahead in the bargain. "Because we give them full support financially, I believe the net flow is from us to them," said Fortune. And although Fortune said he did not think there were any detrimental effects in quality or in a financial sense, he said as finances get tighter within the University, that might have greater influences.

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