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Campus welcomes international students by Cindy Abole Public Relations      MUSC’s annual fall semester welcome of new students to campus was also an opportunity to acknowledge the presence of MUSC's international students. More than a dozen students, representing various countries, gathered for an informal meet-and-greet reception Aug. 21 at the Harper Student Center (HSC). The event was sponsored by the International Programs Services Office.   Rebeca Mueller, International Programs and Services director, greeted and welcomed students in the HSC library. Mueller was joined by Willette Burnham, executive director, Office of Student Diversity; Emily Brown, international programs coordinator; Sally Young, director International Support; Andrew Rider, fiscal analyst, Controller’s Office; and Leslie Hayes, Public Safety crime prevention officer, for the informal reception   The students hail from countries including China, France, India, Italy, Lebanon, Turkey and Great Britain. Continuing students represent other nations such as Afghanistan, Canada, Columbia, Germany, Jamaica, Japan and Kazakhstan. All students are enrolled in programs within MUSC’s six colleges. Several international students are on campus through the Clemson-MUSC biomedical engineering/bioengineering partnership program. Four young women are second-year medical students with the College of Medicine’s exchange program and Claude Bernard University in Lyon, France.   In addition to orienting students about campus services and student activities, Mueller and organizers also reviewed other information about MUSC’s Severe Weather Plan to activities listed and promoted through MUSC Student Lifelines, a newsletter for students.   International students are encouraged to participate in a variety of planned events from luncheons and midday gatherings to learning activities such as an international tax information seminar scheduled for February. Students can also participate in continuing language courses such as medical Spanish, Portuguese and English conversation programs. For anyone interested in seeking advanced conversation and leadership skills, MUSC’s campus is the weekly meeting site for the International Scientific Presenters Chapter of Toastmasters International.   For more information, contact 792-2156 or visit http://www.musc.edu/international/. MUSC’s severe weather plan for students   Everyone should make a personal hurricane plan in order to be adequately prepared in case a storm threatens the coast. Additionally, students must understand their roles and responsibilities as an MUSC student when a hurricane approaches.   The complete MUSC Severe Weather Plan can be found on the Web at http://www.musc.edu/weatheremergency.   The student handbook also contains information on preparing for hurricanes and other hazardous conditions. The handbook can be found on the Web at http://www.musc.edu/studenthandbook or stop by the Student Programs Office (Harper Student Center) to pick up a copy. All new students receive a copy of the student handbook as part of orientation. Class, clinical rotation cancellation The decision to cancel classes and rotations would be made by the provost. This announcement will be made as far in advance of the predicted event as possible. Information regarding class/rotation cancellation would be made available through MUSC’s information line (792-MUSC), Internet home page (under the red alert button), broadcast e-mail system and local TV and radio stations. Evacuation and personal safety If classes are canceled and a mandatory evacuation is called, students are not be allowed to stay anywhere on campus. Make personal evacuation plans now (route to follow and place to go). If students would not be able to evacuate themselves to a safe location, notify the college’s dean’s office immediately. They would contact the Student Programs Office and University Risk Management, who would place the student's name on a call list to receive evacuation information. When classes are canceled and an evacuation called, students should report to Room 100 of the Basic Sciences Building with personal items needed for a shelter stay (see MUSC Student Handbook). From there, students would be transported to a  shelter and returned to campus when the danger passes. Class, clinical rotation resumption The provost would determine when scheduled classes and rotations will resume. Information regarding class/rotation resumption would be made available through MUSC’s information line (792-MUSC), Internet home page (under the red alert button) and broadcast e-mail system. Hurricane preparation techniques Identify ahead of time where to go in case of  evacuation. Choose several places—a friend’s home in another town, a motel, or a shelter. Keep  the telephone numbers of these places handy as well as a road map of your locality. It's important to become familiar with alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads are closed or clogged. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.     Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.