[ Golden Gater Online - September 11, 1997 ]
Thirty-five new dormitory rooms were opened to students this semester as the International Community, one of four new theme communities in student housing.
Located in the Guest Center, The International Community houses 76 U.S. and international students and uses rooms previously set aside as hotel accommodations for university guests.
"We were aware that there was a need for more housing and saw this as an opportunity to not only offer more housing but to fulfill the university's goal of internationalizing," said Phillipe Cumia, coordinator of residential business services.
"When I heard about this place I knew I would like it because I could make more foreign friends," said Nori Masuda, a freshman from Japan. Masuda said he was unable to get housing in any other on-campus building.
The International Community served as a refuge for students who applied for housing after the other dorms were filled, Cumia said.
"I didn't have anywhere else to go," said freshman Karen Mann, but she added: "These are the nicest dorms I've ever seen."
Rooms in the community cost about $1,000 more per academic year than regular dorms. But they come with semi-private bathrooms, while the residence halls have shared facilities, and residents are offered extra services such as on-site tutors, guest speakers and theme-oriented workshops.
"This (community) is long in coming and about time," said Jay Ward, coordinator of international student services. "We claim to be the city's university and this is an international city."
Cumia said the new facility is open to national as well as international students. He added that since residents "can get the most from a truly diverse environment," the housing department attempts to place one U.S. and one international student in each room.
International students living in the new community pay up to $14,951 per year, which covers the cost of enrolling in 12 units, a meal plan and housing, considerably more than the $9,047 paid by California residents. The difference is a result of the higher tuition costs international students are required to pay.
"No one will deny that there is a financial component to attracting international and out-of-state students," said Ward. The money these students pay, he said, goes into SF State's budget, "and all students can benefit from that."
But Ward said the most important benefit of attracting international students, who make up about 10 percent of the university's population, is "establishing a world community which better prepares U.S. and international students to work and live in the 21st century."
In addition to the International Community, the Graduate floor, the Freshman Year Experience floor, the Wellness floor and the African/Latino floor, all located in the residence halls, were introduced this semester. They join the already-established Personal Enrichment or "Adelante!" floor and the Women's floor.
Cumia said the International Community is now full. It has a waiting list of 10 students, with 150 more waiting for regular student housing. Before the semester began, there were 550 students on the waiting list, but many found accommodations on their own, he said.
The 10 rooms on the Guest Center's fourth floor are currently filled with students who still need housing. Cumia said they would be placed in housing by the end of October. At that time, the rooms will be made available to university guests for $32 per night.
Until the summer, when the International Community will revert back to guest rooms, small groups will be able to reserve the remaining 10 rooms while larger groups, according to Cumia, will need to find accommodations on their own.
[ Golden Gater - September 11, 1997 ]