Published April 01, 2015
Eric and Linda Liew, along with University of Louisiana at Monroe students, faculty,
and staff, held a ribbon cutting to open the International Student Center—a million-dollar
home created as a central hub for ULM’s international students.
Since many international students begin life on campus without any friends or family
nearby, Eric Liew decided that creating the center would be a way to prevent international
students from feeling alone and isolated in a new environment.
Liew—who graduated from ULM in 1993 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in
economics—began the journey towards his dream in January 2014, when he announced the
$1 million donation to build the center.
Liew’s now famous story of his first night in the United States, was the motivation
for the center.
“When I came here…I bought milk and hot dogs. I got back to my dorm and there was
no refrigerator…I want the international students to come here and have a place; a
one stop shop. I know we can do better at encouraging international students to come
to ULM,” Liew said. “This center will help them as they transition to life in a new
country.”
The center houses students until they are placed into campus housing or find an apartment.
It will also be a place for students to socialize.
The center includes a large kitchen, meeting and study rooms, short-term lodging,
laundry facilities, and socializing space.
The facility has been touted as something that has been needed for quite some time.
“This is something that Eric and I have talked about since I arrived at ULM,” said
ULM President Dr. Nick J. Bruno. “This center will be a place where our international
students can feel at home.”
Nabin Timilsina, president of the international student association, said “I can barely
contain my excitement. It’s very hard to find a facility like this at a university,
and now we have one here.”
The International Student Center will welcome its first guests during the spring holiday,
next week.
To view photos of the facility, please visit International Student Center
