For most of its almost century-long existence, Santa Monica College has been one of the most diverse, global campuses in the U.S., attracting more international students than many other colleges or universities (the college currently ranks #3 among community colleges nationwide). Take a walk around campus—or a ride in an elevator—and you are likely to be treated to the beautiful sounds of various languages. The full scale of SMC’s global culture is on view each year at graduation—with over 110 flags fluttering on Corsair Field, showcasing the nations our students come from. Curriculum, and the Global Citizenship requirement. Extra-curricular activities. Study abroad. These are just a few ways that the college’s global culture—and the awareness it imparts, of both the joys and responsibilities of living in an interconnected world—is visible.
In order to find a few stories that illustrate “global SMC” through the years, the SMC in Focus team dug through the digitized archives of the college’s award-winning student-run media outlet The Corsair, which spans over eight decades and is available on the California Digital Newspaper Collection’s site. The only corrections made are typographical, or to misspellings of names (to the best of our knowledge). We hope you enjoy these articles, and that you take as much pleasure in knowing that the world has been at SMC, for so many, many years.
In The Corsair, 76 Years Ago:
Student From Istanbul, Turkey, Enrolled In Tech Radio Class
(Wednesday, December 3, 1947)
[Read the original article in its entirety; by Corsair Staff Writer]
Eugen Bosch, formerly of Istanbul, Turkey, recently enrolled in the radio class at Santa Monica Technical School. Coming from Turkey only a short time ago he learned about the technical school from friends and decided to enroll in one of the classes to learn a trade which will support him while he is completing his education and orientation to this country. Mr. Bosch was born in Berlin, Germany but moved to Istanbul in 1936 when his father won a professorship in history at the Roberts College there. After graduation from a school comparable to our high school he entered the college and after [five] years of study earned a BS in electrical engineering. With the end of the war he decided to seek his fortunes in this country and arranged to come to Santa Monica to live with an aunt. In a short while he learned that the electrical engineering trade here and abroad were somewhat different and it would be necessary for him to again enter school if he were to have a complete understanding of the methods and jargon of the field as practiced in this country. He hopes to be placed temporarily in industry at the completion of his course at the Technical School. One of his three brothers is now studying at Roberts College in Istanbul and he also intends to come to this country at the end of his studies there. This is another instance of men and women coming to this country and studying in [Santa] Monica. There have been a number of corresponding cases since the technical school opened and it is becoming apparent that the school is winning international as well as national fame.
In The Corsair, 57 Years Ago:
25 Students Attend SMCC On Visa Grants
(Wednesday, October 19, 1966)
[Read the original article in its entirety; by Corsair Staff Writer]
F-l visa grants gave 25 foreign students a chance to study at Santa Monica City College this semester. Students entering the country on F-l visas do so on condition that they enter a specific college. If they fail their course, the State Department forces them to either return to their home country or repeat their courses. "Hundreds of letters arrive at SMCC from persons abroad who wish to enter the college," says James Fugle, dean of [admissions]. Due to lack of specialized courses for foreign speaking students, the college refuses many applications from abroad.
In The Corsair, 41 Years Ago:
Adviser Earns Laurel
(Wednesday, September 15, 1982)
[Read the original article in its entirety]
Santa Monica College instructor Charles R. Donaldson, also the adviser to The Corsair, was recently honored as a VIP by the International Student Club of SMC. The title of Very International Person was awarded to Donaldson for his help in starting the International Students edition of The Corsair. Other VIP awards were made to co-editors of the International Corsair, Richard Chukkas and Rotimi Giwa of Nigeria, and Elaine Akouris, vice president and manager of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Santa Monica. Mrs. Akouris received the award for helping to get funds for the International Student Center. Dr. Richard Moore, president/superintendent of SMC, said that "Our international students help our college in a great number of ways. These 500 international students from 68 different countries help American college students learn on a personal basis about the cultures and lives of millions of people. These international students are truly the ambassadors and very international people to our college, our community, and our nations." The awards were presented by Abderrahim Benkirane of Morocco, president of the International Students Club.
In The Corsair, 35 Years Ago:
Focus On Overseas Study
(Wednesday, May 18, 1988)
[Read the original article in its entirety; by Corsair Staff Writer]
It's later than you think. That's the message the Santa Monica College Study Abroad Program is giving students who are [interested] in applying for semester programs in England and France this summer and fall. "Because we only used [scheduled] airlines, applications and payments have to be completed 60 days before a group departs," explained Study Abroad Director Dr. William Cassell. "That doesn't leave much time for students going on the programs in August and September." With application deadlines approaching rapidly, the Study Abroad Program will hold an information meeting for three of its programs this Saturday, May 21, in the Art Building, room 214. . . Dr. Karin Breedlove and Dr. Alan Casty will discuss the program they will conduct in Nice, France, from Sept. 12 to Dec. 15. This program will include visits to museums along the French Riviera and a final week in Paris. Students will be housed in a hotel with twin-bedded rooms and will receive breakfast and dinner each day. Classes will be conducted Monday through Thursday. Courses will include French 2, 3, and 4, Humanities 26, English 2, Cinema 1 and Cinema 5. To qualify for the program, students must be eligible for English 1 and should have completed a semester of French. The cost of the program is $4375, including roundtrip airfare, ground transportation, housing and two meals a day. English instructors Tony DiNiro and Kathy Dawson will describe the program they will conduct with 40 students in Guildford, an historic town located 25 miles from London. Students will be able to earn up to 15 units of transfer-level credit from courses including English 6, English 15, English 26, English 27M (Dickens), English 27R (Weldon), Theater Arts 7/ENglish 55 and Theater Arts 41. Field trips are scheduled to London, Winchester, Salisbury, Bath, Stonehenge, Avebury, Stratford and Warwick. The program also includes seeing plays in London and Stratford. Students in this program will stay with families in Guildford and receive daily breakfast and dinner. Cost of the program, including round-trip airfare, room and board, field trips and theater tickets is $3295. To apply for the semester in England, students should be eligible for English 1. Business instructor Dr. Richard Barkley and economics instructor Harry Gill will conclude the information meetings with a session on the summer business program in London. This program will be held from Aug. 8 to Sept. 9, and includes Business 1, Business 5 and 6, Economics 1 and 2. Students will stay in two-bedded rooms in a student residence near Marble Arch in the West End of London. They will receive a daily continental breakfast and three British pounds toward a second meal. The program will focus on international business practices and students will visit Lloyds of London and other leading financial institutions. They will also see Oxford University and a major car manufacturing plant. Cost of the program is $2150 including roundtrip airfare, room and board, field trips and student insurance.
ROYAL MEETING—A highlight of SMC's Study Abroad Program in England came last year when SMC students, left to right, Galen Goodpaster and Laura Maisch, and instructor Art Verge met the Duke of Kent. An orientation meeting for next fall's Study Abroad Program is scheduled Saturday.
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SMC in Focus Volume IX, Issue 6
Second Language, New Beginnings
SMC’s noncredit ESL courses open up opportunities for refugees and immigrants in building lives. Just ask Andrew Shchukin, who immigrated from Siberia to avoid fighting a war he didn’t believe in. Read Article
No Limit for Dan “Micca” Cao
This SMC to Columbia University transfer’s journey took her from China to SoCal to NYC to Miami—to “a fresh start.” She launched her own nonprofit and landed a job with a Big Four firm. Read Article
Widening Focus
Budding actress/writer/filmmaker Andrea Giraldo journeyed from Colombia to Santa Monica College to chart her future — and find herself. Read Article
Global SMC, Through the Years
A look through The Corsair’s archives yielded these stories that showcase Santa Monica College’s global culture, reaching as far back as 1947. Throughout its history, SMC has been one of the most global college campuses in the nation. Read Article
Bragging Rights
A Business prof’s film about Merchant Ivory to be distributed worldwide. SMC Athletics brings home several wins this fall. LAist features sustainability at SMC. A Comm & Media Studies instructor receives a presidential volunteer service award from Joe Biden. Read Article
Living Wholeheartedly
Akari “Amy” Myint never imagined she could feel so independent—traveling on her own from her native Myanmar to SoCal, studying business marketing at SMC, shaping her future. She was born with a hole in her heart. Read Article