By Gary Hung, Guest Columnist

As an international student from Tokyo, Japan, I have mixed feelings toward Vanderbilt’s new policy for international recruitment. Bringing the international population level to 8 percent?

Globalization is the trend, and I support it. However, I am against this grand idea if this new policy is just another segment of Vanderbilt’s suspected ambition to emulate the rest of the top-20 schools. Tell me, Mr. C, are we trying to be a better school, or are we just trying to be some other school?

In the article regarding Vanderbilt’s new policy of international recruitment, it says, “(Vanderbilt’s) international undergraduate population is low compared to that of the other top-20 schools, which average to 6-8 percent.” This indication is beyond the realm of good or bad. In my opinion, this is just another indication that sets Vanderbilt apart from a normal top-20 school. It’s only indicating a difference. Out of the top-20 schools, which school could boast a “real” Greek life? (No, Cornell.) Which school could be proud of a well-preserved, rich Southern culture (I’m afraid not, Emory.) or a fine balance between academia and leisure? (Sorry, MIT, you guys are great in your own ways.)

Let us imagine a certain scenario where Vanderbilt continued their suspected mimicking strategy. We may attain the 8 percent mark, and we may really join the pretentious syndicate of the nation’s top-20 schools, but what if Vanderbilt also loses its identity along with this transition? Why do we want to aim for the “No. 1” spot when we could be the “only one”? There is no possible way the U.S. News & World Report could quantify and rank the experiences students get at each school. There is a reason why there is the old saying of “ Vanderbilt is the Harvard of the South” not “Duke is the Harvard of the South.” It is because we draw a comparison to Harvard not by the measures of high retention rate or high incoming SAT scores but a real difference in school identity.

I graduated from an international school that represents more than 150 countries. When all my peers applied to schools in California and in the New England region, I purposefully avoided those regions and came to Vanderbilt for an exchange of cultural identity. Dear Vanderbilt, if you admit prospective international students for their cultural asset without anything to offer in exchange, Y’ALL better offer them some sort of financial compensation because international students don’t get financial aid from the American government. International students are also here to learn a culture they are not accustomed to. If you are a pretentious international student who doesn’t believe that statement, shame on you. The international culture is just another culture that does not deserve any preferential value. We are here for a fair exchange.

Don’t get me wrong. Gay intolerance, racial intolerance, irresponsible drinking and other issues should be dealt away because they are not part of Vanderbilt’s rich Southern culture, Greek life and academic integrity. Furthermore, having real diversity, not statistical diversity, and a higher academic standard are all good things, but it’s only an absolute gain for this university if the identity of the school and the beneficial factors stay intact.

Well, I did my job as an international student and utilized my background to contribute to this school’s intellectual diversity. I conclude the school can’t be that mad with me if they really appreciate diversity and want to have more international students for that genuine reason.

—Gary Hung is a junior in the College of Arts and Science.