February 9th, 1999
Phone: 601.232.7404
Fax: 601.232.7486
Email: ipdept@olemiss.edu
online edition edited by Brian O'Flynn
The bad weather last month left many international students confused about what to do if a tornado struck. Today we provide you with some important information. Study it. Remember it. Tornadoes can be very dangerous and warnings and watches should not be taken lightly. But do not be alarmed. The National Weather Service reports that about 100 people are killed by tornadoes in the entire USA every year. You will probably never see a tornado. But it is always good to know what to do...In this issue...
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Gerald Holland Insurance Company has generously agreed to refund the remaining summer premium for students graduating in May AND leaving the country.
You must fill out a form available in the Office of International Programs.
To complete the form you must know the actual date you are departing the
United States. Forms should be completed and returned to me no later
than May 10, 1999.
A) Please be mindful of the expiration date on your I-20. If you are not going to graduate by the time your I-20 is due to expire, you must apply for an extension. Please contact Jean Robinson (jcrobins@olemiss.edu) 30 days PRIOR to the expiration date on your I-20 to begin the extension process. You will need to present a letter from your academic advisor which states the reason you have not graduated in time and gives a new graduation date. You will also need to complete a new Affidavit of Support form.
B) Remember that the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) requires that students in F-1 and J-1 visa status be enrolled full-time every semester. The University of Mississippi defines full-time enrollment as at least 12 hours for undergraduates and 9 hours for graduates. The only exceptions to this rule are if 1) it is the student's last semester prior to graduation and he/she only needs "x" number of hours to complete degree requirements; or 2) the student has a medical condition for necessitates less than full-time enrollment. BOTH these situations require written notification (from the student's academic advisor in the case of #1) (or the student's physician in the case of #2), PRIOR to enrolling for less than full-time. Written notification should be presented to the Office of International Programs.
C) Optional Practical Training may be applied for up to 4 months before graduation and 2 months after graduating. May graduates who are interested in Practical Training should come to the Office of International Programs, get the handout and watch the video, then contact Jason Borders (cborders@olemiss.edu), or Tanja Owen (tanja@olemiss.edu) to make an appointment for processing the application.
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| A tornado is a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. It is often generated by a thunderstorm and produced when cool air overrides a layer of warm air, forcing the warm air to rise rapidly. The damage from a tornado is a result of the high wind speed and debris. Tornado season is generally March through August, although tornadoes can occur at any time of year. They tend to occur in the afternoons and evenings: over 80 percent of all tornadoes strike between noon and midnight. |
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| A tornado watch is issued by the National Weather Service when tornadoes
are possible in your areabut no tornado has been spotted. Remain alert
for approaching storms. This is time to remind family members where the
safest places within your home are located, and listen to the radio or
television for further developments.
A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has actually been sighted in your area or indicated by weather radar.. Typically, tornado warnings are issued for a town or a county for a specific period of time. For example, you may hear that a tornado warning has been issued for Lafayette County from 8:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. |
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| # An approaching cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado
even if a funnel is not visible.
# Before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become very still. # Tornadoes generally occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm.
It is not uncommon to see
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| # If you are at home...
Go at once to the basement, storm cellar, or the
lowest level of the building. If there is no
# If you are at work or on campus... Go to the basement or to an inside hallway at the lowest
level. Avoid places with wide-span
# If you are outdoors... If possible, get inside a building. If shelter is not available
or there is no time to get indoors, lie
# If you are in a car... Never try to outdrive a tornado in a car or truck. Tornadoes
can change direction quickly and
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| Help injured or trapped persons. Give first aid when appropriate. Don't
try to move the seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger of
further injury. Call for help.
Turn on radio or television to get the latest emergency information. Stay out of damaged buildings. Return home only when authorities say it is safe. Use the telephone only for emergency calls. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, or gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the buildings if you smell gas or chemical fumes. (Some of the above has been adapted from information
provided by FEMA)
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| The Board of Aldermen discussed
a remedy for emergency systems for the City of Oxford at their regular
biweekly meeting. After storms ripped through Oxford and North Mississippi
on January 22 and 23, a growing concern has developed with the residents
of both the local community and the university over the lack of an effective
warning device.
Oxford Police Chief Steve Bramlett and Fire Chief Jerry Johnson submitted a proposal to the Board of Aldermen for the order of a survey to find out how many sirens would be needed to cover the entire city. Oxford is approximately nine miles across north to south and eight and a half miles across east to west. Bramlett speculated that four sirens will probably be needed. Currently, one siren is working within the city limits. In his proposal which passed with no opposition, Bramlett mentioned that the siren is at the lightpole outside of City Hall, but that it could only be a "band-aid" for the city's emergencies for the time-being. Bramlett said that he wants to test it weekly to find out its range. "We want to start testing every Friday," Bramlett said. "We didn't test this past Friday because of the inclement weather, and we didn't want to scare anyone." Bramlett mentioned that the university would be installing a siren in the very near future that would cover part of Oxford until the city constructs several more sirens. Associate Director of the Physical Plant Jerry Kahler said that the university has already gained approval with Chancellor Robert Khayat's signature for a new siren. "The chancellor declared an emergency," Kahler said. "We were able to circumvent the normal procedure and order the new siren. It should be here in two weeks." Kahler mentioned that the siren is rather heavy and will likely be placed on top of the library as a first option. The second option is that the siren be placed in the football stadium. The siren must be high above the ground, but it also must be protected from the elements. With the generators that provide backup power at the library and the stadium, the siren would still be functional in the event of a power loss. For that reason, the siren will definitely not be placed on the water tower near Kinard Hall. |
Responding to the Asian economic crisis, the Institute of International Education is launching the Asian Students in America - Higher Education Loan Program (ASIA-HELP) with the generous support of the Freeman Foundation.
ASIA-HELP will provide zero-interest loans in the amount of $2000 to $5000, to 1,400 students from Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia whose US study programs have been disrupted by the economic downturn in their home countries. The ASIA-HELP loans cover only part of the students' financial needs, with the balance to be covered by other sources including contributions from the host campus and the student. Loans are to be repaid beginning one year after graduation.
Student Eligibility Guidelines:
Student nominees must be nationals of Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, or Thailand.
Student nominees must be currently enrolled in a regionally accredited US higher education institution. Students at community colleges are eligible.
Recipient students must complete an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree in 1999, 2000, or 2001.
Students must remain enrolled on campus in the United States for the duration of the loan period (one or two semesters).
Recipient students must have and maintain appropriate nonimmigrant student visa status (F-1 or J-1) for the duration of the loan period.
US Permanent residents are not eligible.
Student nominees must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average at the time of application. For two-semester loans, students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, and must submit transcripts to IIE to receive the second portion of their loan.
All fields of study are eligible.
Students sponsored by their home governments are eligible. Students participating in U.S. government-sponsored programs are also eligible.
Recipient institutions must guarantee cost sharing equal to or greater than the ASIA-HELP loan request.
Student must agree to repay loan within three years of graduation.
STUDENTS CANNOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO IIE; NOMINATIONS MUST GO THROUGH THE
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS. If you are interested in this loan
program and meet the eligibility requirements, please contact Tanja Owen
(tanja@olemiss.edu) for further
information. Nominations will be accepted February 15, 1999 to April
15, 1999. Please note that meeting the eligibility requirements do
NOT guarantee an award. Award decisions are made by IIE, not by the
Office of International Programs.
With the theme of Black History...Black Healing: Moving into the
21st Century, Black History Month is now in full swing. Click
here Click here for details
of the many events.