4

CAMPUS

The Norwich Guidon
October 16, 2003

New policy mandates all NU international students register with Homeland Security Dept.

By Shauna Rustici
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

In an effort to lower the risk of terrorist attacks, a national policy was put into effect on Aug. 1, 2003 which requires all international students to register with Homeland Security before they can attend a university or college in the United States.

In a presidential directive to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Attorney General John Ashcroft in October 2001, George W. Bush stated that the goal of the policy was to "prohibit the education and training of foreign nationals who would use their training to harm the United States and its allies."

But Norwich international student advisor Jenifer Hasenfus pointed out that the new policy "is not so much a new policy as an enforcement of the old rules." Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is simply one more step to getting a student visa, a process that has been in place for years, Hausenfus explained.

The procedure now involves a more extensive background check, including that of relatives. The policy has also updated the old procedures to make them more efficient.

"It makes my job easier," Hasenfus said.

The recent changes have allowed the paperwork for the new I-20 forms to be completed online with the use of software sent to the prospective student by Norwich University.

This new technology allows the information to be readily accessible to all parties concerned so the INS can keep track of each student's status.

Should students violate the terms of their visas, they are deported immediately. Students mostly agree that having a computer database is "good, so that if it gets lost, they have it in the system," said Shehani Fernando, 23, a fifth-year architecture major from Sri Lanka.

The other noticeable change affects only students and visitors from countries known to support terrorism. These students must now check in and out of the country, leaving a photograph and fingerprints at the border.

According to Eva Ortez, 22, a fifth-year architecture major from Croatia, most international students are not negatively affected by the policy, but they are more aware that they need to register each semester.

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.