IU to track foreign students electronically

Thousands of foreign students studying in the U.S. or trying to enter U.S. institutions of higher learning are now being tracked electronically. The same will happen at IU sometime before Jan. 30, thanks to the Immigration and Naturalization Services new system to prevent terrorism.\n"These changes are still proposals; nothing new is really in effect yet (at IU)," Jennifer Bowen, a foreign student advisor for the Office of international services, said. \nBowen said the names of foreign students are tracked in two ways: one for smaller numbers and batch tracking for larger numbers of students. Bowen said IU hasn't begun use of the batch tracking system because as of last fall, IU had 3,049 international students and entering student names by hand just isn't realistic.\nThis new Internet-driven system is replacing the old, paper method, Bowen said.\n"There may be new forms of border registration that might include photographing and finger printing," she said.\nLynn Schoch, the associate director for administration of the Office of International Services, said the new system is getting more support along with recent national and international events\n"The electronic tracking system for international students was voted on in September of 1996. What 9/11 has done is hasten the need and desire for implementation of the system," he said. \nLaw and policy that were previously on the books regarding student tracking are being more stringently applied. \n"When changes occur, there are a lot of unintended consequences. However, if the changes are done right, positive things can come out of this," Schoch said. "The challenge is to produce relevant information without punishing innocent people."\nUniversity officials around the country were worried that in the wake of September's events there would be a drop in the number of foreign students entering American institutions of higher learning. Schoch said he isn't sure if that will ring true or not. \n"I don't expect a drop, but I will be looking to see what happens," Schoch said.\nThe first real indicator of the effects of 9/11 on international matriculation at IU will not be felt until August. But a significant drop in the number of international students entering IU's student body is not expected. There was no drop in the number of incoming international students in the spring semester at IU.\n"The big question is who is going to show up to classes on the first day," Bowen said.\nDespite the recent requests for implementing the new system, it is still under scrutiny. \n"I think there is an overall trend for the stigmatizing of non-citizens, presuming they are suspicious with no clear evidence that they are so," American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee spokesperson Hussein Adish said. "The new policies will not achieve anything for security of this country."\nBut Schoch and Bowen said, in the end, the extra work will hopefully pay off, benefitting all students.\n"People are more aware of international students. There was an initial backlash, but now college communities around the country are rallying around their international students," Schoch said.