Indian Ambassador Verma Visits CMU FORGE, CIRP Hold Talk on Refugees Caleb Glickman the Center for International & Chelsea Dickson Relations and Politics (CIRP)
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TechBridgeWorld creates Tartan women’s volleyball Artists come to Pittsburgh: sign language dictionary • A5 competes in invitational • A12 October music preview • B5 SCITECH SPORTS PILLBOX thetartan.org @thetartan September 28, 2015 Volume 110, Issue 5 Carnegie Mellon’s student newspaper since 1906 Indian Ambassador Verma visits CMU FORGE, CIRP hold talk on refugees CALEB GLICKMAN the Center for International & CHELSEA DICKSON Relations and Politics (CIRP). Staffwriters Senior decision science and public policy major, and co-president of FORGE Rosii As the Syrian Civil War Floreak explained the pur- rages on, Syrian refugees are pose of the event. “We re- looking anywhere to escape ally just wanted to get more the violence. awareness on campus,” Flo- One Syrian refugee fam- reak said. “We wanted to give ily fled from Aleppo to Iraq, people the opportunity to where, without adequate hu- learn more about the Syrian manitarian aid, they lacked and Iraq crises.” access to education, work, Since the Syrian Civil and even food and shelter. War began five years ago, 4 The family of fourteen was million people have fled the forced to live in an aban- country, 7.5 million are inter- doned construction lot beside nally displaced, and 12 mil- a major highway. lion still inside Syria rely on Senior Advocate for the humanitarian aid. Middle East at the D.C. non- According to Grisgraber, profit Refugees International only 1 percent of the millions Daryl Grisgraber encounters of refugees throughout the refugee families similar to world are resettled by the the one described. United Nations (UN) each Valene Mezmin/Junior Photographer From left to right: Carnegie Mellon Provost Farnam Jahanian, associate professor of international relations and political science Kiron Skinner, Indian Ambassador Richard Rahul Verma, and University President Subra Suresh and his wife Mary pose for a picture at Verma’s “Why India Matters” talk. “As the crisis becomes more and VALENE MEZMIN Indian-American population done in this area,” Verma said. report card. It reported five A’s more protracted, the ability to Staffwriter reflected at Carnegie Mellon. Verma stressed that edu- and one A−. earn a living and provide for Founded by Andrew Carnegie, cation is a vital part to the For the next three days he U.S. Ambassador to India a native of Scotland, Carn- immigrant story. was plagued with questions of their own basic needs is clear.” Richard Rahul Verma visited egie Mellon values the impor- For many immigrants, edu- concern from his parents over Carnegie Mellon University’s tance of diverse international cation is their motivation be- the dreaded A−. campus last Wednesday. contributions. hind leaving their homelands “ ‘What could have hap- The ambassador spoke Verma traces his roots just and undergoing the arduous pened? Was there a problem –Daryl Grisgraber about his personal connection up north; the ambassador task of starting over in a new with the teacher? Did you not Senior Advocate for the Middle East, to Pittsburgh and its Indian was born in Edmonton, Can- country. Because of this, many study?’ ” they asked. Refugees International community, the growing re- ada. His father taught Eng- immigrant children value “No matter where you lationship between America lish at the University of Pitts- education from an early age. come from, access to educa- and India, and how India will burgh, specializing in Indian Ambassador Verma reflect- tion can be the ladder that year. The UN High Commis- grow and thrive in the future. Literature. ed on his time growing up with helps you climb from one so- On Wednesday, Grisgra- sioner for Refugees deter- It was, in essence — “Why In- Verma knows the Pitts- his parents and grandmother, cial class to another and is ber met an eager 130 mem- mines who is a refugee and dia Matters.” The Indian pop- burgh area well and calls who were teachers. He invited the ultimate key to achieving bers of the Carnegie Mellon who can be resettled, yet of- ulation in America has been himself a lifelong Steelers fan. the audience to picture just the American dream,” Verma community at Baker Hall’s ficial refugee status is still no steadily increasing in recent When reflecting on his times how strongly the importance said, citing values already Steinberg Auditorium for her guarantee of safety. years. in western Pennsylvania, Am- of education was imposed on familiar to many Carnegie discussion “Refugees from Usually, being approved There are more than three bassador Verma described him at a young age. Mellon students. the Syrian Crisis: Reflections for resettlement as a refu- million Indian Americans in his family first arriving here “You can imagine growing Verma also talked about on the Changing Needs and gee requires a critical medi- the U.S. alone, and, accord- broke in a station wagon, but up in a house with two Indian the importance of personal the International Response.” cal condition, an unaccom- ing to University President still feeling welcomed with teachers as your parents,” connections — it is not only The event was hosted by panied minor, or a case of Subra Suresh, “This is the open arms. “I really do think Verma said. what you know, but who you the student organization Fa- torture. The process can be group with the highest family there is something special He then recounted a par- know. India and America cilitating Opportunities for income in the US.” about this area, and what im- ticular memory of him coming Refugee Growth and Em- The same increase in the migrants in particular have home in ninth grade with his See INDIA, A3 powerment (FORGE), and See REFUGEE, A3 ‘Taste of the Tartans’ event showcases campus vendors TORREY HART de Oro’s burrito bowls. Junior Staffwriter When asked about the event, Psychology Department One question prevails research assistant Mary Mac- throughout the hectic day of Whinney said, “I think that the average college student: they’ve outdone themselves, “What should I eat?” it’s so generous. I particularly Once a year, Carnegie Mel- like the mashed potatoes and lon Dining Services attempts meatloaf.” to answer this question. Chris Bovard from the Taste of the Tartans, an an- Carnegie Mellon PNC office nual event that showcases the told The Tartan, “I wish this dining options at Carnegie was everyday. Everything I’ve Mellon, occured on Tuesday, tried is great.” September 22. Vendors filled While students were eager Rangos Ballroom in the Uni- to try the free samples, some versity Center, prepared to of- expressed their concern with fer students and staff a taste of the dining system as a whole. what they’re all about. “I’m a sophomore and both Head of University Din- times I’ve gone the samples ing Services Pascal Petter de- have been better than the food scribed to The Tartan what we actually get for meals,” the event means to him: “It’s said sophomore biology major truly an opportunity to give Sandra Ho. the community the chance to The food offered at Taste try our services, and for us to of the Tartans was the best of showcase the diversity of the what the vendors have to offer, dining program.” which is not always available Indeed, the event was di- to students every day. verse. The 35 vendors in 14 However, not all students different buildings at Carnegie are disappointed in the eating Mellon include every type of accommodations on-campus. cuisine from Japanese to Med- Sophomore chemical engi- iterranean, with options for neering major Sarah Winget every possible dietary restric- noted that she “loves going to tion. Petter stressed that the Resnik, because they have so event is not just for students, Torrey Hart/Junior Photographer many different options.” The Taste of the Tartans event filled Rangos Ballroom with samples of every cuisine on campus: from warm baguettes to La Prima coffee. but also for the larger commu- “I just stumbled upon this nity of faculty and staff, many event and there is so much of whom eat the majority of students to keep up a healthy about nutrition, learn impor- the plate should be fruits and to get away from my regular food and variety, and it really their meals on campus. lifestyle if they so choose. tant facts, and receive prizes. vegetables, a quarter of the routine and try something showcases what we have on The university’s dining In addition to the food at- The advocates, also Carn- plate should be whole grains, new,” Bonnie Lack said, who campus,” first-year undeclared system is drastically different tractions, Carnegie Mellon’s egie Mellon students, were and the final quarter should be works in the Financial Aid De- Dietrich student Julia Adams than that of other schools. Peer Health Advocates made there to emphasize maintain- sources of high protein. partment. said. Instead of the typical dining an appearance at the event. ing a diet that supports the Students and staff alike en- Vendors offered samples Regardless of the reality of hall filled with soft-serve yo- Representatives from the or- many activities in which stu- joyed the event. “I’m absolute- of some of their most popular the CMU dining system, Taste gurt, pizza, and other tempt- ganization manned a trivia ta- dents participate. According to ly enjoying it and I do every items from La Prima cappuc- of the Tartans expressed the ing treats, the Carnegie Mel- ble where students could spin the Harvard School of Public year. I’m here [on-campus] all cinos to The Pomegranate’s University’s interest in student lon system makes it easy for a wheel to answer questions Health, for each meal, half of the time, and it can be difficult falafel sandwiches to El Gallo welfare.