TURKISH OFFICIAL VISITS SON AT SEMO

A high-ranking Turkish official and his wife, whose son is attending Southeast Missouri State University, recently visited the Cape Girardeau campus.

Memduh Oguz, the governor of the Kocaeli Province in Izmit, and his wife, Canan, visited their son, Guven Oguz, a student in Southeast's intensive English program.

Guven Oguz began his studies this fall after traveling here from Kocaeli, the leading industrial province in Turkey, 50 miles east of Istanbul.

While on campus, Memduh and Canan Oguz met with Southeast president Dr. Dale Nitzschke and with several representatives from the Donald L. Harrison College of Business. They also toured the campus.

Memduh Oguz has been governor of the Kocaeli Province for two years. Prior to that, he served as governor of the Tekirdag and Burdur provinces in Turkey. His wife is a retired high school teacher.

Nitzschke said he hopes such visits will help get the message out that the university cares about its international students. "We also want others to know, as well, that it is a good, solid and safe place to get an education," he said.

After returning to Turkey, Memduh Oguz corresponded with Nitzschke. He said, "I and my wife have been fully satisfied with our decision of choosing your university for our son's education. You and your team have made your university a home for all the students. I congratulate each of you."

Guven Oguz, 18, came to the United States for the first time in August. He came to Southeast to participate in intensive English after graduating in June from Anatolian High School in Turkey, where he studied for seven years. Guven said he chose Southeast on the recommendation of several Turkish friends who previously had studied at the university.

Since the start of the fall semester in August, Guven Oguz has attended classes with 25 other international students, four of whom also are Turkish. They have focused on English speaking, reading, listening, grammar and writing.

He hopes to enroll as an undergraduate student at Southeast in January and major in business management.

Guven Oguz plans to travel to his native Turkey for the holidays. When he returns to Southeast in January, he is hoping his brother Fatih, 22, will accompany him. Fatih recently earned his law degree from Istanbul Law University and wants to pursue a master's degree in business administration, Guven said. After completing his undergraduate work, Guven also wants to pursue a master's degree in business administration.