The Oklahoma State University campus has many international graduate students from a multitude of countries. Some have had problems stemming from their backgrounds as international students.
The United States government shares information which concerns possible arms development with a select group of nations. The ban on the export of information is not simply limited to governmental activities in direct dealing with other nations, but it also spills into the arena of education. Many graduate students from one of those countries not receiving U.S. arms information may find a block on the permissibility of their learning.
This could be a problem for many international graduate students on the campus of Oklahoma State University.
“As long as information is in the public domain, it doesn’t affect graduate students in the classroom,” said Kay Ellis, manager of University Research Services.
“I would definitely get mad [if my research were hindered],” said Prateek Kothari, who is pursuing his Masters in Business Administration. “One of my friends was a Ph.D. student in organic chemistry working on his thesis, which was in terms of a chemical compound used in warfare. Because he was an international student he had some complications about his papers being processed and published.”
Kothari said he believes that once international students have completed their education, they may have difficulties finding jobs. He said he has observed that many companies are reluctant to hire people of international backgrounds.
Other international students such as Ambika Nair, who is working toward a Masters of international business, can sympathize with the U.S. government’s point of view but is not convinced of its justice.
“I can see why [sharing of information with foreign countries] would be an issue,” Nair said, “but here is a large generalization and sweeping ban.”
She said she believes that currently people of entire nations are presumed guilty until proven innocent.
“It’s understandable,” Nair said. “But it’s still kind of sad.”
The Export Administration Regulation and the International Traffic in Arms Regulation only affect graduate students when doing research is involved, and even then, the EAR-ITAR only affects graduate students from certain foreign countries, Ellis said.
Other official programs are focused on international students.
According to the Immigration and Naturalization Service Web site, “Student and Exchange Visitor Information System provides tracking, monitoring and access to accurate and current information on non-immigrant, someone admitted to the U.S. temporarily for a specific purpose, students (F and M visa) and exchange visitors (J visa).
“SEVIS enables schools and program sponsors to transmit electronic information and event notifications via the Internet to the INS and the Department of State throughout a student or exchange visitor’s stay in the United States.”
Some of the departments on campus that host foreign graduate students where information gained might pose a threat to national security could run into the dilemma of what to teach or not teach their graduate students.
According to the University Research Services Web site,”Export is defined [under EAR-ITAR] so as to preclude the participation of foreign graduate students in research that involves covered technology without first obtaining license from the appropriate government agency.”
Jannah Zubaidi can be reached via e-mail at news@ocolly.com
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