New housing option fosters international atmosphere

Tech ' s on-campus housing will be going global with the introduction of the International Living and Learning Experience (ILLE), a new housing option starting in fall 2005.

The idea for a housing community with an international focus came from the combined efforts of Howard Rollins, Sheila Shulte and Amy Henry of the Office of International Education, Michael Fulford of the Department of Housing, and Kirk Bowman, an associate professor in the School of International Affairs.

" [ILLE] will hopefully [be] a dynamic space here on campus, " said Bowman, who will serve as its faculty advisor.

The goal of ILLE is to bring together a group of faculty and students - of both U.S. and international backgrounds - that are truly passionate about incorporating a more global outlook into education, culture, sports and other aspects of daily life.

" [Many students] envisioned [college as] this idealized world where they ' d have discussions late at night about ideas or about power or about religion or about culture, " Bowman said. " Then they come to a place like Georgia Tech, and often their idealized vision is not met by reality. "

Other campuses around the country have international houses. For example, the University of Chicago has an international house that, according to Bowman, is " a must stop-off-and-visit spot for seeing what ' s going on in the world, for meeting friends, for reading the Economist or watching a foreign film or tasting some foreign food or smelling some international teas. "

" We hope to create that kind of atmosphere here at Georgia Tech, " Bowman said.

As Tech ' s curriculum and programs incorporate an increasingly international emphasis - evidenced by the growth in study abroad programs, the recent international plan and the language houses, for example - Bowman said that creating an international house was a logical next step.

The community would be open to any interested student; no language experience would be necessary.

" [ILLE] is going to be one of those win-win experiences, where you have a great time and you ' re benefiting your earning potential down the road and the same time, " Bowman said. " It ' s almost like study abroad on campus but not as intense. "

ILLE residents could also take advantage of Atlanta, which has many international resources such as numerous business groups and consulates, the High Museum ' s international film festival and various tango and salsa clubs, to name a few.

ILLE residents would have the opportunity to participate in a variety of events put on by Bowman and others.

" There will always be some music going on, and we ' ll have international newspapers; we ' ll have film nights and culture nights, and we ' ll take salsa lessons and tango lessons, and we ' ll go to international film festivals in town; we ' ll have conversations with guest speakers, " he said.

Other activities will include occasional Sunday evening gatherings at Bowman ' s home for dinner and conversation.

ILLE Residents will be required to participate in a minimum of eight activities as part of their commitment to build the community.

However, " It ' s not like you have to read a book and there ' ll be a test, " Bowman said.

" These are fun activities, even though they might be intellectually invigorating, " he said.

The program will also have practical benefits for students as well.

" The best jobs and career paths are going to include overseas stints, and students who are not prepared to function well in international cultures and environments are not going to be the executives of tomorrow, whether they ' re a ' helluva engineer ' or not, " Bowman said.

Funding from the Office of the Provost and the Department of Housing means that ILLE participants will pay regular housing costs.

According to the Department of Housing, the community is tentatively scheduled to be housed in Harris Residence Hall next year, though Bowman hopes that they will be able to devote an entire dorm or house to the program in the long run.

They plan to start the first semester with only around 20 students. There are no language, major, year or GPA requirements, just a commitment to participate. Students also need to have applied for on-campus housing.

Applications are due March 16 and can be found at www.oie.gatech.edu/ille.html.