Thursday, January 22, 2015

1/22/15 Digest

January 15, 2015
Office of International Students and Scholars
Weekly Digest


Important Announcements
รจ NOTICE: MANDATORY MAKE-UP ORIENTATION SESSIONS

If you were not able to attend the mandatory new international student orientation, you must attend one of the two make-up sessions next week.

J-1 Exchange Students: Monday, January 26        12:00- 1:00
F-1 Students: Tuesday, January 27                           12:00- 1:00

Both sessions will be held in the conference room in the OISS office, 6901 Willow Street and LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED.


The Orientation website http://global.tulane.edu/oiss/orientation has been updated with all of the presentations from the various presenters.  We hope you will use this as a resource.
Required New-Student OISS Check-In
Please remember to check in with OISS.
You must have the following documents in order to check in.
Everyone
Additional for F-1 Students:
Additional for J-1 Students:
·         Passport        
·         Printout of electronic I-94 (You must go to this website and print it out: http://cbp.gov/i94)

·         Original I-20 (If you are a transfer, please bring your I-20 from your former school as well.)
·         Signed green page from F-1 information packet
·         Original DS-2019
·         Signed blue page from J-1 information packet






Optional Practical Training (OPT) Application
OPT is a benefit available to all students who have been in F-1 status for at least one academic year. OPT allows you to work in your field of study for up to 12 months (27 months for certain STEM fields).

OPT WORKSHOPS:
February 3 -Downtown Campus, 12–1pm, 1708 – Tidewater Building
February 4 – Uptown Campus, time and location TBA (to be announced)

If you were unable to attend the law firm of Ware|Gasparian sessions in the fall, the PowerPoint presentations are available here:
            Permanent Residence Overview for Academia (CLICK HERE)
            Post-Graduation Employment Options (CLICK HERE)





Tulane Shuttles
During the month of January, International students and scholars and their dependents may ride the Tulane University Shuttles without a Splash card.  Starting in February, all Tulane students and scholars should show their Splash card in order to ride the shuttle.

International students and scholars on F-1, J-1, H-1B visas may take their dependent F-2,J-2, H-4 spouses to get shuttle ID cards so that they may ride the shuttle.
·         Beginning in January 24 the Tulane student or scholar should accompany the spouse to:
1440 Canal Street Room 802
9:00- 12:00 and 1:00- 4:00

·         The Principal should bring: Splash card, I-20/ DS-2019 and passport
·         The Dependent should bring: I-201/ DS-2019 and Passport
·         If any documents are missing, no Shuttle ID will be issued.
International Dependents will be allowed to ride the Shuttle without this ID for the Month of
January.
EVENTS


OISS EVENTS


Downtown Welcome Back Lunch!
Tuesday January 27th, 12-1PM Tidewater, Room 1708

Stop by and enjoy a quick and easy lunch with OISS!  
Weekly Coffee Hour
Come celebrate the end of the week with other students, scholars, and the OISS Staff!
WHEN: Friday, January 23 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
WHERE: LBC (Bldg 29)  Stibbs Room (# 203), Uptown

New Orleans Pelicans Game
WHEN: February 2nd, 7PM
COST: $15 per person (plus online ticket processing fee).
If you would like to come on the trip with dependents, please sign up in person at OISS and pay with check or cash.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS CLICK HERE. SALES END JANUARY 29TH at 11:59PM. Please read all instructions carefully.
Bus Information:
Uptown: Will begin loading on Freret Street by the Library at 5:45 p.m. and bus will leave at 6:00.
Downtown: Will arrive at Deming at 6:15 p.m. and will load and leave for game immediately.

Destrehan Plantation Tour
Sign up now for our annual Plantation Tour!
Date: Saturday, January 31.
Cost: $20. This includes transportation, a guided tour of the plantation and a boxed lunch.
Sign-Up: Individuals interested in the event, click here to sign up and pay for your space with a credit card. If you would like to come on the trip with dependents, please sign up in person at OISS and pay with check or cash.
Registration begins today. Please sign up early to reserve a seat! We will not be able to accept any registrations after Friday, January 23 at 5:00 p.m.

Transportation
Downtown Campus:  9:30 a.m. outside Deming Pavilion
Uptown Campus:  10:00 a.m. on Freret St outside the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library
We will arrive at the Destrehan Plantation around 11:00 a.m. The tour will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will last approximately 70 minutes. We will then have a picnic lunch before heading back to New Orleans. Expected return time is 3:00 p.m.

TULANE AND LOCAL EVENTS
MLK Week for Peace
January 19th-January 29th: MLK Week for Peace, is a weeklong celebration of the life and legacy of the late civil rights activist, students from Loyola University New Orleans, Dillard University, Tulane University and Xavier University, will have a "Day On, Not Off," with more than 800 students  spending the national Martin Luther King Jr. holiday giving back to their communities through various service projects. Students may pre-register by visiting the MLK Week for Peace website. On January 20th  begins a four-day series of free, public events put together by the consortium of four local universities. For registration details and locations please click here.

King Cake Festival 2015

Sunday, January 25, 2015. 11:00am-6:00pm. Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Ochsner presents the second annual King Cake Festival – a celebration benefitting babies and children at Ochsner. Spend the day strolling Champions Square and sampling New Orleans’ finest King Cakes from the city’s greatest bakers. For more information, check it out  HERE.

Magician Peter Boie
Saturday, January 24, 2015. 8:00pm-10:00pm. Lavin-Bernick Center (LBC), Kendall-Cram Lecture Hall.
TUCP presents Magician Peter Boie: the most entertaining, astonishing, and funny magic show touring the country.

Shen Yun
Friday, January 30, 2015. 8:00pm AND Saturday, January 31, 2015. 2:00pm. Mahlia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts.
Through the universal language of music and dance, Shen Yun weaves a wondrous tapestry of heavenly realms, ancient legends, and modern heroic tales, taking you on a journey through 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Its stunning beauty and tremendous energy leave audiences uplifted and inspired. Learn more about Shen Yun HERE or buy tickets online HERE.


TEDxTU

Thursday, February 5, 2015. 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Dixon Hall.
Now in its fifth year of operation, TEDxTU will present a two-hour stage program featuring TED –style talks and TED videos. Speakers will include some of New Orleans’s most active innovators, from entrpreneurs to educators, and public service professionals to students. This year’s theme is “Create Tomorrow.” TEDxTU is sold out each year, so please reserve your tickets today by clicking HERE.


N’Kafu Traditional African Dance Company
Community/family-oriented dance classes are hosted every Friday at The Studio, 1520 N. Claiborne St, 70116. All dance levels and genders are encouraged. The classes are scheduled from 7:00 – 8:30 for only $10 per class or $35 monthly. Please click here for more information.                                                            
International Food and Music Festival - March 14, 2015
The Office of International Students and Scholars and the Office of Multicultural Affairs are pleased to announce the return of the annual International Food and Music Festival! This festival is meant to bring Tulane’s international community together and showcase your food and culture to the Tulane and New Orleans community. International students and scholars bring so much life and diversity to Tulane and this festival is a great opportunity to come together and celebrate your contribution! Please consider bringing cultural items, cooking, volunteering, or performing for this event. Sign up HERE.
News and Other Announcements 

News Article and Interesting Reads

White House Focuses on Study Abroad and Global Citizenship at Travel Bloggers Summit

Honor Excellence in International Education – NAFSA National Awards for Leadership

Undergrads Find Mentors in Alumni


Mental Health and Mindfulness Resources

Explore resources for mental well-being now:
STAFF 


Ainsley Fagan
Student Affairs Associate

Belinda Schneider
F-1 Students

Beth Nazar
J-1 Students and Scholars

Nancy Lauland
H-1B Employees

Evan Kirk
Operations Assistant

Kristy Magner
OISS Director


Classified Spotlight


Looking for a new place to live? Check out these newly available locations!



Please refer to the linked flyers for more details. Check out the classifieds link at the bottom of the digest for more!
                                   
On Going Weekly Events


Downtown hours

Location:  Tidewater Building, Room 2460
Time:  1:00- 4:00
Dates:   1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 2/28

If you need documents or mail brought from OISS, please email or call us before 10:00 am that day.

Coffee Hours
Uptown coffee hours will now be held weekly (Fridays 3-5PM). Please check this section of the digest for the most up-to-date information.

January Coffee Hours
January 23 – Coffee Hour, LBC, Stibbs #203
January 30 – OISS Office - 6901 Willow

Prayer Space (Downtown)
Tidewater Building (Downtown Campus) has allocated # 1819 from 1-3 pm on all weekdays as quiet prayer space for students of all religious denominations.

Check the digest weekly for more updates about times and locations.
                           
                               
Mardi Gras Series


Each week leading until Mardi Gras, OISS will feature tips and facts about the Carnival Season
              
LEARN YOUR MARDI GRAS LINGO!

Ball (bal masque, tableau ball) –
A masked ball in which scenes representing a specific theme are enacted for the entertainment of the club members and their guests; krewe “royalty” is traditionally presented during the ball.
Boeuf Gras (French) –
The fatted bull or ox, the ancient symbol of the last meat eaten before the Lenten season of fasting; a live version was presented in the Rex parade until 1909; a paper mache version appeared in 1959 and continues as one of Carnival’s most recognizable symbols.
Captain –
The absolute leader of each Carnival organization
Carnival –
From the Latin carnival, loosely translated as “farewell to flesh”; the season of merriment in New Orleans which begins annually on January 6, the Twelfth Night, and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday; the Carnival season leads up to the penitential season of Lent in which fasting replaces feasting.
Doubloons –
Aluminum coin-like objects bearing the krewe’s insignia on one side and the parade’s theme on the reverse; first introduced by Rex in 1960 and created by New Orleans artist H. Alvin Sharpe; doubloons are also minted and sold in .999 silver, bronze, and cloisonne’.
Favor –
A souvenir, given by krewe members to friends attending the ball, normally bearing the organization’s insignia, name, and year of issue.
Flambeaux (plural) –
Naphtha-fueled torches, traditionally carried by white-robed black men; in the past century, flambeaux provided the only source of nighttime parade illumination.
Mardi Gras Indians – 
Groups of black men in New Orleans who portray American Indians and are magnificently outfitted with handmade beaded and feathered costumes; this Carnival custom dates to the mid-19th century among the more renowned tribes are the Wild Tchopitoulas, the Yellow Pocahontas, and the Wild Magnolia.            

Mission Statement

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The mission of the Office of International Students and Scholars is to provide leadership in the internationalization of Tulane University by supporting the Tulane international community and facilitating cross-cultural interaction. By way of support, OISS offers quality programs and services and ensures compliance with federal immigration regulations.

Our strong belief is that a vibrant international community enriches Tulane University and the New Orleans community and is an essential component to understanding our role within the global community.





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Weekly Fact: In 1986, beignets were named the Louisiana State Donut

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