Sixth in a six-part series examining ethnic and cultural groups of students at Boston University.
Boston University’s European student groups focus on cultural heritage rather than ethnicity, opening their doors to everyone and working to educate the BU community about European traditions, according to Italian Student Association Vice President Elizabeth Annino.
From Greeks to Poles to Italians, BU student groups cover the European map. The clubs, which cater to both students who are from Europe and those who are just interested in the continent’s culture and heritage, also include the Polish Society, the Russian Multicultural club and the Hellenic association.
Annino, a School of Hospitality Administration senior, said English is primarily spoken during meetings of the Italian Students Association, though the club has hosted Italian operas. The group is mixed, she said.
‘We do have quite a few students who are from Italy amongst our members,’ she said. ‘But most people are of other cultural backgrounds.’
According to the 2001-2002 BU Fact Book, native Europeans are the second largest group of international students, and more than 70 percent of all students at BU are of European descent.
SMG junior Lynsey Woods, who came to BU from Northern Ireland, said the university helped her to meet many of her friends during the international orientation.
‘We all bonded quite quickly because we were all a bit unsure and homesick,’ she said.
School of Management senior Daniel Sand, a student studying abroad from the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, said he enjoys Boston even though the city is quite different from his home.
BU Model United Nations President Alex Kayyal, a native of Switzerland, said she is glad international students have such a presence on campus.
‘I have very diverse friends,’ Kayyal said. ‘That’s one of the things I love about Boston University.’
Kayyal said BU Model United Nations members hail from almost 20 countries, both in Europe and around the world.
SMG senior Mette Jonasen, who also came to BU from the Copenhagen Business School, said the European community at BU seems small compared to other ethnicities. She said Asians and Latin Americans appear to be more visible on campus than Europeans.
Jonasen said she was drawn to Boston because of the city’s ‘European influence.’
‘The architecture and the history were things that I found appealing about Boston,’ she said.
But College of Arts and Sciences senior Athena Nomikos, a native of Greece, said not all European students feel completely at ease in Boston.
‘There are a lot of times that I feel I don’t fit in with Americans because of different cultural beliefs,’ she said. ‘A lot of my American friends said that they feel they understand me a lot better after watching ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”