Message from the ISO - The Tragedy in Japan

Dear Members of our Community,

The staff of the International Studies Office along with our colleagues across the University are saddened at the destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunamis in Japan. We hope that any family and friends you may have in the affected areas were not hurt and are now safe.

The earthquake and tsunamis are traumatic events. Please know that there are resources at the University for you.

Office of the Dean of Students: 434-924-7133

Dean on Call: 434-243-3326 (cell)

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on Call: 434-243-5150 (day); 434-972-7004 (night)

International Student and Scholar Advisor: 434-981-6505

NAFSA: Association of International Educators shared this tool with members earlier today: Google People Finder: http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/ I provide the link in case it may be of use to you.

The people of Japan are in our thoughts and prayers as are all of you. Please contact us if we can be of assistance to you.

Sincerely,

Dudley Doane & the Staff of the International Studies Office

New Suite of Free Seminars to Teach How to Better 'Cross Cultures'

New seminars co-sponsored by your ISO:

The first seminar is "An Introduction to Cross-Cultural Miscommunication" and begins April 4. Organizers call it a "crash course in semiotic theories of language and how they change the way we understand what happens when communication and, above all, miscommunication between people occurs."

The second seminar, "Cultural Stereotypes, Generalizations, and Particulars," begins April 18. It tackles the thorny issue of stereotypes and generalizations and introduces the analytic skill of suspension of judgment.

The final seminar, “Self, Person, and Identity in Cross-Cultural Relation," starting May 16, introduces theories of how the experience of cultural difference can transform a person and their sense of self, identity and their role in the world.

The seminars are being led by graduate and post-doctoral anthropology students.

Registration opened in late February. "Students can register for as many of the seminars as they would like," project coordinator Catarina Krizancic said. The maximum enrollment for each session is 100 people. Both graduate and undergraduates are welcome to register here. Participants are asked to commit to one 90-minute lecture and an hour-long discussion session for each topic.

The International Studies Office partnered with the Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts & Sciences and the interdisciplinary Global Development Studies program to design the seminars.

The spring series is a pilot and organizers hope to make the offering permanent as a one-credit course.