When Amita Malakar first arrived at the University, she experienced the same uneasiness many of the approximately 1,200 international students on campus feel upon enrollment. She was an international student from Nepal, and she didn’t know a single person.
But for Malakar, who graduated from the University in 1999, her fear and loneliness was quelled in part by Magid Shirzadegan.
People who know Shirzadegan, director of International Student and Scholar Services, describe him as an unselfish and warm-hearted person who never thinks twice about giving his time to help an international student in need.
“He personally cares about each and every student,” Malakar said. “Personally, you know, not just because it’s his job. He’s like a big father figure to everybody over there.”
Malakar now lives in San Jose, Calif., and works in marketing communications. She recalled Shirzadegan’s unrelenting support for her and other student leaders of the International Student Association, an organization that helps international students assimilate into American culture and college life. When Malakar worked for ISA in 1997 as a public relations officer and again in 1998 as co-director, Shirzadegan organized retreats where the group discussed the issues international students faced and how they could be resolved.
“He really believed in all of the international student leaders,” said Malakar. “He would make us feel like we (could) do anything we want; we (could) achieve anything we want.”
So it came as quite a shock to Malakar – not to mention dozens of other international alumni whose lives have been affected and even changed by Shirzadegan – when last month the University dismissed both him and Kathy Poole, director of Study Abroad Programs. Both are long-standing International Affairs employees. The dismissals raised questions about the University’s commitment to diversity and its ability to continue recruiting international students when a large portion of international alumni is furious with the administration.
Neither Shirzadegan nor Poole responded to interview requests.

Calling for review

Provost Linda Brady’s decision to give the International Affairs employees “timely notice” – not an official firing but a pending termination to be carried out after one final year of work – was met with intense opposition from international students and alumni worldwide. Exacerbating their anger and frustration was Brady’s lack of explanation; she said she could not disclose details surrounding the dismissals for legal reasons. Facebook groups, blogs and YouTube videos emerged from the vocal group’s efforts to convince Brady to overturn the decision or, at the very least, order an official review of the situation.
They achieved the latter. Last week Brady sent out an e-mail to inform Shirzadegan and Poole’s supporters she requested an independent review of two issues: the timely notice decisions and the Office of International Affairs’ management. Lorraine Davis, special assistant to the provost, will conduct the review this month and prepare a written report on each issue by March 14. Brady also asked Davis to “assess the climate in the office and advise me on how best to assist the office in moving forward.”
Brady said in an interview two key factors led her to request the review: the mass e-mails and letters international students and alumni sent to the administration, and her meeting with more than 20 staff from the Office of International Affairs. Brady said they “provided a different perspective on the issues.” Although students have expressed concern that an administrator is conducting the review, Brady insisted the review will be completely independent with no interaction on her part.
Chunsheng Zhang, vice provost of international affairs and outreach, oversees the offices concerned and will be a participant in the review. Zhang was unable to meet for an interview during the last two weeks.
Both Zhang and Brady have filled their current administrative positions for about 18 months, causing some alumni to question the authority behind the dismissals.
“You’ve got two new people who signed off on a decision that’s pretty big,” said alumnus Marcelo Barros. A 1999 business graduate originally from Brazil, Barros appreciates Brady’s effort but is also skeptical of the review. He would have liked to see a committee including students and faculty, rather than a single individual, conduct the review.
“Different representation in the review process I feel would yield a more trustworthy result,” said Barros. “By including different individuals in the review process, one, students would feel more comfortable, and two, different perspectives would hopefully generate a better, more comprehensive evaluation of the situation.”
Kellen Wertz, public relations officer of the Japanese Student Organization, shares Barros’ cautious optimism. Wertz has been involved with international student groups for five years and knows Shirzadegan well through the JSO – Shirzadegan is a faculty adviser – and an internship in which he helped organize workshops for international students.
Wertz has been heavily involved in the petitioning to reinstate Shirzadegan and Poole. He formed the Student Coalition for Transparency, which has spread awareness of the issue around campus by meeting with ASUO Executive, circulating a petition calling for a review of the Office of International Affairs, and making announcements at ISA Coffee Hour on Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. in Earl Complex international classrooms.
“(The review) is definitely good news,” Wertz said. “I think it’s really important that this review is a serious review and not just a face-saving move by the administration. Because if it’s just an attempt to sort of shift the attention of the concerned parties, then that’s not really going to solve any problems in the long run. It’s just going to make people angry.”
Wertz also stressed the importance of student access to the written reports. Their direct involvement in the situation warrants inclusion, he said.

The response: ‘It’s because of the people’

Pema Chhophyel essentially orchestrated the huge protest that emerged in recent weeks. He formed the Facebook group that is one of two tools Shirzadegan and Poole’s supporters have utilized to communicate and mobilize, the other being a blog called Quack for Review. The Facebook group’s membership has nearly tripled since the days immediately following Brady’s announcement of the dismissals, and now includes more than 250 members.
Originally from Bhutan, Chhophyel graduated from the University last year and, like almost everyone else who spoke out, is genuinely baffled at the dismissals. The alumnus worked closely with Shirzadegan while working for the International Cultural Service Program. But unlike most others, Chhophyel is looking not only at the immediate loss within International Affairs, but also at the decision’s long-term implications, none of which he says are positive.
“It destroys the trust of the students here and abroad,” he said of Brady’s decision. “I was completely devastated… I don’t know how I can express in words what (Shirzadegan) did to impact the most. He’ll go way and beyond. He believed in education, that’s the main thing … he’s a great teacher, a great adviser, a great friend. He’s always been there to motivate, to inspire.”
With the University’s Diversity Plan kicking into high gear this year, the dismissals seem to undermine the University’s much-touted mission to increase diversity of all sorts among students and faculty.
“If this is what they’re going to do when they try to promote diversity, that takes our faith and trust,” Chhophyel said.
Chhophyel said International Affairs, a place where many fears, doubts and questions were assuaged, hugely eased his transition from Lane Community College to the University. Shirzadegan’s presence set the tone for the office as a welcoming place, Chhophye
l said, but he doubts it will remain that way.
“With this change it has created an environment where everything is so cold,” he said. “It’s easy to find somebody to work for you, but it’s difficult – very, very hard – to get people to work for you with the passion. The U of O administration doesn’t see that. It’s very sad.”
Chhophyel also believes if the dismissals stand, alumni will not fondly remember International Affairs as they do now and the number of international students will decrease.
Even after all of the confusion, all of the despondency and discontent, Chhophyel still remembers his years at the University as some of his best.
“The truth to the matter is still me and others, we love U of O,” he said. “It’s not because we have the big sports program; it’s not because we have the trees, the beautiful trees; it’s not because we have Hayward Field. It’s because of the people.”
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