Stranger in a strange land: smaller populations of international students find community at SEMO
Alfredo “Aldo” Vandeling Mau is a junior studying public health. He is from Dili, Timor-Leste, a country in between Indonesia and Australia, and is the first and only student from this island represented at SEMO. Photo submitted by Alfredo “Aldo” Vandeling Mau
Elvis Maina is a senior studying mechanical manufacturing systems engineering. He is from Nairobi, Kenya, a country in East Africa, and is one of three Kenyan students/faculty represented at SEMO. Photo submitted by Elvis Maina
Marie Diagne is a junior studying psychology. She is from Dakar, Senegal, a country in West Africa, and is the only Senegalese student represented at SEMO. Photo submitted by Marie Diagne
Mohammed Osman is a senior completing his bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. He is from Sudan, a country in North Africa, and is one of three Sudanese students represented at SEMO. Photo submitted by Mohammed Osman
Take a trip to International Village on SEMO’s campus, and you will find students from all over the world, from India and Ukraine, China and Nepal, Russia and Japan. These countries are familiar to most Americans and have large populations of students attending SEMO. But some countries represented at SEMO are often overlooked.
It can be difficult to find a home away from home as an international student, but it is especially challenging when one has no one from their country to connect with in a foreign land. Alfredo “Aldo” Vandeling Mau, is from Dili, Timor-Leste, Elvis Maina, is from Nairobi, Kenya, Marie Diagne, is from Dakar, Senegal and Mohammed Osman, who lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia but is from Khartoum, Sudan. These are some of the students representing their home countries that have the smallest populations at SEMO. Meet each of these students and find out what it is like to come to Missouri with little to no community, thousands of miles away from home...
Share the space: Girl talk with international students
Tanatswa Musunda speaks about the book “Pussy: A Reclamation” to the ladies at International Women’s Day at International Village on Mar. 8. The women heard from Dr. Cugini, an OB/GYN who answered questions about womanhood and health. Photo by Olivia Tock
March is Women’s History Month, a time to encourage women and educate others about the important strides women have made throughout our world’s “her”story. But often, certain women and topics do not receive the same safe space as others.
On a college campus like SEMO, organizations host events to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. Many international female students’ voices are often dominated by domestic conversations. That is why Assistant Director of International Student Services Brooke DeArman created a safe and open platform for her diverse students to express their own experiences with womanhood...
Aluma Naughty: An artist and an art show
Kelly Spears appears in drag as Aluma Naughty. The 19-year-old performer began exploring drag after the COVID-19 pandemic started. Photo by Kaylie Davis
She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’s Miss Aluma Naughty — or Kelly Spears, if you're not at Independence Place.
Kelly Spears — not to be confused with Britney Spears — grew up in Cape Girardeau and went to high school in New Madrid, where he lives now. Despite only being 19, he is already an up-and-coming drag name in the area...
SEMO District Fair is full of food and fun for everyone
The iconic SEMO District Fair Ferris Wheel lights up the evening at Arena Park Sept. 15. Fair attendees enjoy the end of summer sunset as they wait in line for the rides. Photo by Olivia Tock
The smell of warm funnel cakes and juicy turkey legs filled the air as the SEMO District Fair took over the town this past week. People from across the region and even the world come to Cape Girardeau to enjoy an entire week of live music, agricultural activities, carnival rides and fair food.
From Sept. 11 through Sept. 18, the SEMO District Fair hosted countless events at Arena Park starting with the annual fair parade, which commemorated the lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attack on the 20th anniversary of the attack...
Holland College of Arts and Media awarded at gala season opening concert by special guest
The Southeast Symphony Orchestra performs a selection from “Carmen Suite No. 1” on Oct. 12 in Bedell Performance Hall, moments before the audience rewards them with a standing ovation. Dr. Vargas attends the performance after announcing the college’s award for excellence. Photo by Olivia Tock
If you did not attend the Symphony Orchestra concert last Tuesday night, you not only missed out on a narrative musical performance, but also a surprise visit from Dr. Vargas.
On Oct. 12, the SEMO Symphony Orchestra opened the Gala Season at River Campus with a concert featuring a rendition of the classic orchestral tone poem “Peter and the Wolf” and selections from other famous pieces like “Four Characteristic Waltzes” and “Carmen Suite.” Before the music began, University President Carlos Vargas took the stage to share some news...