New international students at the University of Iowa are going through orientation this week and in the post-9/11 world, it’s a much more tedious process than ever before. Diana Davies, director of the U-of-I’s International Programs, says international students are checking in, meeting with their advisors, having their documents reviewed, and having forms signed so they can register for courses, apply for Social Security numbers and other things they need to do to get settled here. Davies says about 400international students representing about 100 countries will attend the Iowa City institution this fall, most of whom are graduate students. She says in the 11-plus months since the terrorist attacks, the federal government has made it much more difficult for foreign students to come to the U-S. Despite the numerous changes, Davies says this year’s amount of visiting students is unchanged from last year. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has made changes in various rules that carry what she says are “serious” consequences for students who ignore them. She says proposed legislation would mean students could face fines, prison time or deportation if theydon’t willfully report changes of address. Davies says most of this year’s international students are from China and India. As part of the orientation activities, they’ll be taken on tours of the main library and computer center, and will even attend a picnic in the park and an evening hoe-down.
