First Soviet Undergraduates Experience U.S. College Life Enjoying Choices, Less Homework, U.S
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Stuff it: Leave your things in Harrisonburg - , , -r : ;-^:; ••-..r-fiiiiTfyr;-;-; MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1989 JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY VOL. 66 NO. 52 First Soviet undergraduates experience U.S. college life Enjoying choices, less homework, U.S. music, friendly people By Kristin Fay And although the Garfield on their door says how they have to cook and take care of the house ... lifestyles editor otherwise, Violetta and Natasha arc enjoying life in . It's very easy to be a woman in America," Violetta They come to our country Irom a land of mystery. America. says. But if they are representative of their native soil, "You Americans are very friendly ... we feel Natasha adds, "In our country, guys tat) Americans can be sure the Soviet Union and its ourselves at home," Natasha says. Down the hall in Shorts, Katya Bclovsova and people are curious, beautiful and intelligent. Students in the Soviet Union start learning English Svcta Shchepctkova, both 18, admit they're Since February, JMU has been one of three at age 11, studying the language most seriously in college. Although verb tenses might be off American colleges to host seven Soviet students from See SOVIETS page 2 > the Leningrad Institute. During their stay, they have sometimes, these seven students speak to their new taken five courses, two in their education major, two American friends with ease, and only a slight, proper in American studies and one in English as a second English accent. language. Although comfortable in her room, the petite According to Dr. Elizabeth Neatrour, professor of blonde crosses her arms as if she's shivering and Russian and French, selecting two American studies voices her one small complaint about the cold courses from a list came as "surprises to them ... in showers in Shorts Hall. "It's a little bit windy," the Soviet Union they have no choice." Apparently, Natasha says. electives are not common in Leningrad. Her roommate, Violetta, also likes dorm life. "I Dorm life also is not a choice in Leningrad. But think it's very useful for students to be away from Violetta Pctrova, 20, and Natasha Volkova, 21, have home and to be . [she gels help from Natasha for had no trouble adjusting. A poster of Garfield bearing the right word] independent," she says. In Leningrad, the slogan "Bored in the USA" greets the Soviets' it takes Violetta 1-1/2 hours to get to the institute. friends in their third-floor room in Shorts Hall. It's now a five- to 10-minute walk to her classes at The inside is neat, with beds made and clothes JMU. folded, but sparsely decorated with a few pictures College students in the Soviet Union live with from magazines on the walls. A black JMU Fine their parents through college, until they're "married and have children," Violetta says. Arts Series pencil holder holds both an American and Staff photo by MARK MANOUKIAN a Soviet flag, adding a touch of home to each of their JMU women may disagree, but the Soviet women desks. are impressed with American men. "All of us like Nadya Kiriukhautseva City revokes right for political gathering in park meeting, Hardeman received a call from for demonstrations. He said the policy of the inhabitants of the city," By Wendy Warnn has been in use for at least 35 years. Soenksen said. news editor Cecil Gilkerson of Harrisonburg's parks and recreation department. According to Roger Socnsken, a Hardeman said, "Now that I think Members of the JMU chapter of the "He asked me what we had planned JMU professor who teaches about it, I think that the whole thing Rainbow Coalition were threatened for the day," Hardeman said. "I told communication law, the parks and was just a bluff, because basically he with arrest Tuesday if they held a him we had planned to just have a big recreation department's decision is not told me that there was no place in meeting with speeches in a meeting with people speaking and so necessarily illegal. Harrisonburg that we could hold such a Harrisonburg public park, according to forth. I explained to him that it wasn't Since the city has not allowed other meeting and [he told us) to go work it the president of the organization. really a rally, that we didn't want to groups to use the park, the Rainbow out on campus. Chris Hardeman said the group incite the people to go out and do Coalition doesn't have a viable legal "We (originally) decided that we'd go wanted to hold a Student Unity Day, anything, we were just trying to complaint, Soenksen said. "At least ahead and continue with our plans, which they had planned since the possibly inform them. [the city has) been consistent." because we felt that he really had no beginning of the year, on April 19. "Then he told me that political However, parks and recreation right to actually prevent us from doing The group asked permission to use rallies and gatherings were illegal," department's policy is unwritten, and this. We fell at the time that it would Harrisonburg's Purcell Park, located Hardeman said. "He said that if we so is legally weak, he said. In fact, he be worth being arrested," he said. one-half mile south of the JMU were to gather in the park and speak .. said the decision might be "They were really deciding what campus, about two weeks before the . we would be arrested." unconstitutional simply because the should go on in the city and what meeting was to be held, Hardeman According to Gilkerson, the city has policy is unwritten. could occur," Hardeman said. "It was said. an unwritten policy that prohibits the "They have not allowed discussion their own type of censorship." But on April 18, the day before the use of city parks by political groups and debate [on the policy) on the part See RAINBOW page 2 v Page 2, The Breeze, Monday, April 24, 1989 Soviets ► (Continued from page 1) becoming "lazy" in America. Although busy making new friends, visiting JMU students' homes around Virginia, and writing letters home, Katya says she doesn't have a lot of homework. She does say, however, "American students have lots of parties. But I don't like some of them. There are a lot of beer and smoke." Both believe their group of students has helped make relations between the Soviet Union and the United States stronger. "I think the people from both countries need to know each other more and I think Soviet/American relations have to continue," Katya says. Loyalty to their native land is strong, though. "We support Gorbachev's government," Katya says. A brown paper bear with "Welcome Friends" on his chest greets visitors to Olga Lozgacheva's and Nadya Kiriukhautseva's room on the second floor of Shorts. Staff photo by MARK MANOUKIAN Magazine pictures also decorate their room, although The flags decorate Violetta and Natsha's room, with the Soviet flag adding a touch of home. Olga has a different touch to her desk — a Busch beer can holding a flower. "People are people." and a plaid shirt, with her dark hair pulled back in Nadya's favorite place in America so far is Bedford, She says she can't judge Americans yet because she two barrettes, the married woman tells of how where she spent her spring break at a friend's house. hasn't seen America "as a whole .. JMU may be a surprised she was when she went to an American She says, "I don't like big cities," reasoning that it's part of paradise." wedding over Spring Break. because she's from one — Leningrad. "I'm happy I was born in Russia. It's my In the Soviet Union, the marriage ceremony lasts Not liking big cities could pose a problem for Olga motherland I'm proud of my city." two days. The first day includes registration, a short when the seven Soviet students take a 10-day tour to Both women hope the Soviet/American student — usually two-hour — sightseeing trip for the new Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City exchange will continue. "Time will tell. Nobody couple, and a reception for all relatives and friends before returning to Leningrad May 29. knows what may happen. History is like waves," afterward. A second reception for "only the young Although looking forward to their return trip, Olga says. people" is held on the second day. Nadya says, "I'm not homesick . yet." American Nadya adds, "I like Gorbachev and as for me, I'm Helen's husband currently is helping to rebuild music is one good reason to stay. Nadya's favorite here because of Gorbachev," explaining that she Armenia after an earthquake destroyed the city in group is Pink Floyd. Olga's favorites include Billy believes several years ago, a trip like this wasn't December. Joel, The Beatles, Roy Orbison andVPhil Collins. possible. With regard to studying, Helen says, "We don't With a frown, Nadya says shell miss the American Helen Vdovina, 28, thinks "the USA is one of the have as much free time; studying in the Soviet Union people in general. The frown becomes a smile. "The best countries in the world. I think American people, is very difficult." faces of everybody are happy, with big smilings." especially students, are very friendly, very One plus for Soviet college students, though, is She says the people are happy in Leningrad, also, hospitality, very pretty." that if they remain "successful" in their studies, the "but not so often." state pays for their education.