New Global Village brings diversity to Foster Quad

On Move-In Day, the residence halls open their doors and give a hearty "Welcome" to their residents. One community not only wished their residents "Welcome," but "Willkommen," "Bienvenue" and a host of other international greetings.\nThe Global Village Living-Learning Center, a thematic community dedicated to international interests, kicked off its inaugural year in August. \nVillage director Herb Terry said that there are currently 53 students living in the Village, which is located on the first two floors of Foster-Martin.\n"We have a group with the right mix of homogeneity, because they all have international interests," Terry said, "but they are also diverse, because their interests vary a lot within that."\nLike Collins Living-Learning Center, students in the Village all have to take courses within the community. Terry said the Q150 class that all Village residents must take is where much of the initial community planning will take place, including the writing of the Village's first constitution. \nIn addition, Village Assistant Director Steve McGuire said residents will have a major part in planning activities throughout the year.\n"We are surveying what the students want to participate in, and they will form committees to plan events," McGuire said. "It's a joint effort now between residents and staff, but the residents will eventually be the leaders."\nMcGuire said students chose to live in the community for a variety of reasons. Some are majoring in international studies or in various foreign languages. \nJunior Courtney Franklin, who is also one of the resident assistants in the Village, wanted to share her international experiences with her residents.\n"I studied abroad in the Netherlands last year," Franklin said. "I hope that by being in the Village, I can help others to decide to study abroad."\nOthers, like junior Vic Grossi, wanted to bring an international focus to what they were already studying.\n"It's a great opportunity," Grossi said. "I am in the Business School, and I thought it would help me focus on international business, which I am very interested in."\nFranklin has noticed students in the Village seem to be more focused than students elsewhere on campus.\n"They became close much more quickly than on other floors," Franklin said. "They hang out with each other regularly and take it upon themselves to plan fun things."\nGrossi is excited about the possibilities the first year brings.\n"Since we are the first people to live in the Village, I am really looking forward to building the community," said Grossi. "Once we start getting involved in international programs and hosting our own activities, I hope we can become a strong presence on campus."\nGaining campus attention is important to the community, which will eventually be home to 150 students.\n"We are mostly made up of freshmen now," McGuire said. "We'd like to have a more diverse age range, as well as become a more attractive option for study abroad students. We are here, and we have a lot to offer to students."\nFor more information on the Global Village LLC or how to apply, visit www.indiana.edu/~college/global/.\n-- Contact staff writer Jorie Slodki at jslodki@indiana.edu.