The Emporia International Students Association (EISA) is the newest Recognized Student Organization at Emporia State, described by RSO president Anaisa Funes as a “welcoming space” to fill gaps left by ESU’s international program. EISA gained its official recognition in March, just one week before spring break.
According to Funes, many international students find themselves lost during their first weeks of school; orientation is not enough to adjust to life at ESU and students “don’t know who to go to” for help. There are student groups for specific demographics, but no RSOs are available to international students as a whole.
“It is important to have an RSO that is just for international students,” said Funes. “We basically are concentrated on providing the support needed (for international students).”
While EISA is planning events for the remainder of the school year, the organization is also looking ahead to the fall to make the first week of school much easier for international students. They will host a presentation where students will learn how to use Hornet 365 and take a tour of campus. EISA also plans to take a trip to an international market in Kansas City later in the school year.
Funes says that the idea for EISA came about in late January when the School of Business and Technology hosted a dinner to meet with all of the international students. From there, she contacted the Senate Operations Committee of Associated Student Government to find out how to bring EISA to life. Funes says the process of becoming an RSO was “easier than expected.”
First, they had to get signatures from students who were interested in seeing EISA on campus. Next, they met with the Senate Operations Committee to discuss the purpose and plans of the organization. The Senate Operations Committee then voted on the matter, approving EISA as an RSO. Then came a meeting with ASG’s Fiscal Affairs Committee to propose a budget and plans for said budget. Finally, the vote moved to the entire student senate, where the bill proposing EISA as an RSO was voted on and approved.
Becoming an RSO means EISA will reap certain benefits like funding from ASG and a page on Hornet Central so students can connect.
Senate Operations Chair and School of Business and Technology Senator Kesiena Lesso sponsored EISA’s bill.
“When I was sponsoring this bill, I was really passionate about it, because I really saw that this was a way for us to really advocate for international students on campus,” Lesso said. “Whether to be seen, heard and also empowered … That’s what I really love about ASG is that we get to support organizations and really help students feel seen.”
Funes emphasized that EISA is not open to just international students. Like all RSOs at Emporia State, it is open to anyone who is interested.
“We find a lot of domestic students that are interested in helping internationals with whatever they can, or just talking to us or just getting to know each other,” she said. “So, it’s not just for international students. We actually appreciate a lot of the support domestic students give to us.”
