GLBT office welcomes international students

For several years the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Support Services Center has housed specified support groups -- such as those for a particular gender or race -- for students to feel comfortable and make new friends.\nThe latest addition to these groups is a support group for international students which meets privately once a week.\n"There are cultures in the world in which the response (to homosexuals) is execution," said Doug Bauder, director of the GLBT office.\nSome international students come from countries where no tolerance for homosexuals exists, as in Morocco where homosexuality is illegal. Students from these countries might want to talk about how to deal with the issues of coming out, or simply how to adjust to American culture.\nGender and race specified support groups have been developed in response to students' needs, Bauder said.\n"Students are looking for a safe place to talk about issues," Bauder said.\nBauder said since the International Queers at IU support group dissolved, the GLBT office has been concerned with reaching out to international students. Bauder said the point of the specific groups, like race or gender specified groups, is not to segregate people, but to give another perspective for students with similar backgrounds.\nWhile other groups have been formed simply to socialize, Misha Mikhaylov, an intern in the GLBT Center, founded a social group for international students who are looking "to make friends."\nMikhaylov's group met for the first time last week. The idea came from his own experiences when he came to the United States two years ago. Mikhaylov, a Russian native, said he can relate to the international students who are looking for an informal way to get together and talk with other international students.\n"It's always important to make people not feel alone on campus," Mikhaylov said.\nMikhaylov said the support group, which does not have an official name yet, is interested in hanging out -- "like friends hang out." The group went to Encore Café last week, and Mikhaylov said it plans to have fun events like bowling and dancing. Once the weather changes again in the spring, Mikhaylov said he would like to go camping with the group.\n"Women and men relate to the world differently, and the world relates to women and men differently," Carol Fischer, assistant director of the GLBT SSS said. "Sometimes talking with peers is the safest and easiest way to deal with issues."\n-- Contact staff writer Ashley Lough at amlough@indiana.edu.