The Latin American Student Organization held its eighth meeting last Friday, Jan. 19 during Flex. During the meeting members discussed the commonly found issues with newly arrived students of McNeil.

It’s been noticed amongst the group that new students who struggle with a language barrier find it difficult to get around McNeil. Even with help, it’s hard to follow tips or instructions to get around simply because the language barrier makes it difficult for many people to understand. Typically when a new student arrives, they are sent to obtain their new schedule with their counselor. Most of the time, the new students will grab their schedules with a smile on their faces but minds lacking confidence on where they’re supposed to go once they step out of their suite.

It may be that students don’t acknowledge their confusion because they are afraid they won’t be understood. Or possibly they lose interest in trying to ask because they feel as if they are alone on campus and they leave it up to themselves to find their way around. This mindset is what has left many first-year students at McNeil still unclear on how to find their classes on their own, or how to request a lunch without making signals with their hands or even signing up for free and reduced lunch if needed.

LASO has decided to create a project to help students find their way around the school and better communicate with their peers, teachers and staff members in the facility. Although this project is starting late in the year, the group hopes to make enough copies, including a digital copy of the guidebook so that students will have access in the future.