University of Virginia Library

Understanding

The congeniality of the
coffee hour is impressive.
There was quite a crowd,
almost half of which were
Americans. As Mr. Clarke said,
"The club is edging a little but
probably is 50-50 in percentage
of American students." The
club now has over 140
members representing about 24
countries.

CD/Larry Mann

Hasmukh:

American Women Are "Rather Arrogant, But Very Exciting"

Many Americans come
simply because they are
interested in internationals.
"Usually I divide Americans
into two groups," observed
Club treasurer, Mehmet
Certoglu, "the ones that come
into contact with other
cultures and the ones that do
not. These(the former) are
more liberal...their angle is
wider. The Americans who
come to the club are liberal."
Mehmet is from Istanbul,
Turkey, and is studying
Electrical Engineering.

Club President Kemal
Goksel emphasized the open
membership of the group.
"Most Americans feel that the
Club is only for foreigners.
They're sort of reluctant to try
it."

To explain the purpose of
the International Club, Mr.
Clarke quoted their
constitution; "Our purpose is
to promote international
understanding and cooperation
between students and
non-students...to learn more
about other countries and
other ways of living," he
added smiling, "and to have a
good time."

"We are trying to direct
things in the cultural area,"
said Club Vice President
Beverly Whitlock. "We try to
get slides and presentations of
students here that are traveling.
We've had Mexico, we're going
to have Turkey, and some
other areas.

"Then as far as traveling we
try to get the students to see
some areas of the state," he

continued. "We try to get to
the mountains. We have gone
up to Big Meadows camping,
we've planned on going to
Cass, W.Va., and then we try to
go down to the outer banks of
N.C. in the summer. We try to
give them as much a view of
this area as cheaply as
possible."