Foreign relations 101

It looks like the universities in Indiana are getting more and more bland. This year, for the first time ever, IU's foreign student enrollment dropped. Foreign student enrollment at Purdue fell this year for the first time in more than 30 years.\nAt IU, we value diversity, right? We value it because it properly prepares students for the real world, which is diverse. We value it because a healthy community should be diverse. We all agree that a diverse campus is a happy campus.\nBut there are a lot of ways a community can be diverse.\nPresident Adam Herbert testified Oct. 6 in front of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He told the committee that foreign students improve the quality of IU's education and that the students often develop an appreciation for the American way of life.\nWe don't often say it, especially in staff editorials, but "'Atta boy, President Herbert, good job, thumbs up." \nSince IU's administration already knows what's up, we just need to convince the U.S. government. \nOur suggestion? Loosen up the regulations. It's getting way too hard for foreign students to study in the United States, and making the computer systems (SEVIS, VISIT) easier to navigate isn't going to make terrorists think, "Ah, look, a Welcome mat." It can take students weeks, even months, for a student visa to be processed. Yes, we know some of those involved in the 9-11 attacks were here on expired student visas. But that was Sept. 11, 2001. This is October 2004. It's been three years. The system is still hopelessly bugged-up, and now people are starting to stay home. Kudos to Big Brother for trying to keep us safe, but don't these statistics bother anyone but us?\nMany of today's visiting foreign students will be tomorrow's foreign leaders. There's a lot at stake here -- more than just today's diverse community. Let's get our act together and re-establish our reputation as the country with open arms.