Ratana Chuenpagdee’s letter — ("What about international students? They too are scared" The Telegram March 24 — with which I wholeheartedly agree, highlights the need to support international students who are here as our guests and in many cases, citizens in waiting, and as such require that we extend our hospitality to them in these difficult times just as we did when times were simpler.
The staff of the international office at memorial University have been working night and day to ensure that international students are not left alone and without a point of contact for the myriad questions they have.
The director (full disclosure, she is my life partner) has been working from morning until night 24/7 (weekends, too) to ensure that their welfare is paramount and to advocate on their behalf, locally, nationally and internationally.
Her staff has also been shoulder-to-the-wheel in the same degree as she and for that are to be commended, particularly given that many of their lives are impacted by the situation.
When this pandemic has run its course we will no doubt be judged by the international community on whether as a country we did not waiver in our commitment to human hospitality to those we welcomed to stay with us, as students, workers and visitors.
Be reassured that from where I sit — watching my partner bent over her laptop and phone for long hours — Memorial’s international office is doing its bit.
Bill Radford
St John’s
