/Portals/2/logos/__TFMF_j0ac4l55b1adzh45vuswhx45_848d2720-07e3-49d7-b7b4-c9f8c837fc39_0___Selected.jpg en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Wed, 22 May 2013 08:19:15 GMT 15 By Lana Preszler, Reporter
By LANA PRESZLER Reporter When you think of freshman year at college, do you picture being in a tiny dorm room, trying to get along with a snotty roommate? Do you see yourself walking down the hall to use the restroom or shower? A student at Soka University of America would see things differently. Soka is a small liberal-arts school in Orange County that will be visiting SCDS for the first time this year on Mon., Oct. 3. Soka has a student-to-teacher ratio of 9:1, and, according to Jessica Nettinga, admission recruitment counselor, all students get their own rooms. “And after freshman year they get their own bathrooms,” Nettinga said. Founded on the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights, and sanctity of life, Soka obviously does not fit into the same niche as most colleges. Not only does everyone get a bathroom (which surely helps them achieve the principle of peace), but there are no assigned parking places, and every office—from the president’s down—is the same size. In keeping with this theme, there is no faculty ranking; everyone is a professor, and usually called by their first names. There aren’t departments at Soka; instead there are “Learning Areas.” Soka even has a no-cut policy for all of its sports teams, much like the program here at the school. Soka strives to be inclusive in other areas, as well, “We represent 30-something countries,” said senior Lisa Saperstein in an e-mail interview. One aspect of Soka that has drawn many applicants is the required study abroad. All students at Soka spend a semester of junior year attending a university in a country where their second language is spoken. “The study abroad is something that all students look forward to,” said freshman Kritica Batra in an e-mail interview. “It is a chance to get exposed to a completely new education system and culture.” To help ease the burden in junior year (when the trip takes place), the cost of the trip, including the flight fee, is built into the tuition. “We want our students to be global citizens,” Nettinga said. “I believe that the values on which Soka has been founded are very profound,” said Batra, explaining why she chose Soka. “The mission of this school is to spread peace around the world and to help us become global citizens; to be able to support humanity. It imbibes in us a feeling of being contributing members of the human community.” ]]> Tue, 26 Sep 2006 22:27:00 GMT